[Project Complete] New Humor Website - I Love Carbs! - Template Contest - $265

[circler]

(Admin code added by Palmer - D874132W)

The templates forum is looking kind of slow. Thought I'd kick things off with a fun website template contest :)

Web Design Contest - Prize $265

Company name: I Love Carbs

Company profile:

I make funny websites and sell t-shirts. With this whole carb craze that's going on, I thought to myself, "SELF! we need to jump on the reverse bandwagon".

So my plan is to make a PRO-carb website with some humorous news stories, funny t-shirt slogans, and other propaganda.

Alex created a great logo for me, now I need a nice website template to go with it..

Image I want to portray: funny, catchy, clean

Domain name: What else :) ILoveCarbs.com

What is the scope of this project?: New site

Who is the intended audience?: College kids, middle aged men and women tired of the diet fads. People who like funny (and have money to spend :)

Mood or tone?: Like a light hearted professional site (almost like theonion, but with more carbs).

Color psychology?:

I think it should follow the lines of the logo. But if you can think of another complimentary color scheme, go for it!

Any dynamic elements?: This template will be used with the Mambo CMS script from MamboServer.com (same script that DesignOutpost uses).

(see http://forum.mamboserver.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8 )
http://www.mamboserver.com

The template should be able to fit into Mambo's template system. There should be a search box, login form.


Who are your main competitors?: none yet :)

What resources can you provide?:

I have the logo that Alex made for me (and a couple of others that I purchased that might possibly fit into the header of the site?

I'd rather not post the high resolution files in the public forum, since they could be downloaded and used by a competitor or something. Is there another way I can get the files to the designers?

Websites you like:

TestMagic.com - use of white space, easy navigation, 100% width.

realbeer.com - like the integration of news and ads

bonsaifavorites.com - clean layout

theonion.com - funny news website

Deadline: August 6, 2004 (or sooner if I find a WOW design).

Deliverables - HTML outputted files and any css/graphics that go with them. I think I may need only one template file.


Give a shout if you're going to enter, thanks!

--
Rodney

[circler]

I forgot the site navigation links.

- Home
- Carbs Shop
- Carb News
- Propaganda
- Join the Discussion

Please leave space/make it easy to add more sections or take some away.

Layout can be similar to that of mamboserver.com, maybe with a carb heavy header (graphics to be posted in the designers forum).

[V + E + R + T]

I'd rather not post the high resolution files in the public forum, since they could be downloaded and used by a competitor or something. Is there another way I can get the files to the designers?

My suggestion would be to PM to logo files to us, by request.

[circler]

My suggestion would be to PM to logo files to us, by request.

I talked to Palmer and he said I could email the files to him and then he would post them in the Designers Forum.

I'm still waiting on one file from another designer, then I'll send them over to Palmer so he can post them.

If you're at all interested in this contest, please let me know.

Thanks,

Rodney

[V + E + R + T]

I'm interested in this contest and will submit a design soon.

However, the logo file has not been posted up yet (either that, or I missed it).

[circler]

I just sent the logo files to Palmer, so he should have them posted in the Designers forum soon.

Thanks for the interest!

[Palmer]

Files posted here...
http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4941

[V + E + R + T]

I have to say, I had lots of fun doing this template. There's nothing like doing a satirical design based on something that you continously hear on the radio, TV, etc.


Here is my entry to the contest. (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/progex/carbs/carbs.html)

Note: If you want more whitespace for a cleaner feel, I can code the template so that it can fit 100% of the browser width.

Let me know what you think, thanks! :)

[Anne]

Here is an entry from.

Looking forward to your feedback
Anne

[Trifolic]

Hi Rodney, Here's my shot at it. Let me know what you think and if you would like to see any changes..

Thanks

*image removed bandwidth saver*

[BrianDove]

:rolleyes:

dont have time to enter, im sincerely sorry
Brian:blush:

[Palmer]

Designers, there is another file for this project posted in the designers forum...
http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4941

[circler]

Originally posted by V + E + R + T
Let me know what you think, thanks! :)


First off, I want to thank all of have entered. I was beginning to wonder if this contest wasn't any fun :)


V+E+R+T:

I like the layout, although I wonder if it is a little *too* close to the beer site that I posted. I don't want to be an exact copy of another site.

That being said, I like your addition of a skyscraper adspace, and I like the carb food category headers. If you could remove the top of the McDonalds M from the fries, that would be great (that's probably something that happens after revisions, so no change necessary now).

I would like to have a showcased product (or products) above the fold in the template. If you could put some sort of product (like a generic t-shirt) where you have what's on the menu, and move what's on the menu to the member spotlight box and get rid of member spotlight.

Is there any way to show how much more whitespace it would add as a 100% width template?

Also, for all designers, I would like the menu item CARB PROPAGANDA replaced with CARB RECIPES

[Trifolic]

Hi Rodney, I changed the menu, and added that new doughnut dude. :) Let me know what you think if you would like to see any other changes..

*Bandwidth saver*

[V + E + R + T]

Here is the template with the revisions you requested:

Click here to view the template. (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/progex/carbs/ilovecarbs2.html)

In regards to the 100% browser width with the whitespace, I tried to do my best to do a screenshot with the browser involved to give you a good idea as to what it would look like (Note: I expanded the "red headers" a bit because there seemed to be too much whitespace. However, if you prefer more whitespace, I can resize the headers down to the normal width):

Click here to view the 100% width in effect. (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/progex/carbs/whitespace.jpg)

Actually, I didn't even look at the beer site for inspiration. The only time I went there was to grab the skyscraper banner. :)

Let me know, thanks!

[circler]

Originally posted by Anne
Here is an entry from.

Looking forward to your feedback
Anne


Thanks for the entry, Anne!

I apologize for the delay in giving feedback to the other entries. My internet connection has been spotty since I put in a new router.

I like the colors and the style of the layout in your template, Anne. I would like to see it with the Mr.Donut character replacing the hotdog in the upper right hand corner, and moving the Hot News header to right above the "In Defense of Carbs" links and changing the header to say Carb News.

Where the Hot News header was, I would like a showcased product (like a generic tee), as this is where I would be showing off the products from the store.

Also, could you change Propaganda to Carb Recipes.

Thanks! This is going to be another tough contest to judge!

[circler]

Originally posted by Trifolic
Hi Rodney, I changed the menu, and added that new doughnut dude. :) Let me know what you think if you would like to see any other changes..


Hi Trifolic, thanks for the entry.

I like the clean look of your template and your use of all the characters. I think there may be too many sections on the main page though.

Let's get rid of Active Discussions and make Latest News one column (instead of 2 split).

I like the easy text navigation, and it looks like I could expand the template if necessary.

Can you find a spot to put a Search box? Maybe on the right side of the top navigation header?

Also, can you add a "Join" link next to the "Forgot Password" link by the login boxes.

One last thing. Could you show me what the template would look like with a bit more color somewhere? Maybe in the top navigation behind the headings?

Thanks!

[Trifolic]

Originally posted by circler
Hi Trifolic, thanks for the entry.

I like the clean look of your template and your use of all the characters. I think there may be too many sections on the main page though.

Let's get rid of Active Discussions and make Latest News one column (instead of 2 split).

I like the easy text navigation, and it looks like I could expand the template if necessary.

Can you find a spot to put a Search box? Maybe on the right side of the top navigation header?

Also, can you add a "Join" link next to the "Forgot Password" link by the login boxes.

One last thing. Could you show me what the template would look like with a bit more color somewhere? Maybe in the top navigation behind the headings?

Thanks!

I believe I covered all the areas that you requested.. Please let me know what you think :) Thanks

*bandwidth Saver*

[circler]

Originally posted by V + E + R + T
Here is the template with the revisions you requested:


Let me know, thanks!



Hi V+E+R+T, thanks for the changes.

The 100% width looks good, but now it looks as if there is something missing (maybe too much whitespace?)

I think your design is close to complete though. Maybe if you added another product below the t-shirt to fill in the space some?

[circler]

Originally posted by Trifolic
I believe I covered all the areas that you requested.. Please let me know what you think :) Thanks


Hi Trifolic, thanks for the changes.

Could you make a header for the Carb News items column (it should go right above the two news stories you have there)?

Also, could you make that column a bit wider so it is about equal width with the product column?

The red background behind the headings almost seems *too* strong in that template. Maybe we could use the tan color as the background color and the red as the highlight (basically the reverse of what you have now).

Lastly, is that template all text based except for the logos? What would be the width...100% or is it fixed?

[Anne]

Made the requested changes

Anne

[Trifolic]

Originally posted by circler
Hi Trifolic, thanks for the changes.

Could you make a header for the Carb News items column (it should go right above the two news stories you have there)?

Also, could you make that column a bit wider so it is about equal width with the product column?

The red background behind the headings almost seems *too* strong in that template. Maybe we could use the tan color as the background color and the red as the highlight (basically the reverse of what you have now).

Lastly, is that template all text based except for the logos? What would be the width...100% or is it fixed?

Hi, I made the changes, you were right the tan does look much better. I also widened the news as well. Right now I designed it in PS as a fixed template 780px. However it can eaisly be made to be 100% by CSS. Which would mean you could keep the news column the size it is now, and the banner column the same size, and then just have the center expand to make 100%

[V + E + R + T]

Originally posted by circler
Hi V+E+R+T, thanks for the changes.

The 100% width looks good, but now it looks as if there is something missing (maybe too much whitespace?)

I think your design is close to complete though. Maybe if you added another product below the t-shirt to fill in the space some?

I added another product under the t-shirt, as you can see here (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/progex/carbs/carb100.jpg).

Let me know if this is how you wanted it. Thanks!

[circler]

Hi V+E+R+T, thanks for the revision.

I should have my decision in the next day or two.

[circler]

Hi Anne, thanks for the revision.

I should have my decision in the next day or two.

[circler]

Hi trifolic, thanks for the revision.

I should have my decision in the next day or two.

[circler]

After much deliberation with our board of directors (me), the tough decision has been made to make the winner of this design contest:

Trifolic (with some minor revisions)

Thanks to all the designers who entered the contest, and special thanks to V+E+R+T for being the first entry to kick things off!

[Trifolic]

Thank you! :) If one of the admins can move this thread to the revisions forum we can begin immediately with them.

[Michael]

Moved to revisions :)

[circler]

I think the only revisions I need is to drop the "Join the Discussion" navigation and "Free Email" after the "Carbs Shop" navigation link.

I would like it to be a 100% design please.

I think I should be able to make any other changes myself.