WordPress 3.8 — The Biggest Admin Redesign in a Decade

## A Fresh Face for WordPress WordPress 3.8, codenamed after Chet Baker, delivers the most dramatic visual change to the WordPress admin since the platform launched. The MP6 project — a community-driven effort to modernize the dashboard — is now the default. ### Flat Design Takes Over The glossy buttons, gradient backgrounds, and 3D effects are gone. WordPress 3.8 embraces flat design with clean lines, solid colors, and generous whitespace. It's a visual language that matches where the industry is heading after iOS 7 and Windows 8. ### Dashicons Replace Image Sprites The old admin icons were bitmap images that looked blurry on high-DPI screens. Dashicons is a vector icon font — every icon is crisp at any size, on any display. Retina screens finally look right in the WordPress admin. ### Responsive Admin For the first time, the entire WordPress admin works on phones and tablets. The sidebar collapses, tables reflow, and touch targets are properly sized. You can now manage your site from the bus without squinting. ### Eight Color Schemes Personalization comes to the dashboard with eight built-in color schemes. It's a small touch, but it makes the admin feel less institutional and more personal. ### Twenty Fourteen Theme The new default theme targets online magazines and content-rich sites. It's a clear signal that WordPress sees itself as a publishing platform, not just a blog engine. ### The Bigger Picture The MP6 redesign isn't just cosmetic. A modern, responsive admin makes WordPress more accessible to new users who expect interfaces to look and feel like the apps on their phones. First impressions matter, and WordPress 3.8 makes a much better one.