$225 for redesign of content-driven web site

[Eirik]

(Admin code added by Palmer - K611423E)

Needed: Redesign of content-driven web site and associated sub pages.
Prize: $225
Deadline: Sunday, 11.05.2003 (winner announced on the 12th)

Hi guys,

After having browsed the forums for over an hour this morning, I was so impressed with your work that I decided to give your guys a whirl as I'm currently looking to redesign our company's web site.

The web site in question is located at http://www.netmaking.no and is sort of a corporate web site disguised as a content-driven web site. By that I mean that we focus on providing our visitors with useful tips and articles related to running a web site, while our primary source of revenue is programming, which is hidden a little further into the site.

Our target audience is marketers and ceo’s of small-to-medium sized Norwegian-based companies, so I’m guessing that most of you won’t understand a word of the current web site. However, it’s really just your basic content site including logo, search box, menu, featured articles, newsletter subscription box, and so on.

The reason for the redesign is that the current design (except for the logo) is done by myself, a programmer, and that shows (or at least I feel so). So, I’m looking for something more sexy and exciting to give that crucial first impression.

Here are my requirements:


LAYOUT

As for the current site, I'm fairly satisfied with the layout, meaning the position of the different elements on the web site (the search box in the upper right corner, the newsletter subscription box below it, and so on). I have considered moving the navigation menu to the top to make more room for the content, though, so that might be something to keep in mind. Also regarding the navigation menu, I would like the redesign contributions to display a sub menu.


COLOR

As you’ll probably guess by the existing design, I’m into blue, and that’s a colour that I would like to keep (however, not recessarily in that shade). I would also like grey and orange incorporated in some way.


DESIGN

Since I was considering purchasing a template before I found this site, I thought I would link to some of my favorites including a description of why I like them to give you an idea of what I’m into.


#2394 (http://www.templatemonster.com/show.php?templ=2394&cat_type=&type=1&arg1=&arg2=&order=date)
This template has a sort of Win XP look. And though I find much of the XP design to be a little too round and childish, I must admit that I like that glossy, light effect.

#2317 (http://www.templatemonster.com/show.php?templ=2317&cat_type=search&type=1&arg1=2317&arg2=&order=date)
A fresh set of colours (blue, orange and grey as mentioned).

There were of course many more templates that appealed to me, but I think this gives a general idea.

However, one thing that I don’t like about these templates, and the templates I browsed in general, is that they were not designed for a content-driven web site. This was reflected in to ways.

- The design was very static (as you can see from the current page, it adjusts to your scrren width, and unless someone gives me a reason not to, I would like to keep it that way)
- The top bar was taking up way too much space (I want to present as much useful information as possible “above the fold”)

Regarding design in general, I’m a sucker for small types and icons. I find a smaller type to create a more content-rich feel. And as far as icons go, well, I just love them. :)

Also, I feel that it’s important to have white, or at least a very light colour as the background of the content-part of the site to make it as easy to read as possible.


LOGO

The logo is, as said, the only part of the site that isn’t designed by me, and I’m quite happy with it. So unless anyone feels an urge to change it, let’s try and keep it the way it is.

The logo can be downloaded in Illustrator format here (http://www.netmaking.no/logo_netmaking.eps) or as a great, big JPEG here (http://www.netmaking.no/netmaking_logo.jpg).


SUB PAGES

When we have got the look down for the main page, I will also be needing some ideas for the subpages like the article page (example: http://www.netmaking.no/artikler/index.php/3/5) and the newsletter (example: http://www.netmaking.no/nyhetsbrev/siste.html). However, this should be fairly straight-forward once we’ve got the main design settled.


FOCUS ON THE CONTENT-DRIVEN PART

One of the must important aspects for me is that I’m able to modify all the material I receive from the designer. Our web site is constantly changing, and I must be able to do modifications myself, without having to turn to a designer (I master Photoshop and any ol’ HTML editor).

I would also like a description of how to format the pictures (mainly of article contributors) to get a consistent feel when we get that far.


SIMILAR SITES

Well, any content-driven web site really. SitePoint (http://www.sitepoint.com) among others have a very similar target audience, only global. I don’t care mcuh for their recent redesign, though, as I feel that it’s too simple.

Please let me know if you require any additional information to start your work.

PS. I will be unavailable during the upcoming weekend, but back to answer any questions you might have on Monday morning.

Thanks in advance !


Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[motiveX]

I will get on something this weekend.

Thanks.
Sean

[Eirik]

Great, Sean! I came across several of your projects during my browsing session this morning, and you truely have some impressing work behind you. Looking forward to your suggestion!

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[Jeremy W.]

Can we get a high-res copy of the logo?

J

[motiveX]

Originally posted by Jeremy W.@May 2 2003, 02:10 PM
Can we get a high-res copy of the logo?

J
He posted links to one in the bottom part of his post...

1 (http://www.netmaking.no/logo_netmaking.eps)

2 (http://www.netmaking.no/netmaking_logo.jpg)

[LalitB]

Hello,
Here's my entry - http://www.eyeseedesigns.com/netmaking/

Thanks,
Lalit

[Eirik]

Ok, I'm back, and looking forward to all your suggestions.

Lalit
Thanks for the overall first contribution. Here are my thoughts on your entry:

1. The top bar currently takes up too much space that I need for content. I would like to see it smaller in height.

2. Though the globe is stylish, I find it to be a little too standard if you catch my drift. Also, we are a company targeting a Norwegian audience only, so it doesn't really represent our focus. I would prefer another picture that's less standard (I realize that's an odd request, but try to be creative :) ) and more in association with our focus, products and/or target audience.

3. To get a more consistent feel, I would like to see the buttons have a more similar look (referring to the Search button, and the Subscribe button labeled 'Legg meg til!').

4. I think the color red looks a little misplaced in this design. Perhaps it would look better if replaced with gray or orange?

5. The top gray bar is, in my eyes, redundant as it has no real purpose.

6. I feel that the the navigation menu font is a little too simple and boring. The menu buttons could benefit from a touchup to make them look more exciting (though not less readable, of course).

7. Please add a sub menu including the colors and layout you find appropriate.

8. Also, I would like to see some more graphics in the terms of icons, spicy section headings and perhaps images. It's really in this department that I need help, and the main reason why I'm doing a redesign.

9. Please include our address and other contact information as displayed on our web site.

10. Having the content of the featured sections intended looks a little weird to me. I would like to see it left aligned with the section heading.

11. Since you have fetched so much content from our main page (which is a good idea), I would also like to see the featured product box (the grey box below the most recent articles) and the most recent forum topics (below the featured product) added to the design.

Looking forward to your next entry!


Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[motiveX]

I have not been able to view your site of the last 24 hours...do you know of any issues?

It is causing me a bit of trouble, cause I am trying to remember the content from my intial look, and my photographic memory seems to be on vacation lately.

:lol2:

Hopefully I will be able to check it out soon...although the idea I have might not fit your needs.

Who knows...

[Eirik]

I've been trying to access it myself since I got home a couple of hours ago, and it's been unavailable to me as well. I'll email my web host right away, and if it isn't up again by tomorrow morning, I will contact my web host and yell at them! :)

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[Eirik]

The site seems to be up again now. Please let me know if it should go down again.

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[motiveX]

Originally posted by Eirik@May 4 2003, 04:11 PM
The site seems to be up again now. Please let me know if it should go down again.

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)
The template I am going to provide is going to be in English....I am getting a HUGE headache looking at writing I do not understand.

Since you obviously understand English, I will be going that route for the design. LOL.

Hope that isn't too much of a problem, cause my noggin' can't take it.

:(

[motiveX]

Here ya go...I chose to give myself a headache for the most part....now I don't know what language I really speak....err write.

:blink: :unsure: :help:

Here goes...this may or may not be what you are looking for, but at least it got me to do some work...I was heading into a rut.

:ph34r: :tdown:

http://www.placidminds.com/netmaking/layout.html

1st capture is top half of the page, 2nd is bottom half.

The text links lead you to large full images of two slight variations....they are large files so please be patient.

Thanks,
Seanathan

[Eirik]

Sean

Thanks for your first contribution. Here are my thoughts on your entry:

1. I find the color scheme to be a little too sad and corporate like. I want something light that makes the site look exciting. Please take a moment, if you haven't already done so, to look at the two templates that I've linked to in my first post. They both give that light, exciting feeling (at least to me) that I'm talking about.

2. The picture currently takes up too much space that I need for content. So if there is to be a picture, it has to be smaller and incorporated some other way.

3. Having done my research on your previous work :), I feel that your entry is a little too similar to your Haywoods entry, meaning the section headings and submit buttons. These are also contributing to the corporate look that I'm not really a fan of. I would like to see some graphical headings for the featured sections that are more spicy than Verdana on a singular colored background.

4. As with Lalit's contribution, I miss those icons that I love some much, and which I feel give the eyes something to rest on.

5. Looking at the sections 'featured products' and 'most recent articles', I feel that they lack some sort of frame. Also, I'm not a huge fan of having some of the content (the most recent articles) indented compared to the featured products.

6. If possible, I would like the 'les hele artikkelen' text (which translates into 'read the entire article') as a button.

7. Please add a sub menu including the colors and layout you find appropriate.


To sum it up for now:

Lalit and Sean: You've both provided very good entries, but lacking that light, eye-candish look that I'm after. If you need me to elaborate, please don't hesitate to ask!

Looking forward to upcoming contributions by yourself and others!'

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[LalitB]

My computer has been acting up, spent the whole day yesterday trying to fix it, still having troubles. Once I get it running normal i'll make the changes. :)

[geofharries]

Eirik,

I am working on a design for you at this moment. Should have something to post in the next couple of hours.

geof

[Eirik]

Great, Geof! Looking forward to it.

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[geofharries]

Eirik,

Here's my entry for the contest. I apologize for the lack of content besides the two article intros; I've been trying to access your website for the last few hours and it appears to be down. Thus, I couldn't include forum posts, feature products, etc. to fill out the page, so I decided to simply upload what I had and get your feedback at this point.

thanks,

geof

*image removed*

[Eirik]

I've been trying to access your website for the last few hours and it appears to be down

Boy, do I look forward to swapping web host some time next week! I've sent them an Email, and hopefully it will be back up soon (you can tell by seeing whether or not my avatar is displayed as it resides on my server).

Now, to your entry:

First of all, I must say I really enjoyed it! You've used the colors I like, and are certainly heading towards the look that I'm after. Here are some pointers that I belive could make the design even better.

1. Since all the body text is displayed in Verdana, I would like to see some other font in the menu, on the buttons and on the section headings. Perhaps a slimmer font like the one below the icons entitled 'more info' and 'add to clipboard' at http://www.woodworks.ca/ or something similar.

2. I would like to see something done with the background of the section headings on the right ('Nyhetsbrev' and 'Tips en venn'). Some effect, perhaps like the one on the background of 'recent articles', or something similar.

3. Try moving the contact info back to the buttom (in the gray bar) as it is on the old site. In stead, I would like to use the upper, right corner for some navigation buttons with associated icons. The icons should be for 'Om oss' (About us), 'Sponsor', 'Personvern' (Privacy policy), 'Kontakt oss' (Contact us). Please use these texts as labels, and some associated icons above them, similar to the icons at the WoodWorks site. If the top bar gets crowded, feel free to reduce the size of the logo.

4. Though I like the top section heading on the right not quite aligning with the top of the 'recent articles' bar, I feel that the thin blue line above the striped background of 'recent articles' is redundant.

5. Please edit the navigation menu to the following:

Hovedsiden
Artikler
Forum
Produkter
Tjenester

6. Please include the rest of the content like the featured product and the most recent forum postings when my site is back up.

7. Should the navigation menu have some sort of section heading as well? It would be interesting to see if it would fit.

That's it for now. Looking forward to your revised entry!

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[geofharries]

Eirik,

I'm working on the changes right now. Expect a new post in about an hour. You'd mentioned adding a heading to the top of the left hand navigation. Any ideas on what it could say? I don't like to use the word "navigate" or "menu" because they're redundant. A good design should emphasize the navbar regardless. Would you be cool with just a small amount of colour?

geof

[Eirik]

Would you be cool with just a small amount of colour?

Yes. Perhaps a heading is redundant alltogether. I'll leave it up to you to decide.

Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[geofharries]

Eirik,

Wow this is taking way too long. This is one of the most detailed comps I've done in many years...the new version should be up in a little bit. I'm just working on the upper 3 icons for the header portion now.

If I was billing by the hour, I'd be living in a cardboard box by now :)

geof

[Eirik]

If I was billing by the hour, I'd be living in a cardboard box by now :)

Well, then it's a good thing (for me) that you aren't.

I appreciate you letting me know. And don't sweat it. I'm just sitting here reloading the template forum page every five minutes. :D


Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[geofharries]

Eirik,

Here's the new look. I changed the header/feature font from Myriad to Swiss 721 Condensed, which is what the Woodworks site uses, so it's narrower and thinner. I added some texture to the right and left hand title bars but didn't like it, so I just made it an orange gradient along the lines of the main navigation. I think this looks pretty good. Also, the icons added to the header were quickly done up, so if you have a better idea about what the symbols should be, let me know.

thanks,

geof

http://www.kwota.com/designoutpost/netmaking-2.jpg

[Palmer]

Awesome as usual Geof :tup:

[Eirik]

Hi Geof,

It's looking really good! There are some minor changes that I would like to see, but I'll leave those until I've chosen a winner (upcoming Monday).

Great work so far, Geof. Thanks!


Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[QSDA]

[Admin Edit] Entry removed as per Palmer's decision. Further discussion about this entry can be via PM between Palmer and QSDA, not in this thread.

[Palmer]

QSDA, I'm going to have to ask you to remove that entry, make some changes, and upload a new one. I am not making accusations but that is way too similar to Geof's entry. Specifically the colors, the arrows, the boxes and gradients.

Thanks :)

[Eirik]

I am not making accusations but that is way too similar to Geof's entry.

I agree. Though I liked your entry a lot, Geof has put a lot of hours and thought (or at least so I hope :) ) into his entry, and it wouldn't be fair if someone could swoop in and snatch the prize in the final hour with an entry that's very similar to his.

Will you be able to resubmit your entry within about 6 hours?


Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[QSDA]

Originally posted by Palmer@May 11 2003, 11:07 PM
QSDA, I'm going to have to ask you to remove that entry, make some changes, and upload a new one.  I am not making accusations but that is way too similar to Geof's entry. Specifically the colors, the arrows, the boxes and gradients.

Thanks :)
Oh my god what? After working over 9+ hours this is what I've got to hear? I worked straight off Eirik's site. Eirik himself said that he wanted those colors plus look at his site, the layout, boxes everything looks just like geof's template, which means he was basically inspired by the old look whereas I was inspired by the old look too. All I did was updated all the old elements where they are. And don't tell me arrows and gradients are not my style because I use them all the time not on just websites but everywhere. I mean they are one of the most common elements in websites today...
Eirik - I can't do any new ones in 6 hours because 1st of all I'm not tired now, I gues you can figure that out, 2nd, anything I do I put a lot of thought and energy into them and usually spend a lot of hours especially on stuff like websites...so if Palmer call it a rip and disqualifies it then be it, it was just some 10 hours of headache...

[Eirik]

Eirik himself said that he wanted those colors plus look at his site, the layout, boxes everything looks just like geof's template, which means he was basically inspired by the old look whereas I was inspired by the old look too

I agree with you on this. I'll have a talk with Palmer, and get back to you.


Sincerley,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[QSDA]

I can tell you exactly how I decided to use what colors on what elements. I've been working with colors for a long time (I paint), I know what colors work the best, and how they work the best. Eirik said that he loved blue a lot so I noted down to use a lot of blues. Rigth then, I thought about gradients, because blues look very nice gradiented (sky for example). Then, he suggested some oranges, so I decided to use them on just the tabs of the boxes, and some little elements like the arrows, because I figured he wouldn't want the orange colors to dominate. Etc etc etc my design came out like geof's.
Bottom line, I did what my mind painted and I don't like ripping people's work.

[Palmer]

QSDA Chill out. I said you weren't ripping it off and it's not like you can't use it for another contest or another client. It's a very nice design. I'm making a ruling on what I see. I am not questioning your integrity. I do the same thing in the logo contests. In fact I had to do it twice in one day to the same person. Do I think they were ripping off someone else? The answer is no. The two of yours look too similar to let it go. I agree it, when a contest holder asks for certain specific things, it's easy for entries to be similar.

It shouldn't take more than a half hour. I'm simply asking you to change a few elements and colors. If you do that, then all will be fine.

[Eirik]

It shouldn't take more than a half hour. I'm simply asking you to change a few elements and colors. If you do that, then all will be fine.

QSDA:

I would like to get your final view on this matter before I select a winner, even if it means postponing the announcement of the winner until tomorrow.

Palmer:

Are you saying that unless QSDA makes changes to his entry, you will exclude it from the contest, making me unable to select it as the winning entry?


Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[Palmer]

Unfortunately yes. There are rules that are to be followed from members of the Design Team and it is up to me to enforce them. If he follows my advice and makes some changes then you can choose his updated entry but the most recent one is disqualified.

[QSDA]

I'm not going to make any changes to it because the way it is now is the best combination, and changing the colors wouldn't change "anything for me" because it will loose it's veriety - which is probably the key why it looks nice - and it will most likely loose. So I really don't know what to say...if Palmer finally let's it go then I will continue working on it otherwise I'm not touching it.
If you really look at the two designs the only thing that is similar is that one box style. It's just that they're laid out on the same positions which makes it look similar. If I used a totally different lay-out with the same elements and colors it wouldn't have looked the same.

[Palmer]

Originally posted by QSDA@May 12 2003, 06:38 PM
I'm not going to make any changes to it because the way it is now is the best combination, and changing the colors wouldn't change "anything for me" because it will loose it's veriety - which is probably the key why it looks nice - and it will most likely loose. So I really don't know what to say...if Palmer finally let's it go then I will continue working on it otherwise I'm not touching it.
If you really look at the two designs the only thing that is similar is that one box style. It's just that they're laid out on the same positions which makes it look similar. If I used a totally different lay-out with the same elements and colors it wouldn't have looked the same.
Well I've already made my ruling, I don't know why you are continuing to ignore it. It wasn't a "suggestion". You can either choose to follow what I've asked or I can delete your entry. I'm not going to "let it go". I've already made my final decision.

[Eirik]

Then the winner is Geof. Congratulations on a great redesign of our site!

Also, thanks to Lalit and Sean for contributing to the contest.

QSDA: You had a truely great entry as well, and I'm sorry that it was excluded from the contest. I was hoping it wouldn't be.

Geof: I will contact you by PM with some final changes that I would like made. See you there!

Thanks again guys. You've been truely amazing!


Sincerely,

Eirik Johansen
Netmaking AS (http://www.netmaking.no)

[Mike]

Thanks for the contest Eirik. I hope you do well with the site. :)