Project Name:
Acquia Cloud Site Factory Drupal Theme

Organization Name and Division:
Digital Services Group, Technology Services Division, Prominent University

Year and Quarter: Q3 2024

NAICS Codes:

• 541511: Custom Computer Programming Services
• 541430: Graphic Design Services
• 541613: Marketing Consulting Services

Launch Theory partnered with a prominent university to deliver a custom Drupal theme system and Paragraph components, creating a scalable, accessible web design for higher education websites. This project utilized Acquia Site Factory (ACSF) to support institutional websites with enhanced accessibility and an easy-to-use modular design. The initiative focused on delivering a cost-effective, maintainable, and scalable Drupal theme development solution with 37 custom page components and an assistive admin interface to unify the digital presence of the university while adhering to brand standards and meeting WCAG accessibility requirements.

Launch Theory collaborated with a prominent university to transform and standardize their digital ecosystem, addressing the challenge and escallating costs of managing hundreds of decentralized institutional websites.

Prior to this initiative, the university’s decentralized website management posed significant challenges. Individual entities—including schools, clubs, alumni relations, and security departments—maintained their own web presence, creating unsustainable maintenance burdens and inconsistent brand representation across the university’s digital footprint. While the university adopted Acquia Site Factory (ACSF) in 2020, a more comprehensive solution was needed for university website development.

In 2024, Launch Theory worked closely with the university’s Marketing Department, Digital Service Group, and Technical Services to develop a standardized, ACSF-compatible Drupal theme.

Component Development:
Launch Theory created a sophisticated Drupal paragraphs system for higher education websites, dramatically simplifying content management across the university’s digital presence. The team developed 37 custom page components, each designed with intuitive administrative interfaces that simplified content creation while ensuring brand consistency. Every component underwent rigorous accessibility and administrative testing, compliant with WCAG and Section 508, and included comprehensive documentation for future maintenance. This system empowered content creators to build sophisticated pages without requiring technical expertise.

Technical Implementation:
The team developed a flexible theme architecture to accommodate the diverse needs of the university’s institutions while maintaining a consistent user experience. Key features included:

• Individual Paragraph customization with enforced brand standards.

• Cohesive departmental websites aligned with the university’s brand.

• Support for diverse content types across the digital ecosystem.

This modular web design supported digital transformation for universities by enabling continuous refinement of components based on user feedback, ensuring scalability and flexibility.

Project Management Innovation:
To support the university’s first large-scale theme project, Launch Theory implemented processes to streamline project coordination. Our team established:

• A comprehensive ticketing system and efficient review processes that accommodated the university’s complex approval requirements.

• Efficient review processes for multiple stakeholder feedback and iterative component versions

• An agile development workflow that allowed for continuous refinement of components while managing evolving design requirements.

“This was a technically demanding project that required exceptional flexibility from Launch Theory,” notes Greg Stout, Launch Theory’s founder. “To support designs evolving throughout development and many visual elements still being refined in the final weeks, we implemented an iterative workflow that could not only accommodate but encourage continuous changes. We also introduced project management tools and processes to help the university’s team navigate a project of this scale, including a comprehensive ticketing change management system and review process.”

Greg Stout, Founder and CEO Launch Theory

Project Timeline: 15 Months