Simple template for bargain blog - $100 prize

[mayor]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 380850X)

Hey all.. I've got a no-brainer for most of you.

My bargain blog needs an overhaul in a big, bad way. The site isn't really public yet, but you can view it here.

CouponBlog.com (http://www.worldvillage.com/blogs/deals/)

The site WILL reside at www.couponblog.com when complete.

I am using a standard MovableType blog, but the standard stylesheets must go. The same template will be used on all pages, so I need a knockout of a front page, including styles, header and/or logo, and any additional art you think may do the trick.

Components:
1) Main area for listing daily coupons/deals
2) sidebar w/ categories, merchants, search box, links and placeholder for various advertisements. Ads will be no wider than 125 pixels. Height may vary.

I don't really have anything particular in mind, though I probably lean towards lighter colors or white. The target market are online shoppers looking to save money at the merchants they are already using, or to introduce them to new merchants. This site will update throughout the day, so it needs a fresh look to complement the fresh content.

I am undecided if the site will be called Coupon Blog or CouponBlog.com, so I am open to either. I would like for the WorldVillage logo to be integrated on the site somehow. Again, I'm open.

That's it! I know this is a low-paying gig. But if it goes well, I believe I have more contests I can post.

Thanks!

Joel

[Victoria]

Hi Mayor,
Is this for the code aswell?
:)

[mayor]

Most of the code is done by movable type. But I need the style sheet set for the display of the text. Thanks for asking!

[Victoria]

Maybe it's time for me to learn CSS then! :tup:

[mayor]

Actually, you don't need to learn CSS. I just need to know the font, size, color and any other attributes you use for the layout. I can plug in the info just fine. :-)

Joel

[Victoria]

Okay i'll have a crack at this one then, entry soon.

[lang]

Do you have a deadline in mind?

[mayor]

Originally posted by lang@May 30 2003, 11:13 AM
Do you have a deadline in mind?
An excellent question! Yes, I would like to have entries within a week, do some fine tuning, and be ready to roll in two weeks. Plenty of room for flexibility though...

Joel

[lang]

Great!

Since you're online, I thought I'd take up another minute of your time. I'm assuming that you're after a more simpler, minimalist layout since this is based on MoveableType's blog system?

[mayor]

Could be, but not necessarily. I would like it to be scalable should we decide to add more features to the page.

Joel

[Victoria]

Hello, just to let you know, I will be working on this today, and will probably have an entry later tonight [GMT]. Thanks :)

[mayor]

Originally posted by Victoria@Jun 2 2003, 12:48 AM
Hello, just to let you know, I will be working on this today, and will probably have an entry later tonight [GMT]. Thanks :)
Great! I look forward to seeing it. I hope you get some competition though. This thread has been slow.

Joel

[lang]

Something simple to get this thing started! :)

Picture removed to save bandwidth. Revisions in later posts.

[Victoria]

Hello, here's my entry. Feedback appreciated! :)
<img src='http://inertia.dilloway.net/DO/couponblog.gif[/img]

[mayor]

Originally posted by lang@Jun 2 2003, 04:57 AM
Something simple to get this thing started! :)

http://www.mynics.net/couponblog/CouponBlog_v1.gif
Feedback comin' atcha!

I like the "free" look to it, but overall not what I am going for. The graphic leaves too much white space and the phsyical coupons aren't really what we are about. You don't have to "clip" online coupons, per se. Might want to go back to the drawing board and try a different approach?

Thanks!

Joel

[mayor]

Originally posted by Victoria@Jun 2 2003, 09:24 AM
Hello, here's my entry. Feedback appreciated! &nbsp;:)

Victoria,

I think you may be on the right track with this one. The layout is clean, easy to read. I don't care for the color scheme though. It looks very... hmmm.. ."liquid"... like I want to go swimming.. hehe. I know that the lady was in the existing clip art, but I don't really care for what I've got on the site now. I think perhaps something with a more cartoony edge would be appropriate. Would also be great if CouponBlog was more of a logo feel rather than stand-alone words. I like the layout and don't really have any more comments about that. I suppose there could be several ways to manage it since it is a more "grid-like" design, so I am open to other interpretations.

Carry on!

Joel

[Victoria]

Thanks for the feedback, i'll work on some revisions for you :)

[lang]

Thanks for the feedback Joel. :)

I'll rewind and take a whole new approach soon...

[D.Burton]

Here's my entry: :)

<img src='http://www.ccmathteam.com/clients/couponblog/couponblog.gif[/img]

DBurton

[Victoria]

If you felt like swimming on the last one, I think you'll feel like gardening for this :lol: Jokes aside, i'm not too keen on the header myself... it doesn't seem to be co-operating <_< What are your thoughts?

<img src='http://inertia.dilloway.net/DO/couponblog2.gif[/img]

[mayor]

Originally posted by D.Burton@Jun 2 2003, 10:04 PM
Here's my entry: :)

DBurton
Hi DBurton,

Thanks for your entry!

Very clean layout! I like that you used lots of curves, from the logo to the tabs to the spaces that hold the content. Gives it a softer feel.

I'm not crazy about the color scheme. Its a bit on the bland side. The vertical couponblog on the right side is redundant as well. I still think the logo needs a face to go with it. Initially, I am thinking something "cartoony", but I could persuaded otherwise.

Let's see what other tricks you have up your sleeve!

Joel

[mayor]

Originally posted by Victoria@Jun 3 2003, 11:17 AM
If you felt like swimming on the last one, I think you'll feel like gardening for this :lol: Jokes aside, i'm not too keen on the header myself... it doesn't seem to be co-operating <_< What are your thoughts?
You really like those pastels, doncha? ;-) You're right. Gardening! hehe. I agree.. the header isn't working. The logo has potential, but the girl is too childish. Cartoon is good, but it needs an "adult" look. (not to be confused with X-rated adult look!) I think we're going to need a more saturated color scheme as well. The pastel and light font makes it seem like the page is disappearing before my very eyes. A tweeking we will go!

Thanks,

Joel

[Victoria]

Ok. I'm going to go maroon :ph34r: Hehe

[john]

My first attempt - CLICK HERE (http://www.theshopsite.com/coupontemplate.gif)

[Victoria]

http://inertia.dilloway.net/DO/couponblog3.gif

Are you seeing red yet? Hehe, get it? :tup: ;)

[D.Burton]

Updated entry:

http://www.ccmathteam.com/clients/couponblog/couponblog2.gif

I changed the colors, but as for the cartoon, I'm not really sure what I could put in that would look good. I added the scissors, but I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for.

DBurton

[mayor]

Hi guys... I am out of town until Saturday. I want to comment, but my connection on the road is TERRIBLE and I'll be thrilled if this message gets posted. I will be posting feedback when I return.

Thanks!

Joel

[mayor]

Alrighty! I am back in town and ready to provide feedback. Thanks for your entries AND your patience!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

John - there is virtually nothing I like about this one. If you want to try again, you might want to start with a clean slate.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Victoria - I'm having a hard time with the clip-art still.. not sure why. The maroon also does not strike me. Not sure what direction to have you take the color. I do like the more saturated feel though. I think I like the previous coupon blog header with the swoosh better. Ideas?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

D.Burton - your minor adjustments are nice. I think I like the scissors and the "Hot Deals and Big Savings" Sub-header. I'm not sure what to ask you to do. If you feel inspired to improve on it, go for it.

If anyone else wants to try a last-minute entry, I'm open to other approaches.

Thanks!

Joel

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[lang]

I'll have a new entry very soon. :)

[lang]

Totally revamped and looking for some love...

Picture removed to save bandwidth. Please find revisions in later posts.

[Victoria]

Okay, i'll have a fiddle around with the colour, and the header.. :)

[martincrumlish]

Here's my entry....let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Martin

[mayor]

Lang,

A new approach! Very patriotic, actually :-)

Color scheme is refreshing. I know what you were going for in the logo, but initial glance looks like C and backwards E... not sure how to fix that up

I like the way you did the categories, but what I failed to mention to everyone is that this is not the definitive list. There will probably be several more categories added. So I'm not sure your approach is scalable.

No other comments. It's nice, clean and presents content in a very usable way. Feel free to massage a bit and seek further inspiration.

Thanks!

Joel

[Victoria]

Infact, I think i'll start again :rip:

[mayor]

Originally posted by martincrumlish@Jun 8 2003, 07:25 AM
Here's my entry....let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Martin
martin,

This is a surprising blend of colors and style! You've definitely captured a different look and feel than the others thus far. Clearly, I am taken by the gold, blues and gray combination. I also like the rounded edges on the placeholder interiors. nice choice of font too.

I think I would like to see a couple things changed.

1) The logo space is hungry for something a bit more substantial. It's a spiffy area but it takes up a fair amount of real estate. Perhaps we can place some 120 x 60 buttons there? Or the area can get smaller? Perhaps the logo larger and with a bit more character? These are all possibilities you can juggle.

2) The deal headers might look better in the same blue color you used for Categories and Calendar. Maybe? Thoughts?

Looking forward to the next incarnation!

Joel

[martincrumlish]

Joel, glad you like my entry! I thought I would go for something a bit different and hope that you liked it :)

I will make somechanges so look out for an update soon.

Thanks,
Martin

[martincrumlish]

I made the header area smaller, changed the logo a bit and I also changed the offer title colours....

Let me know what you think.

Martin

[D.Burton]

Here is a slightly different version of mine. I added gradients to the header and rounded the category tab.

http://www.ccmathteam.com/clients/couponblog/couponblog3.gif

[lang]

Alrighty... here is the new layout with your revisions taken into consideration:

http://www.mynics.net/couponblog/CouponBlog_v3.gif


And I figured I'd show you another color scheme while we're at it:

http://www.mynics.net/couponblog/CouponBlog_v4.gif

Hope It's getting closer to what you envisioned. :)

Lang

[mayor]

D. Burton, Martin and Lang,

I think we'll stop here with your designs. I want to wait for Victoria to make her other submission and then I'll select a winner. It's not going to be easy!!!

Joel

[Victoria]

I'll have my entry soon, thanks for being patient! :tup:

[Victoria]

:tup: Spruced up :)
<img src='http://inertia.dilloway.net/DO/couponblog4.gif[/img]

[mayor]

Alrighty! Give me 24-48 hours to ponder the final entries and I'll announce the winner. Thanks to all for tossing your hat in the ring!

Joel

[mayor]

We have a winner!

I really like all of the submissions, so much so that I may want to use one for another site I am doing. I'll need to talk to Palmer to see how that will work.

However, for CouponBlog.com, I am going to go with (drum roll please....)

DBurton

Congratulations :-)

I think the easiest thing to do would be to give you access to the blog admin tool and have you go ahead and code it up there yourself. I could upload the images and you can work your magic.

Thanks to all for entering. I'll be in touch.

Joel

[Palmer]

Congratulations Dan, you're an a roll! :clap:

Thanks Joel, regarding another entry that you liked, you can contact the designer and he/she can put it up for sale in the template sales forum.

Thanks for the contest and I'll be working on that promo you wanted for Design Outpost. :)

[lang]

Congrats on another job well done! :tup: