[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #65083: Toolbar: Simplify profile item by removing "Howdy, <UserName>" text and using a circular avatar

[WordPress Trac]

#65083: Toolbar: Simplify profile item by removing "Howdy, <UserName>" text and
using a circular avatar
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 Reporter:  lucasmdo                 |       Owner:  audrasjb
     Type:  enhancement              |      Status:  accepted
 Priority:  normal                   |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Toolbar                  |     Version:
 Severity:  normal                   |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  has-patch needs-design-  |     Focuses:  ui, accessibility,
  feedback                           |  css, administration
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Comment (by Joen):

 > Howdy has a long tradition of being in WordPress. It's a part of the
 flavor of WordPress. It helps set the tone and humanizes the experience of
 using WordPress.This WordCamp talk from a committer emeritus lays out why
 it's valuable and thus should absolutly stay. It's also something that a
 number of localizations get to have some fun with to really make WordPress
 feel at home. Howzit, G'day, and Ahoy all help users feel at home inside
 WordPress.

 This is a solid comment, and I'd like to respond to it. Because I think
 it's pretty critical that this aspect be addressed head-on. If we lose the
 flavor, or "character" of WordPress, we lose something special, we don't
 want that.

 Where I agree with the direction of this issue, however, is that it
 shouldn't stay in the toolbar where it is today. It should move into
 places where that character has a chance to shine and actually be
 meaningful.

 The thing is, the adminbar is a permanent fixture; it's like the app-bar
 at the top of MacOS: logo in the top left, menu items next to it, widgets
 on the right. It is **prime real-estate**, the most important part of your
 screen, because it is always there. Howdy is not a good fit there, just
 like the username itself isn't, because it takes up a lot of horisontal
 space that is more meaningfully leveraged by plugins, or future WordPress
 core features such as notifications or improved help. It also doesn't
 belong there because through always being there, instead of being a moment
 of character, we are actively diluting that character.

 Where "Howdy [username]" would be meaningful, however, could be in the
 menu that opened as soon as you click or hover the avatar. Simply moving
 it inside the menu, for me, bridges the gap. It's there when you are
 likely to engage with it, but it isn't permanently reserving key real-
 estate.

 I would go on to add, it feels like an obvious phrase to open WordPress
 itself with: instead of the dashboard having a plain "Dashboard" title,
 say "Howdy Lucas" there.

 Those are crucial moments where the user is in a mindset to absorb and
 appreciate the character.

 What do you think?

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/65083#comment:9>
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