Build Dynamic Layouts in Drupal Using Views and Display Suite
May 23, 2025
Creating flexible, dynamic layouts in Drupal doesn't require custom code or heavy theming. With the power of Views and Display Suite, you can control how content is displayed across your site—all through the admin UI.
Let’s explore how these two modules work together to build smarter layouts.
What Is Views?
Views is one of Drupal’s most powerful core modules. It lets you fetch and display content dynamically based on criteria like content type, tags, publication status, or user role.
You can use Views to:
Build custom lists of content (e.g., news, blogs, products).
Create dynamic landing pages or blocks.
Filter and sort content without writing queries.
What Is Display Suite?
Display Suite (DS) allows you to control how fields are arranged on content types, user profiles, taxonomy pages, and more. You can choose from predefined layouts or create custom ones—all from the admin UI.
Key benefits:
Drag-and-drop UI for layout control.
Combine multiple fields into a single region.
Add conditional visibility and custom CSS classes.
How to Use Views + Display Suite Together
Here’s how they complement each other:
Use Views to gather the right content.
Use Display Suite to control how that content appears on the page.
For example, if you’re creating a “Team” page that pulls in user profiles with Views, Display Suite lets you arrange profile pictures, bios, and social links exactly how you want.
Real-Life Use Cases
Team/Staff Pages: Fetch user content and style it consistently.
Resource Libraries: Display PDFs, whitepapers, or videos in grid or list views.
Product Catalogs: Combine taxonomy filters in Views with custom product layouts in DS.
Need Help With Views or Display Suite?
Views and Display Suite can get complex fast. If you need hands-on help, our Drupal experts are available to hire for layout optimization and UX enhancements.
You can also book a free consultation to explore how to make your Drupal site more visually dynamic.
FAQs
Can I use Display Suite without coding experience?
Yes, Display Suite offers a drag-and-drop interface that’s admin-friendly and doesn’t require theme overrides.
Does Views work on all content types?
Absolutely. Views can be used for nodes, users, taxonomy terms, comments, and even custom entities.
Is it possible to use Display Suite with Layout Builder?
Yes, though they serve similar purposes. Many sites use DS for structured content and Layout Builder for landing pages.
Will using Views slow down my site?
Not if used correctly. You can enable caching and limit the amount of content being queried to keep performance smooth.
