The Model: Catskill Hudson AHEC

Catskill Hudson Area Health Education Center Website

Catskill Hudson AHEC
 

About this Diagram

This diagram indicates design elements (like regional design), content (like the coverage map), and programmable features (like events management). As you imagine how you might build an AHEC site from this template, consider the following:

  • Any programmable features are included (and many more can be).  You do not need to accept paid registrations for events, or maintain a newsletter - but the configuration of those functions is mostly done for you here. 

  • Any content would need to be re-created for your AHEC, but the idea for including it is here.  A coverage map can be handled many ways - a simple image, a clickable map, a Google Map. 

  • Any design elements would need to be modified for your AHEC (like having your website look like your region of the country.

About Design

The template design for CHAHEC was made by a graphic designer, based on her understanding of the content and structure of the site.  If you visit http://ahec.gamefacewebdesign.com you will see a "wireframe" - there's no design, just layout. At the top right is a "Theme Switcher" that allows you to view the same content through three different "off the shelf" templates (Aurora, Deco and Tma). These templates are called "themes", and each theme implies changes in layout, and contributes a very different feel.
 
There are hundreds of free themes for the kind of sites we develop.  Depending on your budget, you can either:
  • Choose a free theme and work with us to customize it for your AHEC (your logo, images, colors)
  • Develop your own design from scratch, working with our graphic designers or yours.  The graphic designer creates pictures of what the site will look like, and a coder turns those pictures into the site. 
Starting "from scratch" will add at least $1,500 to the cost of your website, but will result in a site that is unique and beautiful.  Visit our home page and view the site gallery at left.  Most of these sites are original designs, but a few are from templates.  Can you tell which?
 
The next page in this presentation introduces Drupal, the system we use to build websites.  It is somewhat technical.  Please call us at 845-750-6554 to be talked thrugh it if you like. 
 
‹ OverviewupOur Content Management System: Drupal ›