Drupal website design and development

The first step in your website development process is choosing a content management system that matches the needs of your organization. Drupal is unique because it’s actually not a content management system in itself, but rather a Content Management Framework from which you can build a completely customized content management system tailored to your exact needs.

We’ve been building and designing Drupal websites for over a decade - since 2006, to be precise - and offer a deep and vast knowledge of Drupal offerings. Collections management, CRM, libraries, gallerings, and resource centers are just a few of customized site options we’ve built in Drupal.

 

Considering Drupal? Here’s what you need to know…

Functionality

If you’re reading this, you’re likely comparing Drupal to other popular content management systems (WordPress?), and it’s true that Drupal looks more technically challenging up front, but there’s a reason for that. Contained in that complexity is a deeper level of functionality. Drupal contains taxonomies, content types, blocks, views, and more that all lend to a more powerful and customizable platform.

Because Drupal was built for developers by developers, it can seem intimidating, but built in a simplified Management Framework that enables non-technical users to update and maintain content across the site.

Scalable Website Solutions

One area in particular where Drupal shines is in its ability handle really large volumes of content. Drupal can support thousands of pages and users, and updates to Drupal 8 are ever increasing page performance. Custom content types and taxonomies enable the information on your site to be entered once but simultaneously displayed in multiple places. Overall, Drupal is highly adept at handling complexity and volume.

Security

Drupal is known for its focus on security, offering enterprise level security and reporting...and it’s for these reasons that you’ll finding government entities using Drupal (including whitehouse.gov). With constant and dependable security patches and updates, you can be confidence that Drupal will safeguard your site from potential vulnerabilities and ensure your site and features won’t go down.

Multi-User Management & Membership

Drupal makes it easy to support multiple site stakeholders with unique user permissions that allow you to control how and what people can access on your site. These user permissions are infinitely configurable, allowing editors and site administrators top level access, while other contributors and site users can have individualized access to private content.

Powerful Multilingual Capabilities

Drupal’s ability to translate sites in multiple languages makes international communication across the globe possible. Multilingual support can be configured for each content type, or site wide depending on the organization’s needs.

Modules & Integrations

Designed and developed by the Drupal open-source market, Modules extend the functionality of your website. While the Drupal Core is flexible in itself, Modules provide your site with the opportunity integrate customized features like Salesforce, event management, and more. Drupal can help bridge the gap between tools and products that you already have in place, but that aren’t working effectively together, and improve internal efficiencies.

Mobile Responsiveness

Between smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers, it’s important that your site is designed to be responsive and scale to the size of the viewers screen. Drupal can be built and optimize your web content for responsiveness across any browser or screen size.

Is Drupal right for my organization?

Hopefully now that you understand what Drupal offers, you can appreciate the power and ability it would provide your organization’s website. You might also be asking yourself it’s the right choice. We believe firmly there’s no one-size-fits-all approach in website development, and part of our process is to work with you to better understand and determine the right tools and systems that will satisfy your project requirements.

That being said...we might recommend Drupal if you have any of the following considerations:

  • Systems Integrations
    Drupal will optimize your workflow and maximize efficiencies by enabling your website and existing systems to work together.
     
  • Complex Content Relationships
    If your site contains a lot of data and information, Drupal taxonomy and entity relationships can help effectively display and manage your content.
     
  • Multi User Management
    Drupal offers the ability to determine unique and detailed user roles and permissions as needed for as many different roles as is necessary.
     
  • Membership Based Website
    Authenticated users are granted access to private content and, if you allow them, are able to participate via discussions or access to exclusive content.