What the $*#(%&@*# is a Drupal website?

This website is implemented in Drupal. It’s worth taking a few minutes to look at a variety of Drupal sites to get an idea of what Drupal can do.

the basics

modules

Drupal’s functionality is implemented with modules. When your site is initially set up, only the functionality you need is installed and enabled, which keeps your Drupal installation light and efficient. As more functionality is needed, more modules can be added.

Check out the links to Drupal sites to get an idea of what’s possible.

themes

The look and layout of a Drupal website are determined by the theme. Drupal has multiple themes available. Most are free. Some cost a nominal amount. Some cost quite a bit. But a free theme can be customized so that your site won’t look like every other Drupal site using that theme.

Most themes include a place for your logo or a branding banner. Each theme will have some basic elements: menus, layout options that include number of columns, header, footer, graphics, login blocks, etc. The menu to the right links to pages that showcase various Drupal themes. Looking at the great variety of themes available will help you imagine what your own site might look like.

choosing a theme

You should select a theme based primarily on its layout, because the colors and graphics can be changed, but if you choose a theme that supports only one and two columns, you won't be able to squeeze a third column out of it.

designing menus

Next, decide what kind of navigation you need. Do you need multiple menus? dropdown menus? flyout menus? dropdowns that also flyout? Do you want menus across the top? Down the side? Both?

organizing everything

You should give a great deal of thought to how you want your information organized. How many different sections will your site need? Within the sections, how many pages? What will be on the first page, and how will your visitors get from there to the other areas of the site? How will your visitors find their way through your site? Creating your menus will help you get started on your organization.

working with raqoon design

If you know exactly what you want and can produce a spec, including the site architecture (those sections we talked about), the menus, the graphics, the color scheme, and the copy, raqoon design can implement it.

If you have no idea how to go about creating a web site, raqoon design can get you started in the right direction, or we can do the whole thing for you, start to finish.