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In this episode, John Picozzi and Jason Pamental explore the connections fostered by using Drupal across different geographies, the evolution of conferences, and how design systems are being utilized at Chewy. We also delve into the application of AI in e-commerce and coding, and discuss the practicalities of maintaining governance in large organizations. Join us for an engaging discussion filled with personal anecdotes, professional insights, and future prospects.

For show notes visit: https://www.talkingDrupal.com/503

John Picozzi is the Solutions Architect at EPAM Systems, where he helps organizations implement scalable and sustainable digital solutions—most often using Drupal. With over a decade of experience in web development, John has become a trusted voice in the Drupal community for his commitment to open source, user-centered design, and thoughtful architecture. John is a contributor to Drupal and an active member of the community as the organizer of the Drupal Providence Meetup and New England Drupal Camp. He’s also well known as a co-host of the Talking Drupal podcast, a weekly show focused on all things Drupal, where he interviews community members and shares insights on development, strategy, and community engagement. Outside of podcasting and coding, John frequently speaks at DrupalCamps and conferences across the U.S., offering sessions that span technical deep dives to community and career development topics. You can find more about his work and speaking engagements at picozzi.com, or follow him on Drupal.org

Jason Pamental is a designer, strategist, and technologist specializing in typography, variable fonts, and digital design systems. He is currently Principal Designer at Chewy, where he leads their design system efforts and helps guide their mobile app architecture and strategy. With over 30 years of experience, Jason has worked with organizations such as Adobe, ESPN, Fidelity, and the State of Rhode Island to shape impactful digital experiences. He’s a globally recognized expert in web typography and the author of Responsive Typography. His work has helped define how variable fonts are used on the web today. Jason is a frequent speaker at conferences like Beyond Tellerrand, An Event Apart, and SmashingConf, and he shares his knowledge through writing, teaching, and open source contributions. His articles, presentations, and resources can be found at rwt.io — short for Responsive Web Typography — and many of his talks, videos, and associated resources are available on https://noti.st/jpamental An active supporter of the open web and the Drupal community, Jason is committed to bridging the gap between design and development. Outside of work, he enjoys riding bikes, making espresso, spending time with his family in Rhode Island, and following Leo and Henry around Turner Reservoir, posting photos on Instagram.

John Picozzi - epam.com johnpicozzi

Jason Pamental - rwt.io.

Dear Readers,

The Drupal community has long understood the web as shared infrastructure. It is not only a tool for publishing or development, but a space where people collaborate, contribute, and take collective responsibility for digital progress. Transparency, open participation, and shared ownership are central to how Drupal has evolved and how its community continues to grow.

The recent endorsement of the United Nations Open Source Principles by the Drupal Association reflects a broader shift in how global institutions approach digital governance. The UN’s focus on openness by default, secure and inclusive design, and sustainability aligns closely with the Drupal community’s long-standing practices. This moment highlights the increasing visibility of open source values at an international level and validates the work that communities like Drupal have been doing for decades.

For Drupal contributors, this is not a change in direction but a reinforcement of what has already proven to work. It affirms that building digital infrastructure in the public interest requires more than code. It requires a commitment to open processes, active engagement, and a shared sense of ownership over the tools and spaces we create together.

• Helping New Drupal Developers Cross the Gap Between Learning and Real-World Contribution
• Sowing Opportunity, Reaping Innovation: George DeMet on the Power of Inclusive Drupal Development

• Drupal Association 2025 Board Election: Nominations Open 19 May
• Drupal Association Opens Survey on Site Templates Marketplace Governance
• New Drupal Pretty Printer Streamlines Automated Code Formatting

• MidCamp 2025 in Focus: Inside the Drupal Event Built by and for the Community
• DrupalCamp Ruhr 2025 Set for 12–13 September in Essen, Germany
• European Drupal Working Group to Be Introduced at Drupaljam 2025
• DrupalCon Vienna 2025 Opens Volunteer Registration for On-Site Roles
• Call for Session Proposals Opens for LocalGov Drupal Camp 2025
• DrupalCon Nara 2025 Opens Call for Session Proposals Ahead of November Event

• How Kanopi Rebuilt the Hamilton Education Site for Better Access and Engagement
• Fabien Potencier Named CTO of Platform.sh, Succeeding Co-Founder Damien Tournoud
• OSU Open Source Lab Secures One-Year Lifeline, Shifts Focus to Long-Term Sustainability

We acknowledge that there are more stories to share. However, due to selection constraints, we must pause further exploration for now.

To get timely updates, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. You can also join us on Drupal Slack at #thedroptimes.

Thank you, 
Sincerely 
Alka Elizabeth 
Sub-editor, The DropTimes.

Last week, I had the honor of conducting a webinar for Drupal4Gov about "Drupal, Schema.org, and AI for Government." I recently connected with the organizers of Drupal4Gov at DrupalCon Atlanta. Although unsure if I could attend and possibly present at Drupal GovCon, they invited me to do a webinar, and I said yes.

For the past two years, I have been working on and discussing the Schema.org Blueprints module. I have several decks and slides presenting different aspects and approaches to using the module, so conducting a webinar would not be difficult for me. Meanwhile, my experience at DrupalCon Atlanta changed my opinion about the importance of embracing AI.

Hence, I committed to mixing a little AI into my webinar…. Okay, I mixed a lot of AI into this presentation. I would go as far as to say that ChatGPT was my co-presenter, being more knowledgeable about the Schema.org specification than me, while I had more expertise with blending Schema.org into Drupal.

I had no slides for the webinar, just prompts and two demos. I was optimistic that I could have a conversation with ChatGPT that showed the value and potential of embracing AI.

I encourage you to watch the recording below to see why I’m excited about playing with AI. You can also jump to the end to catch my favorite moment from the Q&A, which reveals the inspiration for this blog post's main image.