---
title: WordPress as a design tool
description: 'One theme and one pattern transformed seven ways using only WordPress design controls. A hands-on exploration of the block editor’s potential.'
doc_version: current
last_updated: '2026-04-01T11:34:22.000Z'
date: '2022-12-05T15:51:23.000Z'
author: Rich Tabor
summary: 'One theme and one pattern transformed seven ways using only WordPress design controls. A hands-on exploration of the block editor’s potential.'
tags:
  - Design
  - Themes
  - WordPress
published: true
type: blog
url: /wordpress-design-tool
canonical: https://richtabor.com/wordpress-design-tool
id: 2401
---

Last week I challenged myself to take one pattern, from one theme, and morph it multiple times—only using the design controls block editor. It’s kind of like [CSS Zen Garden](http://www.csszengarden.com/?mc_cid=85a2931ce3&mc_eid=UNIQID), but without CSS—just out-of-the-box WordPress design tooling.

One theme. One pattern. Seven ways.

No additional blocks, nor custom CSS between scenes—just designing in the good ol’ WordPress block editor.

Every font family, size, color, border, radius, image, video, and spacing value were are all added in-editor.

I like this. _This_ is the future of WordPress.

It’s not about [blocks](/publish-blocks/), or [block themes](/a-new-era/), or even [patterns](/patterns/) for that matter. It’s about how each of these components come together as a site publishing _and_ design tool.

![One set of blocks, morphed seven different ways, using only the WordPress block editor design tools. ](https://i0.wp.com/rich.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ca815-this-is-wordpress-gif.gif?resize=1280%2C1280&ssl=1)

_Morphing one set of blocks only using WordPress design controls_

This exploration showcases what’s possible today, but also what areas of the experience need polishing. In particular, I found the typography design controls a bit inconsistent and heavy-handed — I’ll be sharing an issue on the Gutenberg project with my findings.

Overall though, color me impressed. And with [phase two](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/33094?mc_cid=85a2931ce3&mc_eid=UNIQID) of the Gutenberg project well underway, tightening up the design and customization areas of the editor is certainly top of mind.

I challenge you to give this a try, even using just the [Twenty Twenty-Three](https://wordpress.org/themes/twenty-twenty-three) [theme](https://wordpress.org/themes/twentytwentythree). Design a section of a page, then morph it a couple of times using only the design tooling within the editor. 

I’d love to see what you’ve made—share it with me on [Twitter](https://x.com/richtabor/).

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