Graphic Design Contests

**recedo** · 04:13 PM

Hi,

We're currently changing my site design a little and as such we are looking for a new header, something that fits in a little better.

The site is www.notsounknown.co.uk and by header we mean the top section (the green and orange rows).

The logo and fonts can be downloaded from www.notsounknown.co.uk/header_design.zip

SPECIFICATION:

it should contain the logo in the top left, ideally I want to keep the logo colours but if it doesn't work, or you think it'll be better please change.
There must be a space, as there is at the moment for a 'fetured' banner. No set size for this but should be fairly large.
There should be 2 easy to see buttons for "Artist Login" and "Artist Signup" somewhere.
All other buttons need to be included somehow, perhaps even with space for more
I'm only after the image in psd or png format (preferably layered etc so I can move things around a little if need be). I'll do the slicing and coding. However, if for your design you want to include some sort of menu system (would need to be search engine friendly if you do this) please feel free to code it but no more than $50 will be paid.
The colour scheme should fit the current design (middle and right hand tables). We may change the orange and bright green though, and are open to css suggestions if you think it could look better with your header Not too dark though
Must be slightly 'grungie' but clean. Not too graphic intensive, as loading times are currently an issue.
if it fits in perhaps include this tag line; "The Underground Spotlight"

I may add more to the specification as the contest goes on.

The contest will run for 1 week from 9/3/05 (Thursday 16th March) and I may extend to get better designs.

I reservre the right to not choose a design if I don't think any are appropriate, however if someone puts in a lot of effort I will make a small goodwill payment.

Prize money will be $50 by PayPal, paid on receipt of the artwork file.

Please watermark, or protect your images before posting, I am not a thief and don't want the chance to be accused of it!

Any questions, please ask and I wish you all good luck
Simon

**recedo** · 03-08-2006, 03:13 PM

Oh and... a bit of background info on the site...

We are an MP3 download site for unsigned 'alternative' bands, allowing them to distribute their tracks with a non-exclusive and fair contract across the globe.

**Globalgamez** · 03-08-2006, 03:30 PM

I will enter soon!

**recedo** · 03-09-2006, 10:49 AM

Nice one, I look forward to it.

For some reason I didn't get an email notification of your post. I'll have to sort that out

Simon

**gringo** · 12:50 PM

I had a bit of time so I thought I'd have a go:

p.s. I do like that '3 the hard way font'

**locazo** · 03-09-2006, 01:31 PM

I'll post mine soon

**DRP** · 03-09-2006, 03:12 PM

i'll give this one a go...looks cool...gimme a few days though....

**recedo** · 03-09-2006, 03:38 PM

Gringo - Thanks for your entry. To be honest it's not really changed much from the original design. It looks a bit too 'clean' for my liking and some of it is hard to read. I like the idea of the sound waves though. The bottom half of the design is missing too. If it was a toss up between the current design or yours, the current design would win.

Remember you can change the colours if you think they'd fit in with the new design better, you don't need to stick to what I've got at the moment.

The font is nice, yes

locazo and DRP, I look forward to your entries.

For future reference, would you please overlay your designs on a screenshot of the site, so I can get a better idea of them in context.

Cheers people
Simon

**gringo** · 03-10-2006, 03:47 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I'll do v2 when I get the chance.

**recedo** · 03-10-2006, 02:24 PM

I look forward to it.

**vickiuk1981** · 03-10-2006, 04:42 PM

Hi there,

I have been working on a banner design for you, and have created eight variations. I have saved each one as a .gif, superimposed onto your site.

I don't think it would be appreciated if I post 8 screen shots here, so would you prefer I email them to you?

Alternativly I will post links to the images here.

Regards,

Vicki

**recedo** · 03-10-2006, 04:46 PM

That sounds great. I think it would be best if you posted links to them here, so everyone can see them, and not just me.

If you don't want to do that you can email them to me via simon at the website name .co.uk.

Cheers
Simon

**CannonBallGuy** · 03-10-2006, 04:53 PM

Hey recedo, I decided to take a bash at this:

Please let me know what you think.

- CBG

**vickiuk1981** · 03-10-2006, 05:03 PM

Oh no, I now realise he wants more than a standard banner size, and needs the bottom bit in too. That wasn't clear to begin with...I guess I'll have to re-do mine then.

**recedo** · 03-10-2006, 05:30 PM

CBG - Thanks for your submission. A good start. I like the top part, but the artist signup/login parts would be nice with a little graphic. The bottom section looks a little too 'basic' for my liking (the buttons/links are a bit too big really), and to be honest I'm not too keen on the whole colourscheme, I don't want to change the #666666 colour of the tables etc. And also, I wanted the banner space to be bigger then average (with no particular size in mind).

Vicki - Sorry, I tried to make it clear in the oringinal post exactly what the header was (by header we mean the top section (the green and orange rows)). Please feel free to post what you have so far, so you can get my opinion on it.

NOTE: - Can everyone please make sure you read the specification section of original post to make sure you understand what we meant by 'header' it's not that clear at a glance

Thanks people
Simon

**locazo** · 10:41 PM

Can we submit more than 1 entry? and when is the deadline? just curious

**CannonBallGuy** · 03-10-2006, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recedo

CBG - Thanks for your submission. A good start. I like the top part, but the artist signup/login parts would be nice with a little graphic. The bottom section looks a little too 'basic' for my liking (the buttons/links are a bit too big really), and to be honest I'm not too keen on the whole colourscheme, I don't want to change the #666666 colour of the tables etc. And also, I wanted the banner space to be bigger then average (with no particular size in mind).

Okay, thanks for the comments.
I'll try to:
1. Make separate, more distinguished buttons for Artist Login and Signup.
2. Make the bottom section more fancy, with smaller links in the 'menu'.
3. Try to keep the rest of the page in it's original colours which will mean I'll have to try to get colours for the header to match.
4. Allow more space for the banner.

Maybe I can do this over the weekend, if not, I should have time by next weekend.

Good luck to everyone else.

- CBG

**vickiuk1981** · 03-10-2006, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recedo

Vicki - Sorry, I tried to make it clear in the oringinal post exactly what the header was (by header we mean the top section (the green and orange rows)). Please feel free to post what you have so far, so you can get my opinion on it.

Thank you, I have made a start on a 'complete' header but will post what there is so far.

As I said, I have variations on this so am posting links rather than numerous images inserted into the message. I would rather not be seen as 'sneaky' by emailing images behind the scenes, so to speak.

As usual with these things, pieces can be mixed and matched or completly changed even. I hope you can see past the watermark!

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page8copy.gif
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page7copy.gif
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page6copy.gif
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page5copy.gif
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page4copy.gif
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page3copy.gif
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page2copy.gif
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../page1copy.gif

Regards,

Vicki

**170 Designs** · 04:09 PM

Here's my entry. Feedback please

[removed]

Thanks,
Matt

**recedo** · 03-11-2006, 02:06 PM

Vicki - To be honest I'm not keen on any of them, they all look a little "tacky" and don't really fit in with the rest of the site.

Matt - Thats great, best so far. As for feedback;

1. I think overall it's too high, it's about 95 pixels higher than the current header. i don't mind going a little bit bigger but don't want to go too far. I think you could lose a bit from the dark section at the top, by making the logo smaller. Perhaps a tiny bit from the orange bar too.

2. The size of the featured band banner is great!

3. Can you do something with the artist login and find mp3s buttons. These have been placeholders in my design for ages anyway! I would like the find mp3s button to be replaced with an appealing "Artist Signup" button of some sort. Feel free to make the login button smaller if you wish.

4. As I want to change the find mp3s button to artist signup we can free the 'artist signup' link from that orange bar and open up a space for another link - for the time being this could just some placeholder text as I'm not sure what I'd use it for yet.

5. The top right buttons look okay, but I'd quite like the to be completely changed to look a bit 'rougher'. I don't have any specific ideas for these, at the moment I use a rollover, perhaps think about this?

Thats a great start though, I like it.

So for other designers, take notes of Matts design and my comments. But don't just copy it though

Simon