WordPress is evolving. And if we want to see real progress as in better tools and better experiences, we have to actively support the people building that future. Not just in theory, but in practice.
That’s why we’re sponsoring Tammie Lister. We posted a general introduction about who and why we sponsor in February this year, but now it’s time to really turn on the spotlight!
A quiet force behind WordPress UX
If you’ve spent any time in the WordPress ecosystem, chances are you’ve already used something Tammie Lister helped shape. Themes. Patterns. The Block Editor. Full-site editing. Her work touches how people experience WordPress every day.
Tammie’s background in both psychology and design gives her a uniquely human lens. She doesn’t design for abstract users. She designs for real people, and excels in translating complexity into clarity. That mindset aligns perfectly with how we think at Greyd.
Author, contributor, ecosystem thinker
Last year, Tammie published a book: WordPress Styling with Blocks, Patterns, Templates, and Themes, a practical, no-fluff guide to modern WordPress styling. It walks readers through block-based design, global styles, and site editing, helping them understand not just the how, but the why behind the tools.
She’s also co-founder of Guildenberg, a network of experienced product makers focused on supporting WordPress businesses in scaling sustainably. It’s a forward-thinking initiative that blends business strategy with open-source values. And that is exactly the kind of thinking we believe in.
From idea to product: why we collaborate
We didn’t just invite Tammie to contribute to an interface concept and call it a day. From the start, it was clear that her way of thinking aligns with ours. So we decided to go beyond a one-off collaboration.
Today, we have not only increased our sponsorship for her contribution to WordPress Core, we have also deeply engaged her in actively shaping our own product at Greyd. That decision was intentional. Because if we want WordPress to truly support scalable, enterprise-grade workflows, we can’t just improve the UI, we have to build the product experience from the ground up. Together.
As Tammie puts it:
I want to help people stop thinking only in terms of UI or UX, and start thinking in terms of product. It’s about the entire experience, not just the interface.
This mindset is exactly what makes her input so valuable. She doesn’t just design components, she shapes systems. Her product thinking helps everyone involved, developers, designers, strategists, see the bigger picture and build with purpose.
Tammie isn’t just making the WordPress UI better. She’s helping us reimagine how it should work in complex projects, where editors need simplicity, developers need flexibility, and teams need both.
That’s where our goals overlap. At Greyd, we’re building role-based experiences that reflect real-world workflows, without compromising the flexibility WordPress is known for. We’re not chasing trends or mimicking page builders. We’re setting a new standard.
The right people for the right future
Tammie’s collaboration with Jessica Lyschik, who’s also sponsored by us, is already producing results we’re proud of. Together, they bring not just experience, but clarity, integrity, and purpose to the work. That’s rare.
We’re building for a future where WordPress can serve large, complex use cases, without becoming bloated or confusing. A future where the interface adapts to the user, not the other way around.
One more thing: what’s next for Greyd?
AI is part of our roadmap. We’re not adding AI just to follow a trend. It’s not a feature, it’s a responsibility. We’re building it where it solves real problems, reduces friction, and improves decision-making. That takes more than tech. It takes people who understand the full context, from workflows to user roles to business impact.
That’s why we’re backing brilliant contributors like Tammie. Because building the right future starts with the right minds.
We’re grateful, and ready
We’re proud to back her. She brings vision, experience, and a deep understanding of how WordPress needs to evolve. And she fits perfectly into what we’re building here at Greyd.
This isn’t about hiring stars. It’s about backing the people who make the whole ecosystem better. Because the future of WordPress will be shaped by those who show up and do the work.
We’re here for that.
Learn more about Greyd.Suite!
