The case study outlines the development of a responsive conference website using Drupal by a small team of volunteers who are industry professionals. It discusses the project's themes, challenges faced, and the lean methodology adopted, as well as the importance of flexibility and real content in the process. The document highlights various technical aspects, including the use of HTML5/CSS3, and the need for customization to meet specific event requirements.

1. Case Study
Building a Conference Website with Drupal

2. in a short amount of time,
with a small team, using Drupal
How to make a responsive
conference/event site

3. Introductions
Patricia Rodriguez, Substance
Crispin Bailey, Substance
Chris Luckhardt, Motionblur Studios

4. We all volunteered to make this website
We all work with Drupal professionally
We’re happy to give back to the community
We embraced the “lean” methodology
Disclaimer

6. who did what?
Patricia: design, art direction, UX
Crispin: design, site building, theming
Chris: content, registration, sessions

7. The Concept
aka the theme

8. Drupal = IKEA

9. Drupal = Prius

12. Look & Feel
with Style Tiles
(styletil.es)

14. UX/IA/UI
• Sitemap
• Wireframes
• Comps / Mockups

15. (not from scratch)
Building + Theming

16. Splash Page
(buy some time)

18. Base theme

19. Why AT?
• Responsive, mobile-first
• HTML5/CSS3
• Accessible (#D7AX)
• Familiar

20. COD
(Conference Organising Distribution)

21. Oh COD
• Bloated with unwanted features
• Old code (modules & themes)
• Useless default Views
• Riddled with errors

22. Some assembly required
• Add and update contrib modules
• Update core base theme
• Add libraries (Superfish, Flexslider, CKEditor)
• Customise content types

23. Cutting edge stuff
• Dev version of AT theme (for mobile menu)
• Dev version of Superfish (for drop-down menu)
• CSS3 (buttons, backgrounds, rounded
corners)
• Google web fonts + Symbolset icon font

24. Building Responsively
• Theming in the browser
• Lots of Menus, Blocks & Views
• Testing on real devices vs simulators
• Tweaking and rethinking

27. Theming Challenges
• Bugs in contrib modules (Superfish bug on iOS)
• Responsive tables (just didn't work)
• Funky font rendering (Chrome bold, iOS size)
• Surprise browser updates (Firefox v.25 Flexbox)
• CSS caching bug with AT
• Colour contrast (#a11y)

29. COD’isms

31. “If your event is different and you have specific
needs, you will probably spend some time
tweaking COD.”
- usecod.com

32. • concerns about management decisions
• distro constantly in a state of flux
• public communication
• documentation

36. Advice
• Use real content
• Give yourself lots of time
• Keep it simple
• Be flexible

37. Thanks!

38. Contact
patricia@substancedesign.ca
crispin@substancedesign.ca
chris@motionblurstudios.com
@pattycake
@cspin
@chrisluckhardt