Design for a Web Host Directory : HostCatalog.com

[missingarrow]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 992044K)

Howdy Folks,

This contest is for a template for http://www.hostcatalog.com Hopefully I included enough details below. If not or if you have any questions throughout the contest please post below as I promise I will check up at least daily.

Right now I picture a three column design with alot of white... but I am holding the contest because you guys do this a lot better then me, so I am open to your suggestions.

Template needs the following: Ad space : Atleast one 468 X 60 banner and one skyscrapper. More then one banner space is acceptable if it helps out the flow of the design. Space off to the sides for more ads is ok also.</li> Copyright Statement : "Copyright © 2003 by Host Catalog (http://www.hostcatalog.com)"<br />"Hosting Provided by: Some name and url here"</li> Links to the Site Info : "About Us", "Privacy Policy", "Terms of Use", "Contact Us", "Advertising". These can be located anywhere on the page, preferably towards the bottom, they don't have to be grouped together.</li> A qucik search box. It needs to have the following drop down boxes: "Price", "Platform", "Disk Space", and "Bandwidth", a search button, and a link to an "advanced search".</li> The main navigation should include the following categories: "Web Host Directory", "Press Releases", "Search", and "Forums". I would prefer text based navigation over images.</li>The bulk of the page will be made up of the following three sections:

Featured Host : Should be in a standalone box and include a spot for the host name, a 120 x 90 image, and a paragraph of text. It should stand out but still blend in with the site, labeling it "Featured Host" is a good thing.

The Directory : This is the bulk of the site, the reason people visit. Each category should be hyperlinked by name and a mini picture. The categories are: Dedicated Servers</li> Virtual Private Server</li> Free Web Hosting</li> Windows Web Hosting</li> Unix / Linux Hosting</li> Managed Hosting</li> Domain Registrars</li> Front Page Hosting</li> E-Commerce Hosting</li> Shared Web Hosting</li> Reseller Accounts</li> Colocation</li> Cold Fusion Hosting</li>Press Release Area : A spot toward the bottom for Five Press Release Links. It will include the date and a title (link). I also need a link to "Read all Press Releases".

I'm pretty sure that is it...

What you might want to look at and why:
http://www.hostreview.com/ - I like the little images by the directory listings. They don't have to be in this style.

Hopefully I will be able to add to this list. I had a bunch of them but I didn't write them down :(

As for a deadline... I'm not in a hurry but I don't want to drag it out too long so lets see where we stand in about two weeks.

Thanks,
dan

[Severner]

Ill get on it right away :)

[Severner]

I wanted to be more adaptable on the colours, they can be changed btw to whatever you like.

so far_
<img src='http://www.elusionstudios.com/clients/hc/layout.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
_

[missingarrow]

Severner,

Thanks for the quick entry. A couple of things: The pink isn't doing much for me. I tend to like red, white, and gray the best - it seems.</li> I was hoping to put more emphasis on the featured host. I'm having trouble finding an example or putting it in words but I was thinking more of having it in a box in the middle column above the fold. I hope that makes sense.</li> With the images next to the directory categories... I was hoping to have a different image representing the category. Instead of the same image for all of them.</li>
I look forward to more good entries,
dan

[Palmer]

Oh Dan, you know you love the pink :winkiss:

[Severner]

Yep they are just placeholders for now, sorry i didn't mention that.

Colours can be adjustable, ill adapt the design straight away.

As for the featured i think i get what you mean (atleast i hope hehe)

Thanks, ill get right on it.

[Severner]

Adapted _Colour change = red
Adapted _Featured host = middle

I added a support thing in place of the original featured host, mayeb with a small icon/banner to download to support the site ?

Personall opinion is i like the buttons symertical, ive made some edits here nice simple clean icons, hope you like them i do :)

If you don't well ill be making some new ones hehe.

+++\
<img src='http://www.elusionstudios.com/clients/hc/layout2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
+++/

[Severner]

Ive just noticed some of it hasent changed, so ill work on keeping it the same red :)

[BrianDove]

I'll post an entry soon =)

Brian

[BrianDove]

Here we go!
Hope you like it Dan,
Regards,
Brian
:rolleyes:

[Severner]

Looks like i might have a challenge on my hand, nice entry ill work on another version now :) should be posting in the next few days :P

[Severner]

Ok ive uploaded what ive done so far, just so you don't select his before you see mine hehe :P

-Need to work on the book/logo i know just a sketched concept
-Obviosuly its unifhsined ill work on getting a more clear/filled version over the next few days :)

}}}
<img src='http://www.elusionstudios.com/clients/hc/layout3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
{{{

[missingarrow]

Brian, I like the orange and gray it has a nice tone to it. </li> I'd like a little image for each area of the directory.</li>
Severner, I'm not a fan of large headers</li>
For both of you: Check the first post for the correct name and url... (Severner - you have it right now)</li> I wasn't clear enough about the search feature. I am actually looking for a form with drop down boxes for each of the items listed in my first post. If that doesn't make sense let me know and I will find an example.</li>
Don't worry about me picking a design right away. With all of my contests I run I tend to get an entry that is better then the one I think is best towards the beginning. So I don't even think about picking a winner until the end.

Looking forward to more great entries,
dan

[Severner]

Ok I'll make a much smaller header when I adapt it.

I see, I know what you mean, no problem I can do that.

[zing]

* Template removed, will submit again shortly...

[marengo]

I'll post my entry October, 2 . Is it ok for you?
Thanks,
Nat

[zing]

Is around the 4th or 5th ok or is this too late?

[missingarrow]

Howdy,

Sorry about the lack of replies. I loged on last night and wrote a reply but it didn't get posted I guess...

I look forward to more templates. I will see where we stand on the 7th of October. This is the original 2 week range.

Thanks,
dan

[zing]

here is an initial idea, please provide some direction for it :)

[marengo]

Hello, Dan,

it was not so simple :) Anyway, take a look please what I have for you:

***Screenshot*** (http://site.voila.fr/freddi007/catalogue/besthost.html)

***Idea of rollovers: it will be done in CSS*** (http://site.voila.fr/freddi007/catalogue/and/besthost.html)
I've started from red/black/why color schema but may be this one is better.

Thanks,
Nat

Edit: some icons will be fixed later, if you like them.

[zing]

Here is another attempt from me:

[missingarrow]

Zing,

I don't really care for your first design. It seems too TMish for me.

The second one is better but its hard to judge how everything will fit in since it doesn't have any of the features I am going to use.

marengo,

I like your design but afew things: The header is a tad to big for me. If it can be shorter it would be cool.</li> Can something be done to get the titles to stand out more. Not sure if a larger size, or underlining, would work better.</li> I'm not that familiar with css rollovers, so I have one question... Does the text portion stay a normal text link, so search engines can follow it? </li> If you're design wins I think I would have you move the featured host to the right side above the press releases. Then the skyscrapper could be moved toward the top.</li>
Thanks,
dan

[marengo]

<!--QuoteBegin-missingarrow+Oct 3 2003, 09:23 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (missingarrow @ Oct 3 2003, 09:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> marengo,

I like your design but afew things: The header is a tad to big for me. If it can be shorter it would be cool.</li> Can something be done to get the titles to stand out more. Not sure if a larger size, or underlining, would work better.</li> I'm not that familiar with css rollovers, so I have one question... Does the text portion stay a normal text link, so search engines can follow it? </li> If you're design wins I think I would have you move the featured host to the right side above the press releases. Then the skyscrapper could be moved toward the top.</li>Thanks,
dan [/b][/quote]
Thanks for feedback, I'll post updated version tomorrow. And yes, "..the text portion stay a normal text link, so search engines can follow it". I'll show a sample of the code tomorrow.
Thanks,
Nat

[zing]

what features do you mean?

[marengo]

Dan,

here you can find updated version:
..*CLICK*.. (http://marengo.neopages.net/bh/1.htm)

May be it's interesting for you, when I've started to work over this design, my 1st idea was:
THIS ONE (http://marengo.neopages.net/bh/2.htm).
I thought if you will sell the place for "featured host" may be will be better to put this section on the top: so, your partners can pay more :lol:

As for CSS, see sample here:
http://marengo.neopages.net/bh/samplecss.htm

<tr>&nbsp; <td valign="middle" class="catalog"> <a class="catalog" href="#">Free web hosting </a></td> </tr>

As you see it's a text, so search engines can follow it.

Let me know, if I can make more.

Thanks,
Nat

[mikesf]

Let me know how you like this so far! I'm from Wisconsin too!
[admin edit- Only members of the Design Team are permitted to enter contests, please follow the site guidelines (http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=35&s=). Thanks :)]

[Luc]

I'll post my entry here too! Oh when is the deadline? Can I still enter?

[missingarrow]

zing,

I was reffering to the search area with the drop down boxes, the featured host, the directory links with the small images. Basically everything I talked about in my first post. The only thing you included was the press release area.

marengo,

Thanks for the css code example. I should really learn that stuff one of these days.

I am liking the second example better then the first. Is it possible to shorten the female? I still would like to see a shorter header. If you can shrink her a little bit then the featured host and search host areas could be moved up a bit. The only other thing I can think of is some color towards the bottom. Possible if you take the top bar (the one under the featured and search areas), flip it upside down and use it in replace of the bottom line.

exoillusion,

Feel free to enter.


I was hoping to have a few more entries toward the end - which I haven't seen yet. If anyone else is planning on entering please let me know so I can have some sort of idea of what to expect. Hopefully I will get a few more choices.

Thanks,
dan

[marengo]

<!--QuoteBegin-missingarrow+Oct 7 2003, 04:41 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (missingarrow @ Oct 7 2003, 04:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> marengo,

I am liking the second example better then the first. Is it possible to shorten the female? I still would like to see a shorter header. If you can shrink her a little bit then the featured host and search host areas could be moved up a bit. The only other thing I can think of is some color towards the bottom. Possible if you take the top bar (the one under the featured and search areas), flip it upside down and use it in replace of the bottom line.

[/b][/quote]
2d version ? this one ?: http://marengo.neopages.net/bh/2.htm ?

Dan, it's only my opinion , but I have to say that. I can make this girl shorter and move up search box and FH' box but I think it'll make layout ... close, pressed. As you can see there is no standard header there. And distance between navigation and functional parts (2 boxes) of layout is enough shot. So, 90% of this design is functional. If anyway you want this modification, I'll do them.

As for footer, I'll change it tomorrow/ after tomorrow.
Thanks for feedback, :)
Nat

[missingarrow]

<!--QuoteBegin-marengo+Oct 8 2003, 10:29 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (marengo @ Oct 8 2003, 10:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
2d version ? this one ?: http://marengo.neopages.net/bh/2.htm ?

[/b][/quote]
Yup thats the one I was reffering to.

I understand your concerns but I still think you can take about a 1/4 of the white space above the featured host and search host areas. Right now I am seeing too much white space.

Thanks,
dan

[marengo]

<!--QuoteBegin-missingarrow+Oct 8 2003, 11:11 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (missingarrow @ Oct 8 2003, 11:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I understand your concerns but I still think you can take about a 1/4 of the white space above the featured host and search host areas. Right now I am seeing too much white space.

Thanks,
dan [/b][/quote]
Dan,
I've reduced 1/4 of the white space and heve made girl smaller. :)

Thanks.

[missingarrow]

Thanks that is what I was looking for, if you win there will be one small modification but I don't need to see it.

Thanks


I am going to make my decision on 10/11/03, so if you have been working on something post it before then.

Thanks

dan

[Luc]

Oh gosh :bash: I totally forgot about this one. I'll be posting something later. Give me some hours.

[Luc]

Ok here's my entry <img src='http://www.ei-corp.net/mockups/hostcatalog.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[marengo]

<img src='http://site.voila.fr/freddi007/catalogue/ok.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

OK :) :lol:

[Palmer]

Cute :lol:

[missingarrow]

Hello,

First thanks for the entry Luc. Your design was good but I kind of got attached to marengo's since I have been seeing it so much and working with it.

So the winner is marengo. Also I had said there would be one little change - It is getting rid of the house and envelope at the top. There will be a text ad in that whitespace instead. PM sent.

Thanks,
Dan

[missingarrow]

Sorry for double post... Recieved error about not able to mail...

dw

[Palmer]

I'm getting that error too :(

Congrats Nat! :clap:

Thanks Dan :)

[marengo]

Great! Thanx , Dan! :tup:

[marengo]

missingarrow, I can not send you PM (error), but I've received your message.
I'll code your template tomorrow and I'll send you files.

Thanks again,
Nat :)

[Luc]

Yeah I was pretty late! It's alright! Congrats dude! :clap: