Strategies for Design and Drupal

There are some conversations that remain in your memory, engraved, because they represent a clear diversion from one way of thinking to another.

One such conversation was with Roger Lopez while we were trying not to work one day at Sony Music. He was talking about theming and how he wanted designers to give him designs that they thought he couldn't theme ... So he could prove them wrong.

Since then, I have adopted that attitude: Give me your phat, tricked out designs, yearning to be themed. Let me set them free.

However, that attitude precludes the fact that a Designer would know what exactly would be a challenge to theme. And herein lies the heart of the Drupal Theming Conundrum : you only scratch your head when you try to implement a design - and not before. Especially for the inexperienced.

And that conundrum is why Drupal has yet to be truly beautiful, consistently across the universe. Because there are talented designers all around us, but our velvet rope of complexity prevents designers from the VIP section.

So, this session will not be about theming per se, it will be for design for Drupal: how as a designer you can architect your designs so that the transference from concept to reality (composite to browser) Is more fluid, more streamlined. Simple guidelines to keep in mind so that building a them isn't a challenge, it is just the extension of your hand.

* I gave this presentation in Boston at Design 4 Drupal and the reception was very positive. I thought that this would be good to give again :) http://boston2011.design4drupal.org/sessions/strategies-designing-drupal

Slides: 

design_design_patterns.pdf