[Contest] $100 for Site Layout and Logo

[wprigjoigj3i40jhgi0435ejh Veteran]

Uptifree.com Contest:

The past couple weeks I have been redesigning the entire backend of the site. Now that its just about done, its time for the front end. I'm not any good with graphic design, so I thought I would offer the opportunity for someone to make some money!!!

Payment:

Winner will receive $100.

Payment will be made via PayPal Only.

Guidlines:

Try to keep things simple.

Nothing hard to navigate.

Currently, I'm open to all color schemes. As long as it's not bright pink/lime green, etc.

Must be original, no copycat designs.

Must have spaces for Google ads.

Winner must be willing to help with other pages on the site (besides initial index page).

No coding required. This is for the images only.

Timeframe:

This contest will end on Tuesday March 7th, 2006 at 9:00 AM PST. At that time, no further entries will be accepted.

Picking the Winner:

Once the contest is over (see above), I will start a poll. At that time Neowin members will be able to vote for their favorite design. This does not guarantee that the most voted design will win, as I will pick the winner but the poll will weigh heavily on my decision.

Current Mockup:

Here is the current mockup of the redesign. So keep this in mind when making your design.

Final Words:

Good luck to all, and may the best design win!

Edited March 1, 2006 by voidunknown

[osirisX]

This one FTW! Even better than the first one.

[Oompa]

Half the designs are impossible or unfeasible to recreate in HTML.

I just took the time to look at all of them. They all seem feasible to me... Just use XHTML and CSS, not HTML tables.

[CeruleanCowboy]

one more from me.

you can always give the area with the google ads a long background to separate it from the rest of the content, as seen in one of the screenshots.

note to sunday: didn't know i was using the same font as you, N.O.- 1981, until i just finished. :D

[Niels.]

one more from me.

you can always give the area with the google ads a long background to separate it from the rest of the content, as seen in one of the screenshots.

note to sunday: didn't know i was using the same font as you, N.O.- 1981, until i just finished. :D

looking good but impossible to code

[Pox]

looking good but impossible to code

really? should be quite easy... just make a big background image and put the text in... although it will be hard to make it stretch the page, definitely not impossible.

[internetwar]

Awesome entries everyone :punk:

just made myself one for fun, I felt like clicking on big buttons :(

[Got3n]

man all these designs are so great, i would never be able to eat just one ^_^

[da13ro]

Yes agreed, all thes designes are fantastic, once THIS competition closes, maybe we can host some sort of other contest, but more of an open catagory one? Maybe we can get some nice prizes together hosting etc? Would anyone be interested, you all are amazing, some of these are soo unique i love them!

[Got3n]

i think that is a good idea. I mean with the current wordpress facination i say try making templates for that or for other apps.

[Jhaedee]

Hey voidunknown, is there anything about my latest design that would make it incompatible with the coding?:

[Andre]

I just took the time to look at all of them. They all seem feasible to me... Just use XHTML and CSS, not HTML tables.

They seem but they aren't. The moment you start putting stuff together, be it HTML or XHTML (makes no major difference at all really) you will end up changing the design. Surely some are possible, but ridiculous stuff with gradients and transparencies slapped all over the place is just beyond stupidity.

Designing a layout in PS is one thing and every kid could do it, designing it with the idea of HTML output is something totally different.

[wprigjoigj3i40jhgi0435ejh Veteran]

Hello everyone! Sorry I have not replied in a couple days. I decided to take a last minute fishing trip this last weekend. I'm back now, so here come the comments!

Oh yes it does, never seen the mac one but I have seen the usual WMP logo and it never struck me that it looked like it (which basically is a play button).

So to eliminate that I changed it abit, nothing else have changed.

I like it :) That logo is kickass.

industrial....ish

thanks..

Very different, yet it would suite all the needs of the site. Interesting design. You are very creative!

[glitch1501]

while i agree mostly, designers do need to know some type of coding to understand how their design will work in code....but i think that gradients and transparencies are entirly possible, using pngs and a simple php script for it to work in ie

[wprigjoigj3i40jhgi0435ejh Veteran]

i must say, this contest has turned out many excellent entries, and the feedback is yielding improved ones as well. therefore i have updated both of my entries, seen earlier in the topic. i might give a very simplistic design a try later, but the simplistic ones are quite plain to work with. tho keep the feedbacks coming, and good luck to every entry

Updated entries:

color variations are available for both entries

Excellent. I like the blue better than the green. Thanks for the update!

I promise its my last one! lol maybe not...

Nice looking logo urge! I like the picture incorporation.

Just a bit of fun :p. I am not happy with the 'Host It' button. Inspired by many different sites so you will see similarties :).

AAAAH!!! MY EYES! hehehe. Nice idea, but too bright for me.

my third entry, very plain, and is like an extract of the other entries. im not really feeling it, maybe its just me. anyways

btw thanks for the comments

I like it. It's pretty good. You like the logo thingy on the right dont you? :) That's not a bad thing, it's different.

Here is my entry. :)

Smctainsh

Pretty good. Nice and simple. I'm not feelin the orange though. Thanks for your entry!

one more from me.

you can always give the area with the google ads a long background to separate it from the rest of the content, as seen in one of the screenshots.

note to sunday: didn't know i was using the same font as you, N.O.- 1981, until i just finished. :D

Not impossible to code, but it would be very impractical. Good design, but maybe a different color scheme.

Awesome entries everyone :punk:

just made myself one for fun, I felt like clicking on big buttons :(

Bigger is not always better. ;) Good job, but the buttons are huge!

Yes agreed, all thes designes are fantastic, once THIS competition closes, maybe we can host some sort of other contest, but more of an open catagory one? Maybe we can get some nice prizes together hosting etc? Would anyone be interested, you all are amazing, some of these are soo unique i love them!

Don't worry, there is more here than meets the eye and 90% will not go away empty handed. That is all I'm saying until tomorrow.

Hey voidunknown, is there anything about my latest design that would make it incompatible with the coding?:

95% of your design is easily codable. The only thing that I would change is the middle table background. To keep load times down, I would take the gradient out. :)

[Joe P]

Aren't you supposed to be making a poll soon? You're going to have a fun time posting all designs and such.. :p

[urge]

My design would be a snap to code...I can even change the "Browse" buttons to something simple and itll still look good ;) and itll make load times even quicker!

[CeruleanCowboy]

one more

btw, i'm a big fan of the very simple one mail submitted a few pages ago. well done :yes:

[mail]

one more

btw, i'm a big fan of the very simple one mail submitted a few pages ago. well done :yes:

Oh thankyou very much (Y). I like your very first one nice and simple.

[MiG-]

Work in Progress:

Click Me

800 x 600, 8kb.

[wprigjoigj3i40jhgi0435ejh Veteran]

Aren't you supposed to be making a poll soon? You're going to have a fun time posting all designs and such.:p:p

The contest ends tomorrow at 9am PST. The poll will shortly follow that:):)

Work in Progress:

Click Me

800 x 600, 8kb.

Good conecept. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Bioshadow]

Here's my (fast) entry:

:)

[wprigjoigj3i40jhgi0435ejh Veteran]

Thats pretty nice. I like the logo with the power button. Interesting idea. It's very simple, yet nice and would be easy enough to code. Great design Bioshadow!

[urge]

and a logo change?

Tell me if you want me to try different colors, I like these tho..

[wprigjoigj3i40jhgi0435ejh Veteran]

The blue browse and upload buttons don't go very well. Maybe make them a light grey.

[urge]

The upload button has to be blue for it too attract attention as the UPLOAD button. The only grey (because I am working with a scheme) I can use it that darkish grey (almost black) which is too dark...so a white button would be even better! :) Anything else? Which logo do you like best?