Blog design contest: Design my blog and win CS4 Master Collection!

by Serge Jespers on 28. Nov, 2009 in Contest

Last week I realized that I am not 100% happy with the blog theme I recently installed. I like it, but it’s not quite exactly what I wanted. In all honesty, I don’t really like fiddling around with CSS and HTML. I hate having to navigate around different browser implementations and therefore never really got in to CSS and HTML. I also realize that there are people out there with much better design skills than me.

Last week I asked my Twitter followers if someone would be interested in designing/building a theme for my blog in exchange for CS4 Master Collection. I also asked if they would want to participate in a contest or if I should just pick one person based on previous work. The majority of the “votes” went to an open contest and so here we are…

What am I looking for?
A nice, fresh, clean and unique theme for my blog. You would provide both the PSD files and the WordPress theme files. The code has to be 100% valid and as SEO friendly as possible. The main content area must be at least 640 pixels wide. The theme would have at least 1 widget enabled sidebar on the right.

What’s in it for you?
Eternal fame ;-) and CS4 Master Collection (a €3300 value).

Moodboard
To get you started, I put together a little moodboard that should hopefully give you an idea of what I like. I like minimalistic and clean with nice typography.

moodboard

I also like these designs (or parts of it):
http://www.fontshop.be/
http://www.engadget.com/
http://www.adobeusergroup.nl/
http://www.adobeusergroupxl.nl/
http://www.8020studio.com/
http://aigany.org
http://concentric-studio.com/work/

Deadline
To spare you from doing unnecessary work, I will judge this based on the static designs. You can add a link to the design in the comment section. The designs have to be in on December 18th 2009. I will pick and announce a winner on December 21st. The winner will then create the actual WordPress theme. The final theme has to be delivered on January 15th 2010. Don’t forget: delivering the WordPress theme is part of this contest! The contest is open to anyone anywhere.

More questions?
If you have more questions, feel free to leave a comment or use the “Get in touch” form.

Looking forward to seeing your designs!

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25 Responses to “Blog design contest: Design my blog and win CS4 Master Collection!”

  1. James L. 28. Nov, 2009 at 3:46 pm #

    http://www.yemon.com.sg/serge.png

  2. Ryan 29. Nov, 2009 at 1:48 am #

    Good to see someone valuing the design process. Someone I know with a popular blog tried to update their design via a contest with nothing but the age old “fame and happiness” as the prize.

    Also, I know a fair few people who are yet to make the jump from CS2/3. I look forward to the new design.

  3. dreikelvin 01. Dec, 2009 at 3:02 am #

    and here is my entry:

    http://dreikelvin.de/clients/serge-jespers/layout01.png

  4. Fabian Vercuiel 01. Dec, 2009 at 9:24 am #

    I’m in!

  5. Steven Verbruggen 01. Dec, 2009 at 11:48 am #


    dreikelvin:

    and here is my entry:
    http://dreikelvin.de/clients/serge-jespers/layout01.png

    I like the crown ;)

  6. dreikelvin 01. Dec, 2009 at 2:14 pm #

    ;)

    I’m curious of what the others come up with…

  7. Chocolate lg 02. Dec, 2009 at 4:50 pm #

    I’m also very curious what people will come up with. I don’t have any designer skills of my own but I do very much like this concept of asking people reading your blog to design a new theme.

  8. Marten de Jongh 08. Dec, 2009 at 1:15 am #

    Here is my entry : http://www.youngstones.nl/serge/serge.png
    Gr. Marten

  9. ian morton 08. Dec, 2009 at 5:03 pm #

    Make sure that the CSS for code blocks works properly, there are quite a few (good) designs that format code without the proper white space…I’m sure you’ll need that.

  10. Marius Watz 08. Dec, 2009 at 11:54 pm #

    I was not able to work to a detail level as I liked, but this is all that I have time for I’m afraid.

    We hope you like it Serge!

    http://mariuswatz.freehostia.com/light.html
    http://mariuswatz.freehostia.com/dark.html

    Marius

  11. Marius Watz 09. Dec, 2009 at 10:25 am #

    I have to add that I will not have the time to do the entire WordPress theme. I could barely squeeze in the design itself.
    I’m sorry.

  12. Erik bij de Vaate 09. Dec, 2009 at 12:33 pm #

    Nice contest !
    Here is my entry : http://mediadeo.itouchdesign.nl/serge_setup.jpg

  13. Robert 10. Dec, 2009 at 11:37 am #

    Here’s mine – http://projects.blackmoondev.com/serge/sergejespers_blog_design.png (I would need to change the pic – this was the only one I’ve found over the web). Cheers

  14. Joey 11. Dec, 2009 at 1:52 pm #

    Hey Serge, here is my entry: http://www.joeygrant.nl/img/blog_sergejespers.png

    Greetings,

    Joey

  15. Frank 16. Dec, 2009 at 3:57 pm #

    here are my pixels – hope you enjoy them :)

    http://www.frankalic.de/media/2009/12/webkitchen/webkitchen_be.png

    I really like the idea of the contest and looking forward to see some more last minute entries.

    Best,
    Frank

  16. LukasN 18. Dec, 2009 at 12:37 am #

    So I will also participate, here is my (master :D ) piece

    http://www.vas-web.eu/serge.jpg

  17. Fabianv 18. Dec, 2009 at 1:16 am #

    Here is my entry: http://fabianvercuiel.com/img/serge/sergeBlogDesign.jpg

    Fabian

  18. Jon B. 18. Dec, 2009 at 5:25 am #

    Here’s my last minute entry. I just read about the contest tonight and figured I’d drop a couple hours into mocking up a main page:

    http://www.fizzkicks.com/images/SergeJespers_BlogDesign.jpg

    Look forward to hearing who the winner is and best of luck to everyone!

  19. Houbsi 18. Dec, 2009 at 11:49 pm #

    Here’s finaly my entry :)

    http://projects.crazyhstudio.net/webkitchen/webkitchenbe_contest_design01.jpg

    I had several problems with my Photoshop. Appranetly the version i own stop working :( But i need it for my studies and i can’t afford the CS4 Master Collection.

    I hope you like it Serge and you choose me, you would help a little webdesign student so much.

  20. LukasN 19. Dec, 2009 at 10:19 am #

    I think there are more student, including me. That’s the reason why I participate :) Master Collection is perfect award and eternal fame is priceless.

  21. Serge Jespers 21. Dec, 2009 at 10:00 pm #

    Sorry to keep you all waiting. I have picked a winner and am now waiting for him to reply to my email. It was not very easy to pick one winner as I liked a lot of the designs you guys sent in. Thanks to everyone for participating! I will announce the winner once I get an email back.

  22. Houbsi 21. Dec, 2009 at 10:24 pm #

    so anybody has checked now his mails. and realized that he didn’t won :D

  23. Evert 22. Dec, 2009 at 8:36 am #

    damn i’m to late. i thought you coudl deliver till the 21st :-/

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