WordPress Design, AI, and the Future

In WP Legends Episode 138, Brian Gardner, Head of Community at WP Engine, joins us to talk about WordPress design, block themes, AI, and the evolution of the ecosystem.

We dive into the Genesis era, the shift to Gutenberg, AI’s role in design and content, and why community continues to be at the core of WordPress. Brian also shares his perspective on where WordPress is headed over the next few years.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:37 Guest Introduction
3:17 Origin story: starting with Genesis and a 2010 throwback moment
5:44 Genesis design principles that still hold true today
6:55 Biggest shift in how people build websites
11:33 Are designers becoming more or less influential with AI
12:54 What great web design means in the age of AI, templates, and no code
18:32 Big Bite acquisition and media publishing at scale
20:25 WordPress future: where it’s headed in the next 2–3 years
24:18 Will WordPress hosting companies expand beyond hosting into broader platforms and tools
27:09 The future of AI in design and content creation beyond 2026
30:49 Rapid fire
33:17 Closing thoughts

Music Credits:
Valdez off Crenshaw by Terrace Martin
Live Like Legends by Ruelle Nightcore Remix

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