A: One of my favorites is Wapuu Baggins<\/a> because I\u2019m a fan of The Lord of the Rings, and I love how a few recognizable details can give the character so much personality.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For the WCUS characters I looked at Route 66\u2019s history and all the details that make Arizona unique. My goal was to create characters that felt like they truly belonged to this year\u2019s event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Q: What excited you about getting to create these new Wapuu characters? Are these the first Wapuus that you\u2019ve had a hand in designing?<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A: Last year I had the opportunity to design the official WordPress Campus Connect Wapuu, so I was really excited to bring new Wapuus to life for WordCamp US. What I enjoy most about the process is finding ways to represent a place or program through visual details, while still keeping each character recognizable as Wapuu.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Q: Are there any Easter eggs or other hidden details in your designs that folks might miss on first pass?<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A: Yes! We left a few small Easter eggs hidden throughout the designs. I won\u2019t reveal what they are, so you might have to look closely to spot them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself and your history with the WordPress community.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A: I\u2019ve always enjoyed creating, and at some point I started looking for a way to use my design skills outside of work and contribute to something that felt meaningful. That search led me to the WordPress community, where I was welcomed from the beginning and found opportunities to contribute through design.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Since then, I\u2019ve helped develop the visual identity of several WordPress Education initiatives, and this year I became part of the WCUS 26 Design Team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Q: What\u2019s your favorite thing about WordCamp? Are there any specific experience(s) from past events that have been particularly meaningful to you? If this is your first one, what are you most excited to see or experience for yourself?<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A: This will actually be my first WordCamp, so what I\u2019m most excited about is seeing everything come to life. We\u2019ve put so much heart into every little detail, and I can\u2019t wait to see the final result.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Q: If you could give another WordCamp first-timer one piece of advice to make the most out of their experience, what would it be?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A: As this will be my first WordCamp, one thing I can already say is: don\u2019t be afraid to participate. From my experience so far I\u2019ve seen how supportive people are, and taking this first step can bring new experiences and a lot of fun along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Q: Anything else you\u2019d like people to know?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A: Throughout the process I received amazing feedback from the team, which helped me notice things I might not have seen on my own. That collaborative exchange made the final designs stronger, and I think it reflects the way WordPress itself is built: collaboratively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n See you in Phoenix!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n View this years\u00a0schedule\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0speakers<\/a>\u00a0to plan your time with us.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/us.wordcamp.org\/2026\/files\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-24-at-14.48.47-1.png\")
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