Template for Data Processing Firm

[ScottZ]

(Admin code added by 2square - 3379635)

This is the first contest I have posted here, and the site is for a vendor of mine who just registered his own domain name. So it is really more of a placeholder until he figures out what he wants his site to include.

1. The prize is $175 for a home page template.

2. The company is Advantage Data Services, which is a data procesing firm for direct marketing lists. So it is highly data intensive list work, merging files, purging duplicates, special coding for tracking resonses to marketing projects etc. The firm is small (1 person), and not looking to post a ton of info on the site, basically just a page with a paragraph or two about what they do, and contact info. The second page would be a more detailed description of the different proccessing options available which are pretty technical with alot of postal requirements etc. MAybe a paragraph for each with 10 services total. Sample services include: NCOA, Merge/Purge, Address Standardization, Data Match-Back etc.

3. The business card he made himself is posted at: http://www.drg.com/adv.jpg (should be posted in this post too, if that worked.) That is all we have to start with. Clearly he is going with a "The Matrix" style look. With that in mind, a techy looking gray background, with some sort of animated "1" and "0" thing would probably work great (like a better version of what he has onthe card)

4. The main page would have a "client login" field which would require a password, and then will go to an FTP site for uploading and downloading files.

5. It shouldn't be too far out there on the techy look, as most of his clients are either working for the post office, or with the post office, so it needs to look like a respectable business, so maybe higher-end techy is the way to describe it.

That's all I can think of right now, feel free to ask questions or post ideas, I am excited to see where this ends up.

Scott

[Luc]

Hi! I'll post my entry soon.

[ScottZ]

Sounds good, I'm looking forward to it.

[Luc]

When is the deadline?

[ScottZ]

I was hoping to have something by the end of this week, but it isn't set in stone.

[Luc]

Can you provide more details like base navigation. What will be the contents on the main page? And the subpage as well?

[Palmer]

Scott, you might want to loo at the following message to give you an idea of what would help us. You don't have to include all the details, just a few that would put us in the right direction...

http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/?showtopic=1299

Thanks

[ScottZ]

Is it OK to use an example from one of the designers competing for the work as an example? It seems like it would be OK, but since I am new, I thought I would ask.

I'll work on adding some clarification, and examples, and will post shortly, so stop me now if that is taboo!

[marengo]

<!--QuoteBegin-ScottZ+Oct 21 2003, 08:43 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ScottZ @ Oct 21 2003, 08:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Is it OK to use an example from one of the designers competing for the work as an example? It seems like it would be OK, but since I am new, I thought I would ask.

I'll work on adding some clarification, and examples, and will post shortly, so stop me now if that is taboo! [/b][/quote]
yes, it's ok. :) I'm in your contest too.
Thanks,
Nat

[ScottZ]

Here is my attempt at a little more clarity on the contest, feel free to ask more questions if that helps.

Since this is just a placeholder until we get a full site written up, we don't have to much to go on here. So it's OK if it it isn't overly complicated for the start. I would think that at a future time, he will write the copy for the rest of the site, and we can finish up the rest of the pages and details then.

In the header, in theory, it would be cool if the letters and numbers moved down like in the "Matrix" and built the words "Advantage Data Services" somehow. But if that is alread a cliche, or you have a different look in mind go for it. I just thought that up based on the business card graphic he is using.

I'll post a little sketch of how I see this going, but am totally open to all ideas, I'm not a designer, so I just plunked down general placement of stuff.

I like the color scheme and high-tech look of the site below (from Luc's archive site) but it is probably too techy over all to use for a general business site. So the words would have to be easier to read and we ouldn't need the ullistration etc.

http://www.exoillusion.com/layouts/ei_technology.jpg

Since it is a new company with no previous materials designed, besides thebusiness card (which is nothing special) there aren't any existing materials t copy artwork from.

I looked at a couple of their competitors sites, and all look for the most part like they were created in Frontpage by the owner. So anything you guys come up with will be an improvement over the competition.

This is a direct marketing data processing firm. So a typical client would be the person who handles the list buying and management for large catalogers, political mailers and fundraisers. The stakes are pretty big (many of these mailings are in the millions of pieces) so it is important the a client who goes to the site think it looks professional - since a mistake in the list processing could mean that none of the millions of pieces are deliverable! That said, it is a computer processing firm, and he likes high tech stuff, so a cool but professional site would certainly do the trick.

Is this helpful? need more info? Just ask. I will be away from the office for the next 2 days, so if we need to run this until the end of next week to get everyones questions answered etc, I am fine with doing that. As long as no one objects with extending it of course.

[MUTE DESIGN]

I'm almost finished my design...your gonna like this! :D
Probably later tonight!

[Luc]

OK Thanks for giving more details :) I'm not a flash designer. Is it ok if header wouldn't be flash?

[ScottZ]

Yes, that is totally fine - I was just throwing out general ideas, but don't care at all if the headr is flash, gif, jpg etc. You make the call on that one.

[Luc]

Ok here's my entry :) Hope you like it.

[Huhhso]

hi here is my entry for your contest
thanks!


:D

[pod]

Hi Scott ,
Here is my entry http://www.podmultimedia.com/advantage.html
Thanks

[marengo]

I'll post my entry tomorrow.
Thank you :)
Nat

[Palmer]

I'm working on an entry too. :)

[MUTE DESIGN]

Heres mine.... :tup:

[admin edit]Entry removed, check your private messages[/edit]

[marengo]

Hello,
my entry (not coded):
http://marengo.neopages.net/matrix/1.html
Any modifications are possible :)
Thanks,
Nat
Edit: flash is 36Kb

[Palmer]

Here's my entry. Hope you like it :)

<img src='http://www.yourwebbuddy.com/templates/ads/1.png' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[ScottZ]

Fantastic work everyone. I am really impressed. Sorry for the delayed response, I had to head out of town last week, and it took a couple of days to get caught up.

I showed all of the designs to Jim, and he had the following comments (some of which contradict the earlier directions he gave me - I think once he saw the designs, it was easier to see the strengths and weeknesses of his original input!)

His favorite 2 are:
1. Huhhso - He likes the header, and the layout. Would like to see an "es" added to "service" in the header and make the name more prominent and a little more obvious in the header. He also really liked the "The Advantage" idea for a headline for the body copy. Wasn't crazy about the buttons, but they weren't a deal killer either.

2. Marengo - he likes the flash idea, but would want the letters to stop scrolling after a few runs through the name (could they end scrolling where they spell out "Advantage Data Services"?) Also, would like the name to the right larger and more prominent. Doesn't want people shots to be prominently displayed, as it is just a 2 person company, and they almost never go to meetings.

We both liked all of the others a lot, and here is specific feedback on them:
3. LUC - this is exactly what he asked for. Although once he saw it, he thought it was too dark overall. I was surprised, as this is what he described. But seeing that he fell for the 2 with heavy white space the most, we can see he probably doesn't want it to be as dark or matrixy as originally stated.

4. Palmer - He LOVED the magnifying glass showing data over the buildings graphic. Thought it was a stroke of genius. He liked the tall image to the left, but didn't care too much for the left side of the header with the Link 1, Link 2 etc.

5. POD - this one is probably too far in the techy/lifestyle style of a page. It is an interesting direction, but not straight-ahead businessy enough. And, he wants to avoid the use of too many or too stron of people images. Again, I can see how you got there from the direction provided.

6. The last image, which doesn't seem to be on the site anymore, had too many links that we'll never use, and the name in the header was a little too artistic, not business enough. It looked too much like a retail site.

I think that is all of them. He doesn't want to use the "Client Login" at this time so the final round should have the following links:
1. About us
2. Services
3. Contact Us

Now, having said all of that, I should also say, I really think we could make any of the top 4 work, which is really a testament to the quality of work you are putting up on the site, and is greatly appreciated.

So now you get to judge my feedback (need more? Less? have questions? Answers?) Just let me know what to do next, or if I need to provide more or better feedback.

[marengo]

Thanks for feedback :) I'll show you reworked version tomorrow.
Regards,
Nat

[Huhhso]

I'll get started on these revisions... should have something late tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks!

[Palmer]

What they said. :)

[Luc]

Ok!

[Luc]

Here's the revision.

[marengo]

Hello,
take a look at my reworked version:
http://marengo.neopages.net/matrix/3.html
Better?

Thanks,
Nat :)

[ScottZ]

You guys are fantastic.

A couple of quick comments.

1. Luc - I am sure he will like this color scheme a lot more. The photo isn't right though to the left of the body copy. Maybe a photo of a computer monitor with data on it or something. He really didn't want to go with people shots.

2. Marengo - I think the header is great, that is very close to what he was describing. Same comment on the photos -he doesn't like people shots, so the guy along the left side will have to go. I used to live in Leuven, Belgium, so I enjoyed looking through the Belgium Artists site I found through your links. I haven't been back for several years, but loved livign there!

[marengo]

Scott, ok, I'll replace this image. Do you think something abstract will be good?
Yes, Belgium is a good country. (wanted to type "the best" :) ).
Thanks,
Nat

Edit: I'll post final version tomorrow morning (GMT) . Thanks.

[ScottZ]

Abstract would be fine I am sure. He liked the abstract photos used in some of the other examples quite abit.

[Huhhso]

posting revisions
thanks!

[Huhhso]

with out laptop...
actual animation does not loop forever

[ScottZ]

Great! I like the direction these are going in.

Does anybody object to wrapping up the contest by end of day Friday?

I don't really have a hard deadline, so if there are schedule conflicts, I can wait. If that works for everyone however, it works great for me.

Thanks
Scott

[Luc]

Friday is fine. I'll post the revision later today.

[Luc]

I removed the business people and changed it with a laptop with the header displaying in the screen.

[Luc]

The laptop in this one displays the site layout in the screen.

[marengo]

Hello,
please take a look at updated version:
http://marengo.neopages.net/matrix/new/1.html
Thanks for comments :)
Regards,
Nat

[ScottZ]

We've got a winner!

It was tough making a decision, as all of these have been so good from start to finish.

The winner is LUC with option #2 (laptop displays the website in window).

I have a couple of small changes to make:
1) remove the address and phone number data from below the laptop image. We'll put thos in on another page.

2) In the button bar, just below the header, make the URL www.advantagedataservices.net (instead of "www.advantagedata.net).

3) Instead of a "Clients" button, make that say "About us"

That's it! Let me know what thenext steps are for sedning me files etc.

Thanks to everyone for the hard work you put into this, it is greatly apreciated!

I'll be posting a new contest in the next few weeks for a music store which will be even more fun (I think)!

[marengo]

Congratulations, Luc! :tup:

[Luc]

Thank you very much!

[Luc]

Scott, I sent you a PM.

[anthony_mv]

Congrats Luc , Great entry :)

[ScottZ]

Thank Luc! I downloaded the files, and everything seem to be right on target.

Thanks for the great work!

[Luc]

No problem! It's my job! I'm glad your happy with it :)
Good luck with the new site!