DrupalCon Barcelona 2024: It’s All About Community
Community is one of our core values, and it is also deeply reflected in the activities of the Drupal community. At the end of September, a few of us Druids had the chance to experience this sense of community firsthand at DrupalCon in Barcelona. The spirit of community was present in every meeting and conversation with colleagues from around the world—it truly seems to be part of the DNA of all Drupalists.
For me, DrupalCon was all about networking, interesting talks, and gaining a deeper understanding of the Drupal community. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly Dries Buytaert’s #Driesnote, which captivated the audience from start to finish. From a marketer’s perspective, the visual aspects of Dries’ presentation, the demos, and the way he built anticipation worked wonderfully—he really knows how to capture an audience’s attention.
The three-day event offered plenty of interesting technical presentations and, luckily for me as a marketer, also some less technical ones. On the sponsor floor, I got to know partners’ stories and learn what was trending at the booths—from fun treats and activities like caricatures by an artist who normally works on La Rambla, to memorable branded items such as hot sauce and the T-shirts that attendees could customize on the spot.
We’ve gathered our reflections about the event in this blog post. Each of us had our own goals and areas of interest, but one thing was consistent across all our reflections: the sense of community and the people.
“You can spot the Druids by their red T-shirts” was a comment I heard often—our goal of being recognizable and approachable clearly paid off.
Dive into our team’s thoughts about the DrupalCon Barcelona:
Engagement, Growth, and Drupal
For Arto, DrupalCon Barcelona was a journey of innovation and community. From exploring the future of Drupal CMS to hiking the breathtaking trails of Sant Llorenç del Munt, the week was filled with learning, adventure, and reconnecting with old and new friends.
Barcelona has a particularly warm place in Arto’s heart – find out why.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Mikko attended his first DrupalCon back in 2015, also in Barcelona. This year’s event reminded him of how far Drupal and the community have come. He was especially impressed by the progress of the Starshot project and the unveiling of new features that make Drupal more marketer-friendly while retaining the flexibility developers love.
Not the City, But the People
For Simo, DrupalCon was all about reconnecting with the people behind the screens. The event provided an opportunity to meet friends, collaborators, and new acquaintances, making it a true highlight of his journey.
Simo also shares his thoughts on the evolving technologies within Drupal, such as the Experience Builder, and the role of accessibility in Drupal CMS.
Community, Tech, and Inspiration
For Toni, attending DrupalCon for the first time meant embracing the supportive and passionate Drupal community. From reconnecting with familiar faces to attending sessions on debugging and accessibility, Toni highlighted the power of knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Notes from the First-Timer
Yevgeniya’s talk on mentorship and training for Drupal developers was well received, showcasing the community’s dedication to nurturing new talent. Yev also cherished witnessing Dries Buytaert’s keynote, further strengthening her connection to the Drupal community.
Discover Yev’s experience as a speaker
Photo Bram Driesen, licenced as deed Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 The original image was edited by narrowing it.
