5.0 Skin Contest

[Jeremy]

As 5.0 development is progressing, I would like to have a new skin to differentiate it from past versions.

5.0 skins will work about the same as 4.x ones, but the syntax and file names may be different, so all I'm looking for now is either a mockup or a 4.x skin.

Guidelines:
- Light on graphics
- No text in graphics (because of translations)
- Readable (not necessarily standards-compliant) XHTML and CSS
- Nothing too dark
- Overall, a clean, professional skin
- If you win, you must license your work under the GPL (same license as Aardvark Topsites PHP)
- It must be for the main ranking page at a minimum. Bonus points for designing a stats page too (5.0 will store monthly, weekly, and daily stats for 10 months, weeks, and days... along with overall stats, and max stats).
- DEADLINE: THIS THURSDAY

Rewards:
- $50 via Paypal
- Tons and tons of publicity as the designer of the default skin for a popular script. A prominent link from the main page of aardvarkind.com, a PR7 site (it will boost your rating in Google a bunch)

There is no guarantee that there will be a winner of this contest. If I don't like the entries, then no one will win.

To submit your entry to the contest, you can reply to this topic with a link to your work. Or, if you want to keep it private, email webmaster@aardvarkind.com.

[OS-Mark]

I'm in.

Is there a deadline?

[Jeremy]

Within a few weeks maybe, be but there is no hard deadline at the moment. When I get closer to releasing 5.0, I may announce a deadline.

[corefx]

Here's my entry, let me know if you want the .zip file.

main page.
http://corefx.net/content/skins/screenshots/mainpage.gif

join page.
http://corefx.net/content/skins/screenshots/joinpage.gif

edit info page.
http://corefx.net/content/skins/screenshots/editpage.gif

stats page
http://corefx.net/content/skins/screenshots/statspage.gif

admin page
http://corefx.net/content/skins/screenshots/admin.gif

Info:

Entire layout is based on 1 Css file.
The .css file is detailed just in case of newbies.
Logo can be picture or text, in the preview it's text.
Google ads can be placed in with layout as seen in preview, or can be commented out.
When the navigation is hovered theres a custom image bullet for a more special effect.
The layout is not graphic heavy or dependent.
All images in .png format.

[Jeremy]

it's very nice, although of course i won't be declaring a winner yet. the one thing i don't like is that there isn't much color too it. too much gray.

[corefx]

easily changable from the css file, i left it grey because it's default.

[Jeremy]

I'm just letting everyone know, I have yet to be blown away by any entries. The door is still wide open, but closing fast. This contest will probably end in about a week.

[OS-Mark]

1 week notice is appreciated, I'll clear my plate and get something up before the deadline.

Glad to see the forum back up

[Omar]

I'm still in. One question though: did you just want the skin, or buttons as well?

[Jeremy]

might as well just make the skin first, as there's no guarantee you'll win. if you do win, and you want to make buttons, you are welcome to do so.

[Omar]

Here's a preview:

http://www.squareapex.com/preview.jpg

Oh, and just to let you know, this skin is being made for the new 5.0 beta version of Aardvark Topsites. In addition, the coding will be XHTML/CSS valid.

[Jeremy]

comments on the preview:
overall, very nice. i dunno about the graphic at the top though. the colors and font don't seem to fit in. also, i would prefer the text be "aardvark topsites php" so it's not restricted to a single version.

[Omar]

Thanks for the comments. I will edit the skin and get back to you with a preview. I just thought I'd show you where I'm heading. It's good to know that you like it so far.

I just noticed I forgot the stats image/link in the table, lol.

[Jeremy]

it could also use an up/down/neutral indicator below the rank or something.

[Omar]

Oh! I knew I was forgetting something else. Thanks for letting me know. I got to go to work right now though. I'll come up with another preview soon.