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In this episode of the WP Minute+, Matt Medeiros interviews Rafal Tomal, co-creator of the new Rockbase WordPress theme. Tomal, a renowned designer in the WordPress community, discusses his journey from working at Copyblogger and StudioPress to founding his own agency and eventually creating Rockbase with his partner, Chris Hufnagel.

Tomal shares his experiences working with clients, noting that the industry has evolved to better understand the distinctions between design and development. He highlights the importance of providing a complete service to clients, rather than just delivering a final product.

The conversation also touches on the rise of AI tools and their impact on the WordPress ecosystem. Tomal believes that while these tools are valuable for smaller websites and businesses just starting out, there will always be a need for custom design and development services as companies grow and require more advanced functionality.

Tomal explains the concept behind Rockbase's "playbooks," which are designed to provide users with a complete mini-website rather than just a child theme. He also shares his hopes for the future of the WordPress editor, emphasizing the importance of simplicity and user experience improvements without overloading the core with unnecessary features.

Key Takeaways:

• The WordPress industry has matured, with clients better understanding the distinct roles of design and development.
• Providing a complete service, including communication and guidance, is crucial for client satisfaction.
• AI tools and advanced WordPress themes are valuable for small businesses, but custom design and development remain essential for growth.
• Rockbase's "playbooks" offer users a complete mini-website solution, going beyond simple child themes.
• The WordPress editor should focus on simplicity and user experience improvements while avoiding feature bloat.

Important URLs Mentioned:

• Rockbase: https://rockbase.co/
• Rafal Tomal's previous interview on the Matt Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5MhogzU0Y4