Revisiting the color purple in the editing experience

[annezazu]

In preparing for 6.6, I'm seeing the use of purple more prominently in the editing experience. However, how it's used feels like there's room for improvement. Right now, there are two main reasons to see purple:

• To show that what you are editing is globally connected, like a synced pattern or template part.
• To show what is editable in a synced pattern with overrides Enhance block outlines and selection interactions #60757 , including soon changing the icon of the block to purple when there's an override Try using synced color on the block icon for overrides #61515

Right now, this purple mental model doesn't seem to hold with one representing a global connection (edit this and it updates everywhere) whereas the other is pointing out where something isn't globally connected to the synced pattern (edit here and it won't update there). We also show a purple connection icon to represent block connections and showing when something is sourced from somewhere else.

Am I missing something? How does this connect? How can we iterate here? @WordPress/gutenberg-design

Here's a video for good measure showcasing and talking about the use of purple:

purple.mov

[richtabor]

Purple has evolved a bit into something that is paired/synced with another, rather than global only. A template part isn't necessarily global, but it's purple. A synced pattern the same.

Right now, this purple mental model doesn't seem to hold with one representing a global connection (edit this and it updates everywhere) whereas the other is pointing out where something isn't globally connected to the synced pattern (edit here and it won't update there).

It's a delicate balance for sure. I'd say if a synced pattern is denoted as purple outlines, then its overridable blocks should be as well — as they belong to that synced pattern.

We also show a purple connection icon to represent block connections and showing when something is sourced from somewhere else.

I really don't want to ship 6.6 with the purple synced icon instead of the block icon. #61515

[annezazu]

Related issue: #65168 and related PR: #66451