Earlier this year I asked my mailing list what they needed help with when it came to theming Drupal. Although every answer was unique, the most common frustration boiled down to, "I just don't get it. I don't understand the big picture. It's chaotic and it makes me feel stupid."

Photo by: Grégory Tonon

It's as if Drupal was some kind of dangerous monster that kills kittens for fun. Drupal is powerful, no doubt, but only if you know how make it do what you want.

So back to the survey..My clients told me about their ideal outcomes too: They want a predictable set of step-by-step instructions that they can follow to make anything out of Drupal. Sound like you? I've designed the ultimate failproof Drupal program for 2011.

Every month in 2011 Design to Theme (Emma Jane Hogbin) is going to create a new package that includes:

• description of the site archetype you're going to be building using your Drupal 7 site building package "of the month"
• site building workbook with detailed, step-by-step instructions on how the site was built
• unique designs by leading graphic designers including Top Notch Themes, Morten, and Green Couch Designs.
• a complete theme and its PSD files
• video tutorial showing how to configure the key elements for this type of site
• the URL to a site built using the package so that you can see it in action
• your own, private demo site that you can show your clients, or deploy to your server with the click of a button

Over the course of the year you will learn how to build blogs, community forums, business directories, ecommerce sites, galleries, band Web sites, a bilingual site and more. You will learn how to create themes from PSD ("Photoshop" design files) files that suit the Web sites you're building. You will learn how to use Views (until you're blue in the face) and make Drupal sites that are navigable. You will learn how to add basic interactivity to your site with jQuery-enabled modules. There will even be instructions on how to theme forms.

But you won't be overwhelmed either. Every module will focus on no more than one key site building technique and one key theming technique. Tips will be given on how to mix-and-match the features you're building; but the emphasis each month will be the mastery of two key ideas so that you don't get smacked in the face with too much information all at once.

Every month you will add a new type of Web site to your portfolio. You will be notified by email when each new package is ready for download. This is an at-your-own-pace, DIY program. It is not a show-up-at-this-time class.

Additional bonuses because I'm awesome at making you even awesomer:

• "office hours" where you can ask questions relating to the monthly package
• GPL source files for the theme allowing you to reuse the themes on commercial Web sites
• Creative Commons licensing for the workbooks and videos allowing you to legally share the packages with others
• business templates to help you earn back your course investment by attracting new clients
• a signed, print copy of Drupal: A User's Guide mailed to you for no extra charge

Registrants will get an email when the first module is ready for download (this will be sometime before the end of January). Registration the package as described above will close sometime before the first module is released. If you want to participate in this program register now.

FAQ

You're fun. I like you, but this is a lot of money. Tell me how it's all going to work.

Every month (by the end of the month) you will receive an email that tells you your package is ready. You will go to a Web site address where you log in and retrieve the files for that month. The package will always include at least: one complete theme and its photoshop files; a PDF site building workbook with step-by-step instructions; a video tutorial showing you how to configure the key elements that make this month's site unique.

What time does class start each month?

There won't be a "class" associated with each package. That was one of the things people said in the survey--they wanted at-your-own-pace instead of show-up-at-this-time. There will, however, be "office hours" where you can drop by and get some help with your project. (Did I mention you're only paying $40 a month and you get workbooks, videos, 12 complete themes and support? Why are you still reading? You should be clicking on the "buy now" button.)

Are you going to be teaching module X?

I am going to be creating 12 unique Web sites. Chances are very good that I will be talking about your favourite module at some point during the year. The first Web site you build will be a "simple" blog site so that every one has the basics firmly within their grasp. Expert builders will be disappointed by the first site. But by the end you'll have all the skills you need to tackle building a site with any (core or contrib) Drupal 7 module.

I'm hearing impaired. Videos are typically useless for me.

The content will be replicated in the workbooks and the videos. It won't be a perfect transcription, but I'll do my best to give you time codes and chapters that break the videos down into their component parts which directly relate to the workbooks.

Are the videos going to be streamed or downloadable or both?

At this point I'm committed to having the videos available as download only. I frigging hate classes that have streamed videos with anti-theft players. You bought the resource, it should be yours, right?

This is a lot of money. Can't you give us another couple of months to sign up?

No. There will always be another reason why you don't have the money right now. The program costs $497. Let's pretend you commit to selling one new Web site every month using the content from the program. I've never built a Drupal site for less than $500. 12 Web sites x $500 = $6000. That's an amazing return on investment. (Or a $5503 profit..depending on how you look at it.) Most of the sites I'm going to teach you to build cost my clients multiple thousands of dollars to create the first time (in Drupal 6). If you can't figure out how to invest in your business right now, that's cool, but this program isn't for you.

Do you have a payment plan?

Short answer: No.  Long answer: I'm going to spend an entire year focusing on this program and your needs. If I'm going to risk turning down a lot of other business I need to know that you're committed too. Per month this program costs you about $40/month but could earn you over $6000 by making only one site out of each of the 12 packages you'll receive. Find the space on your Visa and make it happen. Remember: you are allowed to share the materials from the course. You may also want to find a friend and split the costs.

But, but, but my boss is on vacation,  can't you extend the deadline?

Hm. This is a really, really tough call for me. But this program as described above will not have an extended deadline. 

What if your program sucks?

I'm really good at what I do. This program is going to be awesome. I'm excited about it. But it might not be right for you. If you don't like the program within sixty days drop me an email and say, "Gimme back my money." And I'll email you back and say, "Sorry to see you go, but here's your refund." And you'll have two products--totally free--and all of your money back. That's my 100% unconditional guarantee.

PayPal won't let me use my credit card. Now what?

PayPal and Eventbrite have both assured me over the phone that everything is set up correctly to take any form of PayPal payment. If you are having problems with your PayPal account, use your credit card directly by clicking on the tab labeled, "Pay with debit or credit card" instead of logging into your PayPal account.

If this still doesn't work, please phone PayPal at 1-877-863-3015.

About the Instructor

Led by internationally renowned technical author and trainer, Emma Jane Hogbin, Design to Theme teaches designers how to make beautiful Web sites using Drupal. Emma's first book, Front End Drupal, is recognized in the industry as the most important book for Drupal designers. She has been teaching internet technologies since 2002 and has been building Web sites for over ten years.

In 2010 Emma released four Drupal-specific theming workbooks. These easy-to-follow guides are loved worldwide. One workbook customer recently boasted, "I no longer sub out the theming portion of my sites. I have created (or modified) 4 sites that would normally cost $500 - 1,000 each."

Emma is a frequent speaker at technical conferences and has presented at four DrupalCon conferences (Hungary, Paris, Washington DC and San Francisco) she has also given technical presentations in Europe, Canada, the US, and New Zealand. She will be presenting at DrupalCon Chicago and is one of the very few trainers approved by the Drupal Association to deliver pre-conference training this year.

In addition to her engaging conference presentations, Emma has also worked as a technical college instructor at Humber College and Seneca College, and has worked on curriculum development for Humber College and the Ubuntu Linux distribution.

Emma encourages non-traditional participation in technology through craft and believes that everyone is capable of mastering the tools that surround them. To help engage new ways of participating in technology, she open sourced one of her knitting patterns so that you can make your very own Drupal Socks (as featured in CRAFTzine).