WordCamp US 2025 – Portland, OR
Thursday at WordCamp US 2025 transformed the Oregon Convention Center into a hub of ideas, collaboration, and fun. With AI, design, and global accessibility in the spotlight, Day 3 offered a balance of future-focused keynotes and practical workshops. As one attendee, Maria Boyle, Director of Digital Experiences and Brand Strategy at Cozort Creative Group, described it: “energetically techy.”
A Keynote on Search and Humanity
The day kicked off with Google’s Danny Sullivan offering a peek into the evolving world of search. His message struck a chord with many as he mentioned “it’s not about gaming algorithms, it’s about writing for people.”
“Hearing from the Director of Google Search that you need to make your content digestible to humans and that’s the most important thing was really beneficial to hear,” Maria said.
This emphasis on clarity and accessibility set the tone for the rest of the day, reminding developers, designers, and creators that human-first content remains at the heart of WordPress.
AI, Design, and Global Accessibility
A lot of buzz swirled around the rapid innovation in AI and design. Sessions ranged from AI plugin development to fluid design systems, offering attendees practical takeaways for the next wave of WordPress projects.
Adam Schultz, Co-founder at Pedal CMS, was particularly impressed by the block editor updates, specifically the internationalization features. He noted the ability to create web and block layouts that accommodate right-to-left and top-to-bottom text, which he found especially insightful given the vast international community and the importance of accessibility. Schultz, who builds websites for higher education where accessibility is paramount, highlighted the significance of tools that automatically realign layouts to facilitate different text orientations, acknowledging it was a simple yet previously overlooked aspect for him.
Jessica Sievers, Creative Director at Sievers Creative, highlighted the rapid pace of technological advancement, stating, “There’s new things on the horizon, new technologies happening every week and evolving more rapidly than we all realize.” WordCamp demonstrated how these fast-moving tools can be utilized effectively, prioritizing accessibility and collaboration.
A Community of Brilliant Minds
Of course, no WordCamp is just about the sessions, it’s about the people.
“It’s inspiring to be around a bunch of tech people who have the same problems you have and the same successes you have,” Maria said. “It’s a really fun collaborative space to be in.”
For the Director of Agency Partnerships at WordPress VIP, Jodie Fiorenza, the sense of continuity and shared effort stood out. “Seeing the WordPress community come together year after year is really encouraging to me. There’s so many brilliant minds in this community that always motivate me to want to do more.”
That shared energy carried into the atmosphere inside the convention. Adam put it simply: “Everyone is so darn smart.” Jodie described it as “uplifting. We’re all building each other up.” Mainul Aion chose “friendly,” while Jessica described the vibe as “laid back and curious.”
Fun, Games, and Giveaways
The learning was serious, but the vibe was anything but stiff. Attendees explored booths filled with swag, joined happy hours, and even hit the arcade. “Super fun,” said Adam Schulz. “All the giveaways, incredible booths, literal arcade games everywhere, phenomenal mustaches.”
Parag Parikh, Systems Manager at InMotion Hosting, attending his first WordCamp, was delighted by the balance, “The vibe is awesome! Everyone is nice, many are playing arcade games. We have a whole happy hour. We have donuts in the background. Come on!”
It was clear that WordCamp US Day 3 managed to be both deeply educational and joyfully social, a reminder that collaboration and celebration go hand in hand.
Why Day 3 Mattered
The third day of WordCamp US 2025 was a mix of curiosity, creativity, and community.
“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and everyone is here celebrating each other so we can move forward as a community,” Jodie reflected.
Or, as Parag summed it up, “The WordPress community is working together to improve WordPress and solve problems for everyone.”
Day 3 showed not just where WordPress is going, from AI and accessibility to new design patterns, but also why it matters: because it’s powered by people who are open, collaborative, and always ready to lift each other up.