Every few years, I tweak RK.MD’s design to refresh my content and to leverage the latest technologies at that time. My goals for 2026 are to address a few lingering headaches built up over the years:
- My media library (images and videos) included too many file formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, MP4, and MOV.
- I was still using 3rd-party page builders (TagDiv, WPBakery, Elementor, etc.) rather than WordPress’ native Gutenberg block editor (which has come a long way over the years).
- My database was filled with orphaned tables/keys from previously installed themes/plugins.
The goal was simple: make this as lean, consistent, and content-centered as possible by leveraging native WordPress functions, eliminating extraneous plugins, and streamlining workflows. Okay, easier said than done. 🫠
I went back and looked at my last redesign post from 2022. At that time, I had tried WordPress’ full site editing (FSE) features and block-based themes, acknowledging their limitations. Fast forward almost four years, and it’s time to embrace this standard.
Media – AVIF and WebM
I converted all of my media to use two formats: AVIF (images) and WebM (videos). These formats provide excellent visual quality at a fraction of the file size, keeping pages fast even with high-resolution images and videos.
Converting more than a decade of uploads was its own project. I connected to the server via SSH, packaged the entire uploads directory, used ImageMagick to batch-convert everything to AVIF, replaced the media library, and finished the process with several SQL updates to correct links and metadata. I’m pleased with the result and will be uploading future media directly in these formats using an Automator folder action.
Database And Layout
I removed old database tables that no longer served a purpose and cleared out plugins that had slowly accumulated over time. Each one had once solved a specific problem, but together they added weight and complexity. Stripping them out made the entire site feel more responsive and easier to maintain.
The next step was to let WordPress handle the layout. I left behind proprietary builders and rebuilt the site entirely in Gutenberg. The native block editor gives me all the structure I need. Cover blocks for hero images. Columns for paired text and graphics. Reusable blocks for standard callouts. Patterns and groups to keep design elements consistent. By leaning into WordPress as it is meant to be used, the code stays lean, and the editing interface stays predictable. It also means I can continue adding new content without fighting the framework.
Readability was the most important change. I increased the type size and moved to a fluid scale that adapts beautifully to phones, tablets, and larger displays. I added generous spacing so each paragraph feels settled rather than crowded. The result feels closer to a conversation. You read at a comfortable pace without the fatigue that comes from tight layouts or small text.
Removing the sidebar was a final touch. It felt unnecessary and pulled attention away from the writing itself. By clearing the side widgets and standardizing buttons, headers, and spacing, the layout now feels open with more room for the text and images that matter.
Let me know what you think by commenting below! Also, check out the evolution of this website over the years.
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