Many of you know me from here, Sitepoint and DP and you also probably know about my application Article Site Manager™. Well we just released version 4.0 along with the latest improvement, a completely skinnable website. This skinning engine is unlike anything on the market today as you do not need to hack up code to make it work with the sites. All that is required are some simple elements in an html file, a css file along with any images required and the site is redesigned!
Anyway, we need designs and lots of them so we decided what better way than to run a design contest here!
You can see some examples of open source templates we used so far on sites here:
aerobicsinfo.com
affiliate-revenue.org
alternativemedicineresources.net
insurance-articles.net
As you can see from the examples there are NO limitations to the designs you can create, you can place the required elements anywhere you want, style them with a CSS file and our application fills in the data.
So here's the contest parameters:
1. Designs must have the elements listed below (see Site Elements Requirements)
2. If we see a design we like we will award the $40 runner up fee immediately so we can code the skin and use it (we need them NOW) ... then once the contest is over we will award the 1st place winner the balance of the $160
3. We will also select a list of 'runner ups' (basically designs we also like) and each one of those people will receive $40 for their design if we have not already done so (no limit to runner ups BTW)
4. From the top designers in the contest we will also offer the option to be official article site manager skin designers. These people must be able to not only design a skin but also code it in a tableless CSS fashion. Once you are asked and accept the offer to become an official article site manager skin designers your website and contact information will be listed on our site. When customers buy a site and need a custom skin they will be directed to you and you keep ALL THE MONEY for the custom skin... it's a simple as that!
5. On each site we use your skin you will also receive a link at the bottom of the skin to your design site
We want clean (but not boring) designs that are SHARP (again look at the examples) .... we are NOT looking for boring, drab lifeless site designs. but in the same token we are not looking for super heavy image laden sites that need to be 'sliced and diced'
Now also, just so you know, the topics these sites cover are HUGE ... we are creating sites in all of the catagories listed here:
articlesitemanager.net . . . So if you want to make some topic specific designs thats ok but all in all we are looking more for skins that can be used on a variety of article topic sites.
Site Element Requirements
1. A menu that consists of 8 menu items
a. full article listing
b. submit an article
c. advertise with us
d. links
e. contact us
f. about us
g. site map
h. home
NOTE: the above text can be shortened on any menu item, they do not have to use all the words, e.g. "full article listing" can be "listing" if it makes the design work
2. A search area (see examples on the example sites above)
3. Four Google Adsense areas, they can use any of the existing Adsense sizes btw
4. A "paid ads" area ... on the example sites this area is the one that says "you can own this website!"
5. An RSS feed icon area
6. An RSS news area (below the articles in the examples)
7. A "related articles" area .... one note on this, they do not necessarily need to go down the page
8. A main heading (the site name)
9. And of course a main content area (the articles etc)
10. A footer area (holds the copyright info etc)
There are also option items that can be used (not required):
1. top 100 articles link
2. motto area (under the main site header on example sites)
3. current date area
