Just as thought I was starting to become comfortable with the new justinshattuck dot com design, I started having a few second thoughts as to whether or not it is accomplishing the goal in which it was originally intended. This site has grown from a medium to share my thought provoking and stomach turning opinions into a platform in which I am able to use to reach deep within the realms of the internet to leave, what I like to consider long-lasting impressions of blabber!

What am I talking about?

A contest! That’s right folks! Due to popular demand, by he who is the greatest; myself, the decision to once again redesign justinshattuck.com has been made. Not just any overhaul’n job but one that requires someone a little more organized than myself. You have until November 1, 2006, to deliver the best overall fit design per the conditions you have yet to read throughout this article. That gives you what, three weeks, 21 days, or 504 hours depending upon how you look at it? You have a good amount of time to collaborate, design, document and deliver this baby — so keep reading and get to work!

If you are, know, or employ a great designer, heck even a crappy and believe you are capable of getting ‘er done! Than this small gamble of talent versus my prize pool might just be worth a little of your time. Otherwise, this post might not have any interest to you — yet you could always send it some traffic and help out the cause by giving it some exposure.

General Overview

• Theme design submitted by midnight on November 1, 2006
• Meets the conditions I listed below or thoroughly impresses me
• Submitted via the details below, zip all that jazz to justinshattuck **[at]** gmail **[dot]** com

Prizes

No contest is a contest without some freebies right? I’m going to be giving away an iPod nano, completely remastered from Apple in the size of 4GB, color of your choice as long as its available from Apple. I also will include a $50.00 iTunes gift card so you can get some tunes and a 17″ Dell Flat Panel Monitor (Model: E177FP). Not good enough, well too bad I’ve got bills too you know!

Alright! For the details

There is a little more to this than just a design. I’m not looking for the sexiest, most vibrant, animated or even well-rounded design based on strictly appearance. I seek that in which is not necessarily seen but noticed everytime you open the door to this website.

A new method in which my website delivers its content. Evaluate the overall content, message and purpose of this website. Compare it to my goals that will soon follow this excerpt you’re reading and decipher what is in your head to create the overall best solution that I could utlize to deliver my goods.

Currently, I’m displaying a single entry, reverse-chronologically ordered on the main page. The most recent post is highlighted in the top region of the page and previous entries are listed in the sidebar, actually located at the bottom of the screen. After giving it alot of thought, I’m really not a big fan of this method of content delivery. I would like to really change this mother up and give it a touch of class. Regardless if it turns out even more unclassy than it already is, at least I will be able to smile and say, “I got exactly what I asked for!”

I wish to have the index of justinshattuck.com deliver the most famous, sought after and popular content available within my database of jibber jabber. I also want to have the most recent content displayed so it is easily distinguisable from the popular jargon. Take the popular, recent and that leaves you with previous. Create a method in which information architecture really meets an uncluttered and easy to navigate environment; see what I’m getting at?

I’m huge into photographs. I may not be capable of taking very good ones myself but I’m always snapping photos and sharing them via flickr. I wish to continue doing this. I would like my flickr content to be available as well. I’m not saying I have to have 2 photos on the page or even 10, but whatever you feel is suitable.

Overall, the most common best practices need to be obeyed. Easy to navigate, simple presentation and quick loading. I like graphics, I like curves, I really like color. But I’m leaving the gateway of creativity open to your standards and your likings. If you feel I do not represent color, vibrant text or rounded edges than don’t introduce them into your design. Besides, this contest is a contest to create the best overall medium for me to deliver my message. I am part of my message.

I am unable to change my image and personality, just because I’m so cocky! However, the design itself should meet me face to face and really give my visitors an instant understanding as to who I am and what I do. Whether it be taking photographs of half naked women or developing useless wordpress plugins, I want that information displayed in a format that is easy to understand and navigate.

Schtuff to think about..

• Believe I am asking for alot? I don’t believe so. I could be however, if thats the case — move along! Things I don’t feel I can live without are items in which I will be incorporating into my website.
• I’m going to be adding Flixn videos to my website soon and I would enjoy if someone could create a placeholder, whether its an ajax popup or something incorporated into the design so I could share the most recent video as well as list previous ‘archived’ videos per se.
• Ability to easily share my Wordpress plugins, such as Bannage and WWW Redirect
• Easily distribute and show-off my themes, future and present.
• I will be adding more and more code elements to allow users to read, download and discuss via my website. I would like a method for incorporating these into the pages.
• I like gravatars, they’re nice but they don’t have to be in a ‘recent comments’ box. If you don’t think I need recent comments as I have now, leave it out!
• I really like numbered comments (a big number to show what comment number it is, not the id in the comment list).
• Whoa, wouldn’t AJAX comments be fun?
• Overall new identity for Justin Shattuck to match the site — if you think you have a better logo, lets see it!

What is at stake here

This isn’t really a gamble. You’re not going to lose out on anything — but you could win some great items if you decide to get involved. As I start to see submissions, I may grab up some additional prizes to give away, just because I’m generous like that.

You’re designing a theme, a medium, an information platform that will be used on this website from now until I decide I don’t like it any more. I am currently using Wordpres 2.0.4, so make sure you’re making your design work with it! Each submission must meet the following guidelines:

1. Theme, ready to use, including screenshot.
2. Plain text file including what plugins are required to utlize the theme as well as their recommended or suggested configuration settings so they work properly.
3. Any code or hacks made to files outside of the theme directory, details as to which files and why.
4. All source images in PSD or AI if vector for the theme (if applicable).
5. Documentation, everyone enjoys themes, but decoding them can be a pain in the ass! Document your style sheet and code!
6. Be creative!

A few foot notes..

Maybe I seem a little overly anal? I’m not. I’m open for absolutely anything. You can submit pretty much anything and I might like it. However, in an effort to get the best I can possibly use. I have a few friends who are going to help me decide as to what design best suits my purpose. I’m going to narrow them down and throw them in front of these guys and see what they think.

Prizes will be delivered upon contest completion and decision. I will keep everyone posted via this thread as to what is going on, mostly via comments. Gift card for iTunes and iPod will be delivered upon speaking directly with the designer. I’m going to want to ask you a few questions as to how you came up with the methodology behind the design — be open and ready! I’m a nice guy and I enjoy talking so.. you have to talk to me. Once we talk I’ll find out the color of iPod you want etc and get her off to you.

By the way, I’m taking the liberty to change anything about this contest at any time, but I promise I won’t remove the prizes or screw anyone out of what they deserve so don’t worry. But if I decide to put i hate the color aqua in my thread, I am telling you I take the cake and I might do so!

Also, your work once submitted becomes my little baby. I’m going to nuture it. Please don’t submit some left overs, I don’t want anything that you already submitted somewhere and think it might suit me. I want fresh, clean and spiffy. No junk here please. Also, I better not find your submissions in use by some other website — if so, you’re outta here. Once I decide on the design I like best, I might just pull a manuever and let people download your themes, so don’t get all huffy and puffy on me. Its the way the world works. In exchange for your design time you take a risk of winning or losing, but you never really lose, you just don’t get the gadgets, capeesh?!

Tagged: contest, design, wordpress, development, free