The WordPress Block Editor has revolutionized content creation, but with great power comes great responsibility—especially for agencies managing client sites post-launch. Too often, beautifully designed websites unravel into chaos once clients begin editing, leaving agencies scrambling to fix broken layouts or bloated content.

In this article, we’ll preview the session we’ll present at DE{CODE} 2025, taking place April 15. You can register for DE{CODE} 2025 here to see how ACF transforms this chaos into control, ensuring sites remain efficient, scalable, and visually cohesive long after launch.

Let’s dive into what we’ll cover in our session.

Building Sustainably: Taming Content Debt

The Problem:
Content debt—outdated, duplicated, or inconsistent content—cripples scalability. Traditional workflows force manual updates or code changes, costing time and fraying design integrity.

The Solution: Relational Content Architecture
Chris Chatterton, Technical Director at AlphaSys, will join us to demonstrate how his team leverages ACF to build composable systems that reduce redundancy. Their secret?

Reusable Rows & Dynamic Blocks:
By creating a “Rows” custom post type, AlphaSys turns pages into modular stacks (heroes, CTAs, sections) editable in one place. Need a “Subscribe” row? Update it once, and every instance across the site reflects the change. As Chist notes, “We’ve replaced rigid templates with flexible, relational content. Now, clients manage updates without touching code—cutting content debt by 70%.”

Global Control with ACF Options Pages:
Manage site-wide settings (headers, footers, API keys) centrally. Pair this with custom blocks that pull dynamic data, and you’ve got a system where even third-party integrations stay consistent.

Event Tile Block Demo:
See how querying an “Events” CPT with ACF automatically populates course listings, complete with animations—no React required.

Fine-Tuning the Editorial Experience

The Challenge:
Clients need editorial freedom without risking design integrity. But default block settings often overwhelm users with unnecessary options.

The Solution: Strategic Editor Lockdown
Ren Therianto of Canvas Group shares their “zero-based budgeting” philosophy: only enable what’s essential. We’ll break down their four-step framework:

  1. Control Patterns:
    Disable default patterns; create lean, purpose-built ones.
  2. Restrict Blocks:
    Limit blocks by post type (e.g., some blocks only need paragraphs and headings).
  3. Simplify Block Controls:
    Use theme.json to hide padding sliders, color pickers, and other distractions.
  4. Build Custom Blocks:
    Replace complex layouts with intuitive ACF Blocks (e.g., a “Flip Card” block for interactive content).

“A minimalist editor isn’t about limiting creativity—it’s about focusing it,” Ren says. “Clients get exactly the tools they need, nothing more.”

ACF in 2025: A Sneak Peek

Capping off our presentation, ACF Product Manager Iain Poulson will unveil upcoming features designed to further streamline agency workflows. Expect enhancements in:

  • Enhanced editing experience for ACF Blocks
  • Easier ways to create ACF Blocks

Why Attend?

Our DE{CODE} 2025 session isn’t just theory—we’ll walk through code samples, live demos, and real-world case studies. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to:

  • Slash content debt with reusable systems.
  • Lock down the editor without stifling creativity.
  • Future-proof sites using ACF’s 2025 roadmap.

Don’t let your hard work unravel post-launch. Turn chaos into control with ACF—register now to secure your spot for this session and others at DE{CODE} 2025.