I'm pretty tired of "clean" or "minimalist" themes. To me, this tread invokes feelings of a dystopian future where everyone is forced to conform or not do anything that can be viewed as deviation from the norm.

Do you remember when the web use to be fun? When people wouldn't worry about trends or standards and would fill their sites with things they enjoyed. I'd love to recapture that vibe.

So while I'm very happy that Automattic is releasing free themes (not many people are doing it), I wish they'd take a few more chances design wise. Try something different and new. Create themes that really showcase the power of WordPress, blocks & patterns.

What about adding color to themes? Have you seen the movie Pleasantville? People—and their surroundings—change from black-and-white to color when they connect with the essence of who they really are. That's how the theme ecosystem makes me feel right now. Let's help people connect with one another and express themselves through their theme.