Corporate Events Website Template - $180

[Dan Morgan]

(Admin code added by Palmer - D9184810)

Hello creative people!

4th contest on DO!

New personal project I need help with a template for. The site is for Company Events Limited UK.

Current site is located at:

http://www.companyevents.ltd.uk/

But the new site will be located at:

http://www.companyeventslimited.com

All info about the client is on the site so you can get a good idea of content. A logo is already done, and I have uploaded EPS and AI versions of it to this post along with a scan of one of the adverts for the company which ran in the Yellow Pages recently (note the printers messed up the colours on the print, the actual background on the EDS/AI logo files is the background colour which should be used.

http://www.ski-review.com/files.zip

Brief is something elegant, corporate which conveys an elite high regarded company. Ideally the client wants to establish a personal rapport by means of contact via email/phone so the structure should encourage contact wherever possible without ramming a phone number down their throat. Just by suggestive means. The message being one where most details will be discussed in person rather than an elaborate “contact” form.

Site should use the purple and white from the logo, and be elegant with good use of form and shapes/curves to provide structure/headings/headers. Maybe you could use the horse with lowered opacity and/or gradients/different shades in the background.

Stock photography can be used by sparingly and only to subtlety illustrate a point.

This can either be supplied as a homepage with a sub pages with a slightly different layout or as a simple one page design which the homepage and sub pages can both use. I would prefer the first option however.

Deadline in 2 stages. I narrow down all entries a week from today on the 10th and post a winner a few days after. Ideally I would like all entries in by the 10th as I will show them to the client and I would not like to risk changing his decision because a great template was submitted after this date.

Sites which convey the right ambience:

http://www.ncm.at (really like this style for text formatting ect, but with a dark background)
http://www.adtech.de/
http://www.hbinteractive.co.uk/

Any questions please ask!

Looking forward to seeing your work!

Dan

[Dan Morgan]

When I posted those links to sites I like (well the 2nd and 3rd) I was really having difficulty finding sites which I liked and wanted this template to be similar in style too. I guess the best example would be the majority of car manufacturers sites. Very often dark background with nice structure! BMW & Mini etc.


Ooh! Found a great example. 1on1's first post on this page: http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/?showt...9&hl=lawn&st=30 (http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/?showtopic=2939&hl=lawn&st=30) - Perfect Style!


Also I forgot to mention that I will code (markup and CSS) this myself as I am on a 100% CSS trip at the moment so all I need is a layered native file.

Thanks

Dan

[KellyB]

Hi Dan :)

thanks for emailing me and letting me know about this contest...

I will be entering :)

[KellyB]

Hi Dan..

Here's two ideas for starters :)

<img src='http://www.c1vision.com/sitepoint/company1.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

<img src='http://www.c1vision.com/sitepoint/company2.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

The photo is licensed for use, but I thought it would be quite cool to change that photo depending on which page you were on... or the time of the year - ie. at christmas, christmas party photo.

Let me know what you think...

[Anne]

Here is my entry

Looking forward to your feedback

[Dan Morgan]

Well what can I say!

Wow and Wow is a good start!

You gals have captured the style I want very well. In fact the more I look at 1on1's template the more it fits exactly with the look I want to acheive.

Kelly - Great! Love the overall style and structure. Things I would change would be:

1. Remove the "The Number 1 for Parties......" text top right. Not keen on text at that size being stroked.

2. Change the "Our business is ..." text heading to a graphical text element, in white.

3. Change the font for all the system text to something else, maybe Tahoma 11px?

Great idea about changing the photo!

Anne - Again - top notch. Brilliant structure and eye pleasing layout.

Changes:

1. Black text is hard to read so can it be changed to white? The "Our business is Parties..." is nice but could it be full white and a different font? That one looks like a cross between system and graphical. Would also like to see a different font for the list of activities, both graphical and system (for SEO purposes).

2. Would love to see a lick of white to accentuate the header tracing the wavy line but varying in thickness - if you know what I mean?

3. The images top right - Not keen on the images used but very keen on the use of images there. Those particular photos do not seem to fit. Same comment as Kelly re the text over the photos.

4. Nav is nice, but does not really fit the elegant look. Can we try something else?

Thanks :) Impressed as always, looking forward to changes and new entries!

[KellyB]

Hi Dan..

Here are the changes... plus a few changes of my own too :)

I've changed the colours slighty. I've realised that my monitor is set really dark - and saw the colours on my partners monitor and they were a bit in your face :D oh well :)

<img src='http://www.c1vision.com/sitepoint/company3.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Dan Morgan]

Hey! What can I say but it looks great! :D

Maybe a bit dark overall. If you fancy trying to lighten it then that would be good but I can see the overall effect of the design and can convey that adequately to the client when I meet to show him the designs.

Any more coming from anyone? :mellow: :)

[1on1]

Hi Dan, I will try and get something for you to see soon, now that I can get back on the site ;)

[KellyB]

<img src='http://www.c1vision.com/sitepoint/company4.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

A bit lighter :)

[Dan Morgan]

Much nicer :)

[1on1]

Dan I just noticed the deadline and I will be away on holiday from that date, so I don't think it would be wise for me to enter something. Sorry about that.

[DesignGeneral]

I'm in :)

[Dan Morgan]

<!--QuoteBegin-1on1+Mar 5 2004, 07:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (1on1 @ Mar 5 2004, 07:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Dan I just noticed the deadline and I will be away on holiday from that date, so I don't think it would be wise for me to enter something. Sorry about that. [/b][/quote]
:( Thats bad news! Oh well at least you inspired this contest :) How long are you away for? Let me know it may be possible for you to still enter.

[Dan Morgan]

<!--QuoteBegin-DesignGeneral+Mar 5 2004, 07:43 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (DesignGeneral @ Mar 5 2004, 07:43 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm in :) [/b][/quote]
Awesome news! :D

[Anne]

Here is the revision. I am not sure about the text you pointed out ... the only graphical text now is the menu.

I would like some feedback on the design before I start searching for other pictures to use on the top. Do you have any suggestions on what kind of images you would like to see there.

Thanks
- Anne

[1on1]

<!--QuoteBegin-Dan Morgan+Mar 5 2004, 10:10 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Dan Morgan @ Mar 5 2004, 10:10 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> :( Thats bad news! Oh well at least you inspired this contest :) How long are you away for? Let me know it may be possible for you to still enter. [/b][/quote]
I go away on the 10th and will return on the 17th - going to Fuerteventura to get some sun :)

[Dan Morgan]

Well that seems cool 1on1. If you enter before or on the 10th and win, I can always wait til the 17th to start coding.

Either that or you could send Palmer the file just in case?

Anne, looks good! :) Would still change the "Our business is..." to a more ornate/elegant font, and I am not sure about the nav, preferred the old one to the new, but do not like the old one much. Very very nice though!;)

[Anne]

<!--QuoteBegin-1on1+Mar 5 2004, 08:57 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (1on1 @ Mar 5 2004, 08:57 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I go away on the 10th and will return on the 17th - going to Fuerteventura to get some sun :) [/b][/quote]
Take me with you, take me with you .... I am so sick of all the snow right now

[Anne]

Made som changes to the menu (left side) and the heading.

[Dan Morgan]

Anne! Awesome, really love that! I can see my client is going to have a hard time deciding this one already and we only have 2 entries! :D

Fuerteventura is supposed to be nice (depending which part you stay in), my 2 housemates went last year.

Anne, how can you be sick of snow? ;) I would kill for a hill and some white stuff :D

[KellyB]

I wish I was going somewhere hot - we're going to Aviemore up North Scotland in May :blink: cold cold cold

[Anne]

<!--QuoteBegin-Dan Morgan+Mar 6 2004, 01:42 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Dan Morgan @ Mar 6 2004, 01:42 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Anne, how can you be sick of snow? ;)&nbsp; I would kill for a hill and some white stuff :D[/b][/quote]
Well, we have snow half the year here so enough is enough :D Now I can't wait for the spring to come (in april/may)

[DesignGeneral]

here is my entry.

feedback will be appreciated.

Thanks B)

[DesignGeneral]

and with the logo on background ...

[Dan Morgan]

Hey!

Great work! :D

With the header, not sure I like the 2 ovals - would perhaps look better as one or as a single irregular shape? Is the feathering around the image intented?

Nav looks really good, nice concept with the icon of the horse.

I am really anal with fonts, so would change the "Next time your company.." to something else as well as the lists of activities and the font you have used in the footer. However love the font for "Our business is events". :)

The pointed bit in the header looks a bit too much like an Indian temple, not really keen on that look, same for the grainy background on the footer.

Overall, really nice concept which will be great with a few tweaks!

[DesignGeneral]

Hi,

The 2 ovals suggest a pair of sunglases B) . (that's mean fun, party, elegance ...)

The feather around the image is intended. The 2 ovals have a nice focus on the page. This way your logo and the image get the attention.

The texture from header and footer can be changed(that's not a pb).

About the fonts...

I used Arial for the middle and footer of page because is a common font. I can use other fonts if u planning to have text on images. If you want to have text in the html than you will use a common font and u can customize this from the css or html coding.

My idea is. The headline "Our business..." can be made like an image. The left nav will be made from rollover images. The middle will have background with the faded logo and the footer will have also background and company text, navigation and copyright will be html.

I'll wait your feedback before I'll make the changes.

Thanks

[Dan Morgan]

Ah I see!

I would still lose the Sunglasses idea ;) and try and incorporate that photo in some other way. I think the logo 'lens' would work well on its own. And definately lose the feathering.

The "next time..." text; can it be changed to normal Tahoma 11px as I think that will work well. Same with the text in the middle of the page (bold) and the footer. Agree with the "Our buinsess...", that can be left as it is.

And obviously the pointed bit in the footer to be removed. And the copyright text to be white too.

Thanks

Dan :D

[DesignGeneral]

ok,

I'll be back with changes :)

[1on1]

*Image Removed

[Dan Morgan]

Hi Martin!

First of all I really really like the background and the structure you have used.

Only things I am not keen on again is the text used. I really think Tahoma 11px or Verdana should be used for everything which is normal text. And again any headings should be a graphical element lke Kelly, DG and ANne have now used.

Not sure about the hand and the yellow text used, does not quite fit with the rest of the design and the hand looks a bit cartoony.

I do not think there will be a need for a "Latest News" section so I think that left hand column could be made narrower and the news dropped.

Apart from that :tup:

[1on1]

Hi Dan, thanks for the feedback.

*Image Removed

[Dan Morgan]

Hey!

Much preferred the background for the main content bit in your original version ;) Having all white text would look much better that way too!

Not so keen on the black headers you used there. If you used the original background with white text and have the headers using some kind of ornate font similar to the other 3 entried that would be great.

Would also lose the "main navigation" text and dumb down the telephone number to be the same size as the address.

Those additional swooshes in the header do not really add much so could we lose those? Maybe somekind of photo to break up the colours a bit woudl work but I am not sure.

With those changes I think that it would be ready for me to show the client with the others.

Very happy with all so far, when 1on1 and Design General make the changes requested I will have 4 awesome designs to show the client which he cannot possibly fail to like - hard part will be picking one!

[1on1]

*Image Removed

[Dan Morgan]

Great! :)

To reintroduce my anal font nature, is that Tahoma 11px (browser rendered not photoshop)? If not I would like that for the tel/address and content text.

That ornate/italicised font is a little too ornate and italicised though. It needs something between that and regular arial, like the other entries.

Cheers

Dan :)

[1on1]

Dan, all the text and the links are Verdana and the headings are now Georgia.
I have updated the image in my last post :)

I haven't got all my fonts installed yet as I have recently just installed a fresh copy of xp on my machine.

[DesignGeneral]

Hi Dan,

here is my revision.

Thanks

[Dan Morgan]

Hi DG,

Looks great but you still have the pointy bit in the footer ;)

[DesignGeneral]

fixing now. I'll be back :)

[DesignGeneral]

here we go...

Let me know if you want other changes. I'll make them straight away.

Thanks

[Dan Morgan]

That looks great! Instead of the curvy footer bit can it be straight? And the Company Event Ltd. at the bottom over the address can that be the same size as the address.

Those changes and that templates good to go!

Tomorrow is the deadline everyone, and I hope to show these designs tomorrow evening UK time if anyone is planning on entering.

Thanks

Dan

[DesignGeneral]

I'll be back with changes :)

[DesignGeneral]

I'm back B)

Here are few options

[DesignGeneral]

2nd

[DesignGeneral]

3rd

[DesignGeneral]

4th

[1on1]

Hi Dan,

Is there anything you need changing on my entry?

[Dan Morgan]

DG- Nice revisions! :)

Martin,

It would help of you could give me a version of your last template with Tahoma 11px (browser rendered) as the system fonts instead of the Verdana?

Ta,

Dan

[DesignGeneral]

Let me know if u want changes.

Thanks B)

[Anne]

I tried to find some better pictures, and this is what I found. I Also made some small adjustments to the design.

[Anne]

or

[1on1]

*Image Removed

[1on1]

*Image Removed

[1on1]

Hi Dan, If mine is chosen the templates should be with Palmer.

Good Luck Everyone!

[Dan Morgan]

Great thanks everyone. This will be open until 7 o clock UK time this evening.

Dan :)

[Dan Morgan]

Hey all, just posting to let you know the situation.

I took the designs to the client and he is still mulling it over. I keep going down to see him to follow up but he owns a bar, and well temptation is sometimes too much so we never get anything achieved.

Dan :)

[Dan Morgan]

Okay - Just had a answerphone message from the client. He has picked the one he wants and I should be meeting him tonight or tomorrow to find out which.

Dan

[KellyB]

thanks for keeping us posted dan :)

[Dan Morgan]

Well finally made a meeting and now can announce a winner.

Only have a minute as I am off out now but with out further ado; Congratulations Kelly!! :)

Thanks to everyone who participated - yet another hard to judge contest it seems.

Send the files over Kelly! :D

[KellyB]

yaay :) Files will be with you shortly!! :)

[KellyB]

Files Sent :) - All layers are named and organised for ease of use :)

Thanks again

Kelly

[1on1]

Congrats Kelly - Good Job :tup: (What am I going to do with all my loosing designs :D )

[KellyB]

awww thanks 1on1!! dont worry - I know the feeling too! I got a directory on my computer for the losing ones!! :)

[Michael]

Congrats Kelly :tup:

[KellyB]

Hi Dan!!

Just wondering, since this wasnt in resellers templates - can I put this on my portfolios? I've currently got it on c1vision, but if I need to take it down, please let me know.

Thanks!!

[Dan Morgan]

Afaik, that should be cool. I will check with the client.