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

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!

23 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. Fabian Vercuiel

    I’m in!

  3. ;)

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

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. 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

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

    Greetings,

    Joey

  10. 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

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

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

  12. 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!

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

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

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

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