Graphic Design Contests

**mgraphic** · 07:25 PM

We have an online rug retail store (www.rugsale.com) and are looking into new redesign ideas to help increase sales, traffic, usability, etc. We have been working on our own ides, but were interested in outside opinions for new design ideas.

Our goal for a design is to merge the idea of quality AND great value. Some of our competitors include www.rugs-direct.com, www.rugsusa.com and a few of our home-decor competitors include www.crateandbarrel.com.

We are looking for clean and simple to use. Majority of our customers are designers, women, older people so these type of people are our target audience.

We are only looking for design mockups, and not the actual template or coding of the site.

Attached is a copy of the RugSale.com logo (the logo is trademarked and copyrighted by Kaoud Oriental Rugs and may be used only for design submissions for this contest only).

<edit>

We are only looking for a mockup of a design idea, not actual working copy of an html site - nor are we looking for someone to build the site afterwards.

We are bumping up the prize to $150.00

We don't have any specific requirements for filetypes or size - just something we can get an idea from. We are looking to fit the new design in a wider 1000 +/- pixel width.

</edit>

**Madman340** · 05:34 PM

I might submit something as the end date draws near and if people don't post much.

Word of warning: I hope you aren't expecting people to jump on this.
Also, would you take a layered PNG for Fireworks instead of a PSD or AI? I design in Fireworks, and it's often frustrating and complicated to transfer things over to PSD. It's essentially the same thing as a PSD, just for Fireworks.

**mgraphic** · 03-25-2010, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madman340

Also, would you take a layered PNG for Fireworks instead of a PSD or AI? I design in Fireworks, and it's often frustrating and complicated to transfer things over to PSD. It's essentially the same thing as a PSD, just for Fireworks.

That's alright - It's not really about the files I'm interested in, it's more that we are looking for fresh ideas for the site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madman340

Word of warning: I hope you aren't expecting people to jump on this.

Why do you say that?

**Abdou** · 03-25-2010, 09:00 PM

50$ for a Home Page Template Design is unfair.

**Madman340** · 03-25-2010, 09:48 PM

I say that because as this is a contest-based setting, with a reward of $50, asking for quite a bit of work. As a designer the time and effort involved, plus the risk, it just doesn't equate to many takers.

I might have worded that a little awkwardly, but I think you'll understand what I mean.

**mgraphic** · 03-25-2010, 10:34 PM

We changed the prize amount for the contest.

**Madman340** · 03-25-2010, 10:52 PM

I'm getting frustrated on a design I'm currently coding right now, so I'll get a start on this.

Couple questions:

Is there a specific layout you are looking for? Out of the links above, which layout do you think would fit your new design the best?

**mgraphic** · 03-25-2010, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madman340

I'm getting frustrated on a design I'm currently coding right now, so I'll get a start on this.

Couple questions:

Is there a specific layout you are looking for? Out of the links above, which layout do you think would fit your new design the best?

I know this sounds too open, but we are just looking for suggestions from others. Our goal is to be clean, easy to view/navigate/read while targeting to femal and older users. Actually, we have been talking lately about modeling after Target website.

**Madman340** · 03-25-2010, 11:04 PM

Alright I'll see what I can do.

**RobK** · 03-26-2010, 12:15 AM

I submit something for this in about a week or so.

**Madman340** · 12:54 AM

I don't think I'm completely done (like the dropdown menu nagivation design), but here is what I have at the moment.

**katesrobyn** · 03-26-2010, 05:03 AM

i'll join...

**Abdou** · 03-26-2010, 07:05 AM

k im in.

**mgraphic** · 03-26-2010, 10:27 AM

@Madman340 - Interesting. I see you looked at the rugsusa.com site. I like the idea with the checkboxes on the search. We use a autosugest feature on our dropdown, and we are trying to find a way to make this easier to use. The only thing is that the footer may be a little to strong, but great idea though!

**Madman340** · 03:35 PM

Unless rugsusa.com is listed above, I don't think I looked at it. edit: Huh it is, I don't even remember looking at it

If I did, that isn't where I got the red nav though.

Any changes you'd like to see in particular?

**katesrobyn** · 04:37 AM

here's mine;

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8485/rugq.jpg

feedback appreciated

**UUilliam** · 03-27-2010, 11:50 AM

Mann...

I thought of my design instantly, drew it out on paper, looked at the links, low and behold it looks like rugs usa and mad mans :/
well...
onlything similar is colour scheme but I think ,red +white for rugs works well.
I associate names with colours and it happens rugs = red

i.e. electronics would be blue, bowling would be green and stuff like that... :/
Ill post it up once I make it in digital version anyway.

**UUilliam** · 04:39 PM

Normal - http://uuilliam.net/rugsale/normal.jpg
Rollover 1 - http://uuilliam.net/rugsale/rollover1.jpg
Rollover 2 ( sub links) - http://uuilliam.net/rugsale/rollover2.jpg
Clicked - http://uuilliam.net/rugsale/clicked.jpg

thats the design + what each link should look like when rolled over

**mgraphic** · 03-27-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madman340

Unless rugsusa.com is listed above, I don't think I looked at it. edit: Huh it is, I don't even remember looking at it

If I did, that isn't where I got the red nav though.

Any changes you'd like to see in particular?

The only thing I can suggest right now is try something different with the footer. I won't be able to give much feedback until I return to work next week.

**mgraphic** · 03-27-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katesrobyn

here's mine;

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8485/rugq.jpg

feedback appreciated

Now that is different! I never expected a design like that. What are buyer and seller buttons? I like how you thought of using the youtube video on the front page. I won't be able to give much feedback until I return to work next week.