I first tried to build a portfolio with WordPress back in 2012. It didn’t really work for me at the time, so I moved on with my life.

In the following years, I focused mainly on branding projects, with occasional website work for clients. For development, I always hired others to handle it.

In design circles, WordPress was rarely a favorite tool. My own websites were usually custom-coded by friends, and later some of them helped with Webflow site building.

Then, in 2022, while I was busy growing my design studio, something unexpected happened: I joined Automattic. A colleague, who had seen my work on Dribbble—approached me, introduced me to the company, and encouraged me to apply. At first, I was hesitant. My focus was still on building what I hoped would become the best branding studio in the world. But business had slowed down. After an incredible run in 2020 and 2021, the year 2022 brought almost 0 profit. So I gave it some thought.

Eventually, I decided to give Automattic a chance, which meant giving WordPress another chance too.

The transformation was immediate. WordPress was no longer the clunky tool I remembered from 2012. The conversations we designers had about it for years, simply didn’t match the reality. What I found was an improved interface, a much better building experience, and a system that let anyone create a website by simply adding blocks or editing themes with ease. Behind were the days of struggling with fixed themes that left designers stuck.

Behind the scenes, I also saw the amount of work going into improving the editing experience—far beyond what I ever expected.

The whole thing was, a shock.

And then there were the small details that resonated with me, like the connection between WordPress and jazz. Something I’d never known, even though I love jazz. Slowly, I started to like WordPress. If I went back to 2016 and told my past self this, I wouldn’t believe it. I know many designers still feel the same today.

This should change. At the very least, designers should know what WordPress can actually do before dismissing it. That’s now part of my mission as someone working on the WordPress brand: to present WordPress in its true light, especially to designers. Beyond what Automattic already does, I will announce a personal side project dedicated to this goal. More about it soon!

I won’t even talk about the open source aspect, community or global importance of WordPress. Those are things designers are aware of. Let’s see what we can do for you, a designer.

Above all, I’d like to invite you designers who believe WordPress isn’t for you to share the biggest reasons with me. Feel free to send me a DM on X or LinkedIn.