Graphic Design Contests

**aschecht** · 03-20-2008, 01:23 AM

I'm looking for some creative website layout designs for the page that will be the landing page and main informational page for ICDMeister.com. The overall look should be clean, professional, and easy to read. I expect the page to require vertical scrolling as there's a lot of content for one page.

This contest is for design/layout only. No slicing/coding required.

Here are some of the criteria / needs:

The look should mesh well with www.icdmeister.com/site/ probably using the same blue background image.
It should use the header from www.icdmeister.com/site/ or a variation of it (the search box on the left side can be replaced by something else or eliminated)
A left navigation menu should include the following items
- Subscriber Log In
- Site License Users
- ICDMeister for PDA
- About ICDMeister Online
- Pricing
- Subscribe Now
- Contact
Images/Icons that can be found and accessed quickly by current subscribers should be featured prominently on the page (?at the top). These should include:
- Subscriber Log In
- Site License Users
- Looking for ICDMeister for PDA?
The remainder of the page's content will be About ICDMeister and will include the following sections/content:
- Features of ICDMeister: A header with a bulleted list of 5-6 list items
- User testimonials (4-6 short paragraphs, somehow set off graphically)
- Video demonstrations (4 video demos each has a title, duration, and an icon/graphic that will launch the video).
- Button linking to Demo version of ICDMeister Online.
- Subscription Pricing info
  - Pricing details
  - Subscribe Now link/button
  - Group License Inquiry link/button
- Letter from the developer. I'd like this to be accented to make it look like it's on paper (see http://www.jvplus.com/ for an example).
- Subscribe now link/button / Group license inquiry link/button
- Contact / Questions link/button

Looking forward to your entries. Questions for clarification are always welcome.

Andrew

**aschecht** · 03-20-2008, 01:27 AM

You can get the header .psd file for use in your design here:
http://www.icdmeister.com/images/icdmeister_header.psd

Andrew

**andrei155** · 03-20-2008, 07:14 PM

does it have to follow the same color scheme? And does it have to use that header image?

**aschecht** · 03-21-2008, 01:36 AM

Neither is an absolute requirement but the layout in question is the entry portal to the rest of the site (ie. icdmeister.com/site/). I think the easiest way to maintain the same feeling/theme would be to use an adaptation of the same header and the same background colors. But this is not an absolute requirement. If a design does not use these components but still manages to fit well with the rest of the site then that would work for me too.

Andrew

**andrei155** · 03-21-2008, 01:13 PM

OHH! I understand now! What you want is somewhat of a "Home Page" to all that you have, while keeping the site you already have up .. correct? What I was doing was totally redesigning it!

None the less, I'm almost finished, so I'll post that up, and then I'll start work on a new one.

**andrei155** · 03-21-2008, 01:53 PM

**aschecht** · 03-22-2008, 01:41 AM

Andrei,

Sorry if I was unclear in my description - perhaps better to call it webpage layout/landing page rather than website - since I'm only seeking the layout for a single page, the landing page, entry portal, or introductory page into the rest of the website. The newly created page (the one I need designed) will replace the plain text page that's currently up at www.icdmeister.com
As you deduced, the remainder of the site will remain as is so the landing page design will need to fit in well with the rest of the site's design.

Feedback on your first submission - A lot of good things here. I like the look of the links in the upper right corner. That might work well. I envisioned a left nav menu rather than a top one but could be convinced either way. I'm kind of seeing a long narrow page (one that requires scrolling down to go through all the content) rather than a wide page with a ton crammed in "above the fold." I got a kick out of the customized lorem ipsum text (aka Andrei text) - maybe everyone should switch to this, it's much more interesting. Also, please keep in mind that my average web visitors age is probably 40-50 so let's make sure the fonts aren't too small.

Andrew

**idigbd** · 03-22-2008, 11:21 AM

so you need a splash page basically?

**andrei155** · 04:26 PM

Hey ... Heres another. I narrowed it down to have the same width as your current one, located at www.icdmeister.com/site

The fonts could be easily changed .. when you code it, and when i hand you the PSD .. if thats going to happen *-). I simply like small fonts. I know it might require a bit of work, however I'm hoping I've gotten closer to the target.

**woosh** · 03-22-2008, 07:25 PM

Okies used elements from the header image to create a portal, you can view the full size here
It's designed so you can still have your scrolling content on the right hand side if need be.

**idigbd** · 03-22-2008, 08:29 PM

****.. lol nice job woosh

**aschecht** · 03-22-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idigbd

so you need a splash page basically?

I wouldn't really call it a splash page - that makes me think of a page with something catchy to look at but little info/content. I'd almost consider it more of a one page website. It's the page my AdWords ads will be set to land on. It's the page people seeking info about the product will come to. And it's the page customers will come to to access the product until they decide to save a click and bookmark the page for the content they're seeking.

Nice entries so far. I'll provide more detailed feedback shortly.

Andrew

**aschecht** · 03-23-2008, 02:51 AM

Feedback for Andrei -

Nice entry. Like it.

Tabs across the top - OK but doesn't excite me.
Not sure I understand your section below the horizontal nav bar. Is that all empty white space? Feels like it takes up too much screen real estate in the name of design. Would it work if you put the left and the right aqua sections on the same line (I know - not as cool) and ditched the white space?
The bright aqua brings in a color that's not really in my palate
The Features of ICDMeister section is only several lines of text and some bullet points so it won't fill the whole of the center column.
I like how you did the testimonial on the left side, less so the "Andrei155" one on the right. They should be in the same format and please consider a layout that can accommodate 4-6 testimonials
Don't forget to incorporate the video demos (4 of them).
I prefer the subscription pricing info to be towards the bottom
Like the footer.
I'm OK looking at drafts in small font but it can change the whole look of the layout if suddenly the text needs to take up twice as much screen space.
Width doesn't need to be the same as rest of the site. The actual content pages (at icdmeister.com/site) were intentionally designed to be viewed at less than full screen because users will have several windows open at once when using it. The layout for the page we're designing now doesn't have that restraint - it won't be for day-to-day use but will be mostly for sales. In other words, optimize for standard web traffic with respect to sizing. Just the look/feel/colors should be consistent with the rest of the site. This sounds a bit confusing as I'm reading it here. Ask if you need clarification.

Andrew

**aschecht** · 03-23-2008, 02:54 AM

Feedback - While this feedback is directed to Woosh, much is general and is appropriate for consideration by all . . .

Very nice entry.
The scaled up header looks great (thanks again for your earlier work) but the MeisterMed in the bottom right corner has step-offs at the enlarged size. Could you redo it so that the text and it's reflection looks less pixelated at the bigger size? It's C-Type font.
For the button/links across the top, I like the PDA one. Images that might better represent the function of the button would be a single person (for the subscriber login) and a group of people (10-100) for site license access. If the images could be of "doctors" that would be a nice plus (ie. white coat +/- stethoscope or other identifying characteristic). These images could be photos like you currently have or graphics.
I love the design of the "letter" - the angle, the shadow. Really nice. I have some concerns about whether it's incorporation in your design will scale properly. For example, my draft of the "letter from the developer" is about 105 words. Don't know if would look OK as it is with three times as much text. I think it might work better full width.
I really like the position, look and the layout of the testimonials. It would be even more effective if the graphics were of doctors and there was a male version and a female version. I won't be having photos of those giving testimonials.
For the video links, I like it in general. There won't really be images specific to each video so some generic graphic/icon representing a video clip or flash video could be used (or several different icons - four of the same might be monotonous - what do you think?). There will be four videos so please size/space accordingly.
Optimal order of content from top to bottom down the page:
- ICDMeister Features
- Video Demos (maybe 2 x 2 layout)
- Link to Demo version of ICDMeister - maybe using a thumbnail image of the page at icdmeister.com/site/ would make for an interesting button.
- Letter from Developer
- Subscription Pricing Details (followed by Subscribe Now and Group License Inquiry buttons)
Footer - like it.

Andrew

**woosh** · 03-23-2008, 05:21 PM

Thanks aschecht I'll work on tweaking it today I have a day of template jobs lol

**woosh** · 03:22 AM

Okies updated, bearing in mind the length is only to show you all the elements, you can still have this scrolling if need be...

Proper sized version can be viewed here