$100 Redesign (layout) Main Page of Freebie / Coupon Site (coding not required)

New Price! I'm now offering $150 for the winning design

The site is : www(dot)ratefreestuff ( dot) com
Deadline : February 12

I want a nicer, more organized, design for the main page. Don't worry about the script/coding. HTML is a bonus, but not a requirement. Flat file is fine if that is what you do.

New Additions :

1. small search box
2. register/login button (facebook/twitter/yahoo/gmail)
3. ticker/scroller with featured offers (like a stock ticker)
4. one paragraph text content area highlighting the features of the site (lorem ipsum fine for design purpose)
5. small stats area - users online, new users
6. twitter follow and facebook fan page buttons
7. top 10 members list ( don't use too much space on this )

Changes :

1. forum instead of email updates in navigation bar
2. will merge newest freebies and recently updated into one list.
3. expiring soon can probably be a link, tab or button so it is available (hidden) on the main page but doesn't take up much space

I don't want to restrict your creativity. If you are missing something from the lists above, that I think it needs, I'll let you know. But if you do something better - good on you.

I am looking for a more effective and more attractive layout. I've been very impressed with the innovations here in the past - so I know you are up for the job.

I would like to do a better job of socializing the site. To this end, I will be gamefying ratefreestuff so that users will be ranked and badged based on their impact. The other thing I want to do better is highlighting offers that are especially good. The ticker / scroller, for example, will have this role on the main page.

I will carry the design elements through the rest of the site and may hire the winning artist to help me with it.

If a designer doesn't win but contributes a serious innovation that I end up using, I will consider awarding a token consolation prize.

http://www.ratefreestuff.com/images/fordesign/logo.psd
http://www.ratefreestuff.com/images/fordesign/logo.jpg
http://www.ratefreestuff.com/images/fordesign/rfscircle.jpg
http://www.ratefreestuff.com/images/fordesign/ratefreestuff.gif
http://www.ratefreestuff.com/images/fordesign/ratefreestuffb.gif

Please throw me a pm if you are working on this - so that I have an idea of the interest level. Feel free to ask any questions or submit unfinished entries for feedback.

 

I haven't received many messages about this. Did I provide too many details? Is the price too low?

 

Count me in. I will submit my entry ASAP!

 

Hi

I will be entering the contest and will post my entry soon.

 

Demo sent via PM.

 

Thanks deebong and kiranheartbeats - I look forward to seeing your submissions. El Miriachi is also working on one.

Thanks natali77, your submission has good bones. I sent you some feedback.

To answer the most common question :
Is there a site in the same niche to get ideas from? The answer is not really most are not very well designed in this niche. Redflagdeals ( dot ) com is one of the nicer ones but it is more deal centered.

Note that the forum replaces the email list signup. It will be a single registration for the email list, forum and other site activities.

 

will be submitting my entry soon

 

Can I change the colour theme from that green into other ??? consequently , Will change the logo colour and maybe change the logo itself , coz to be honest ,
The current logo is not gonna fit any design i can make

Warm Regards

 

Thanks for the feedback.



Full size demo sent via PM.

 

Sure, El Mariachi, it's beyond the scope of the requirements, but you are free to change the logo and the colour if you want to. Thanks

 

Looks good Natali, thanks for making the changes. I like the carousel. As fast as the offers come in I probably won't have images for them but I could in theory make a background image for each category and get a similar effect. The bottom is much better now too. This is a look I could work with. If you win there will be some minor changes required. After I get a couple more to compare with, I'll also be passing them by some others who's opinions I value - but I will be making the final decision.

 

hi

my design sent via PM

please send your feedback

vineet

 

perfect , I am making mine

 

The current batch of submissions have already included twitter and facebook links which is good since I forgot to mention it. It would be good if the entries have links to our facebook, twitter and google groups. Also there are rss feeds available for the latest freebies and coupons.

Thanks

 

i'm on designing.. please wait mine.
thanks.

 

Hi

Design sent via PM.

feedback appreciated.

thank you
kiran

 

I have received two more great designs from ardianet and kiranheartbeats. I'm impressed with the talent at Digital Point and I'm honestly learning alot in comparing your designs (although I'll never have the talent to do what you guys do.)

I'm still looking forward to designs from deebong and el mariachi.

Currently the lead design is from vinpkl although there are other designs that are strong in different ways, forcing me to evaluate my own ideas about what will make this particular site functional, sticky, brandable and all that good stuff.

Thanks

 

Received 2 more excellent designs from El Mariachi and Vasha Designs. I'm looking forward to an entry from deebong. I would like to end the contest tonight (or perhaps tomorrow early afternoon to allow for time zones and alterations.) After that, I'll send the final list to some colleagues for feedback and declare a winner. I expect that to take less than 12 hours.

 

I have received another and some major revisions and I'm waiting for another submission. I don't know which one I'm going to pick at the moment. It is a difficult choice.

 

Hey,

Many thanks for waiting. Here is my entry, as promised!

Preview 1 - Green pattern background

Click the image for full-sized preview!

Preview 2 - Light pattern background

Click the image for full-sized preview!

Preview 3 - Plain white background

Click the image for full-sized preview!

I am also making the same concept in a complete white background for content part too. Will submit that in a while.

Feedback much appreciated.

Regards,