Designing with a block-first mindset. In this lesson we will explore block
composition for WordPress block themes. By the end of this lesson you'll
understand how to approach design with a block first mentality creating modular
and reusable components for your website. In the world of WordPress block themes
we need to shift our thinking from traditional page layouts to a more
modular approach. Block first design means breaking down your website into
smaller reusable components that can be mixed and matched to create diverse
layouts. Think of blocks as LEGO pieces. Just as you can build complex structures
with simple LEGO bricks you can create intricate website designs using
fundamental blocks. This approach not only streamlines your design process but
also enhances consistency across your site. Blocks allow you to create complex
designs without writing a single line of code. Blocks connect to a file called
theme.json which sets default styles. If you are in the Site Editor and select
Global Styles you can tweak these defaults using visual controls ensuring
design consistency while maintaining flexibility. Blocks also adhere to open
web standards allowing you to carry them across different platforms.
Additionally the structured nature of blocks also makes them compatible with
AI tools. This opens up the possibilities for automated design
suggestions. Next let's look at some typical designs you might create as
patterns or reusable components using blocks. A block pattern or reusable
component is a collection of blocks you can insert into your site and
customize with your own content. Let's look at a few examples. Number one a
featured item. This could be a product highlight, a key blog post or even a
pricing table. Design it once and use it throughout your site. Number two a
newsletter sign up. Create a visually appealing newsletter sign up form that
can be easily placed on various pages. Number three, a testimonial. Design a
block for customer quotes that can be used individually or grouped or lastly
create eye-catching call-to-actions. Next let's look at applying block
composition principles which will help you create a cohesive and flexible
design system for your WordPress block theme. Start small and begin with the
essentials in your Style Book. Begin with foundational elements like text, images
and buttons. These form the foundation of your design system. Then start building
up. Combine these basic elements into more complex blocks. In this example I'm
creating a media and text pattern and then I will save it as a non-synced
pattern and then design the layout. Also remember to think responsively. Design
your blocks to work well on all screen sizes. Let's look at an example of the
Columns block that allows you to stack on mobile. Stack on mobile refers to how
content elements such as images, text blocks or buttons rearrange themselves
vertically when viewed on a mobile device. And then you can preview to check your
design on tablet and mobile. Let's look at the anatomy of the pattern to see
which blocks we've used to build it. At the top we have the Group block our
container block and then our Columns block. In the left column we have a
Paragraph block, a Heading block, another Paragraph block and then our
Buttons block or call to action and then in our right column we've added an Image
block. In conclusion when you adopt a block first mindset you not just designing
pages but creating a flexible system of components. Remember the key is to think
modularly and design for reusability using blocks and patterns.