HockeyPoolGuru homepage

Comments

• October 20, 2011 10:27 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  mwdesign - I have a few tricks up my sleeve for implementing a guru and/or hockey guy on my page yet, your hockey guy is pretty cool so I may well be back yet for a logo contest. Probably not to replace the cup on my page, but I think I have a great spot for a hockey guy yet. Will take me a couple weeks to get the new page online first though (hopefully just a week).
  
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• October 20, 2011 10:23 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  hellmuthmora - #20 is perfect, I appreciate what you were thinking on #19 because I know on their own here on LDG #11/#20 look kind of blankish and empty, but when pasted into my page with my page's existing thicker red stripes bounding them top and bottom (rough example here: http://www.hockeypoolguru.com/homepage_index.html) it doesn't look so empty any more! I simply have to leave those items on my page at least for now, they are frames that carry application menu's through every screen (and there are a lot of screens) And even though it's a sports page, a lot of business users access it from their office - so with #20 there's just the right mix now of clean lines, subtle shading, good sports colors, superb refinement (really superb including the gradients), and just before it got too "office soft" the "work hard play harder" blasts in with true hockey colors and ice-like surface. The now only 4 menu items just add to the clean look and I think the lack of underline in the menu's text updates them nicely - absolutely superb!!! I cannot imagine being happier, I've stared at it for hours and never grow tired of it.
  
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• October 20, 2011 6:06 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  Looks like we're about to close - tomorrow morning hellmuthmora - I'd have to stick with #11 over the latest, in the latest most changes are a step too far for me - the blue login box, short thick red line instead of long fine blue one, darker blue menu items, and a bit too much glare on the cup, changed uppercase text. All that was really needed was to get rid of the .COM - and the size of the background goalie should be smaller like #1 not quite so over-reaching. No matter though, I will go with #11 and we can figure it out after that - I doubt there will be more entries at this late date! I'll try and figure out how to wrap this up tomorrow after the deadline, not sure how that works... lucila - thanks for the submission, but we're 6 of 7 days in now - too late to get anything new on track...
  
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• October 19, 2011 2:20 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  It's an interesting process on LDG, over time designs are starting to look more alike - which is good in some ways, you can see how elements of many of these designs could work together - the photo-realistic background by fastdesgner (although should be hockey of course), ice and/or puck bullets from shinedesign, hockey-guy from mwdesign. But one must be chosen and the originator of the design to which these are all merging is still the one I have to stick with. My existing homepage is really a blank slate - ie non existent. As mentioned though, once the winning design is chosen and integrated on my page, I may well hold a separate logo contest to see if a something new comes out which I can paste into the winning web page design - which at this point is still #11. If not, I'm perfectly happy without. I won't extend the contest at this point so it's getting pretty late in the game to be getting started - things happen fast on LDG!
  
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• October 18, 2011 1:32 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  vietcreative - nice design, and in fact very business like - an angle I debated, but in the end it has to lean more towards sports overall - a lot of white collar pools, but a lot of blue collar ones too. mwdesign - your hockey guy is great, I believe it would bring a smile to hockey pooler's face and that's a powerful thing. Overall though hellmuth's latest is too far ahead of the game - but I may still hold a separate contest for a "face" once this phase is over so it might be worth holding on to. I know how difficult original artwork like that must be. hellmuthmora - draft #11 is the perfect blend of all your prior drafts, the professionalism is kicked way up - the work hard play harder slogan is just where it should be (can't believe I didn't see that), the transparency on the demo button is sublime, and the stanley cup lettering and detail so much finer. I could easily use the cup as a background in the actual application - and as such if chosen may even ask for the goalie action scene in the main page again just so it's not overkill with the cup which would then be in their application screen for their entire pool session. Details really, what you've done is far beyond expectations this morning - you're a mind reader and you make it look so easy!
  
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• October 17, 2011 11:58 AM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  graphicus - that is indeed a clean and subtle design, but I'm afraid most elements I cannot use and the limitations of my existing homepage would in the end require too many changes to merge them. I hate to have to eliminate riches of good designs here - this is going to be a tough week, will be glad when it's over!
  
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• October 17, 2011 11:53 AM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  helmuthmora - I haven't figured out how to add a comment specifically to your drafts section, so I will add it here. Call me crazy, but the original - seen mocked up here: http://www.hockeypoolguru.com/homepage/screenshot.png - is still my favorite! It is so hit-you-in-the-face simple that no new visitor can be confused, and I have to grab new users who are likely bleary while they surf for hours on end. And it sits so well in the existing homepage's menu system (which is not easily removed, it's a permanent multi-frame setup carried through the application) that it's almost meant to be. Having said that, the red bullets, "Click 4 full demo" button, and "Work hard play harder" in draft number 5 could all comfortably be transported to the original without over-complicating it I think - that would be the limit though before the simplicity is lost. I actually prefer the mixed-case text of the original and the longer mixed case title - seems classier and more subtle. I presume that's actual "text" so I can experiment at will but I think it looks great as is. Regarding the logo - it's funny, I created this project all about the logo but now it is all about the webpage. What I would do is keep the original stanley cup logo and and open a separate contest for a new logo. If nothing comes of it, I'm perfectly happy with the cup - and if a guru comes out, then so be it. I have much firmer ideas about the logo now, but at this point it's all about the webpage. I know LGD wanted me to do a logo first then the webpage, but this is working out much better. So, if any other designers are sweating over a guru logo specifically - I would suggest keep it and await a separate contest that will occur after this one ends. LGD makes it easy to do things in stages, the cost will still turn out to be more than reasonable. I almost fear having to look at LDG in the mornings because I hate to have to choose between so much good work - amazing site!
  
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• October 14, 2011 7:53 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  Just a quick note - I will consider designs that replace the top menu of the existing homepage, it looks like my old one is just too clunky and limiting. The bottom red "Choose Pool" menu line would have to stay (fills up quickly within the application) but could be altered graphically, although it's largely out of the way as is. The "Choose Pool" floating window has to stay and really can't be changed easily - it's look carries through to the application. I would have to be able to fit the new homepage into a fully maximized 1024x768 window - even if it's wall to wall. Not that many have such screens any more - but the entire system as is can comfortably operate in just such a small space - makes it easy to hide your hockey pool from your boss at work. I presume graphics outputs these days are vectors that are sizable as required (at least that's what I keep reading on template websites) so I presume this is not an issue.
  
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• October 14, 2011 5:39 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  Sorry folks I just discovered I have an "inbox" on this system - will use it. Have not used LDG before...
  
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• October 14, 2011 2:22 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  helmuthmora - been looking at the design for a couple hours now. Hard to fault. A couple of things would be needed to take it to completion An "on" version of each of the menu buttons, ie whichever is clicked should be seen as "on" - by default the "About Us" would be on, and the content shown would in fact be the "About Us" content. So perhaps you could mock in the "About Us" button as being "on" - perhaps not too much a departure, just lighter blue or something, just enough to tell where you are - as it looks great as is. I would ultimately need another version of the "Demo" button that I could use in the "Create Pool" section - would say "Create my Pool NOW!" or something to that effect. It appears the top date is text so probably changeable by me, but could perhaps says "Serious about your pool? You've come to the right place" - 1st sentence bold just as you have it. Hope that's not too long. Shorter would be "Serious about your pool? Welcome home" perhaps. The SUBMIT button would still have to say LOGIN, needs to be crystal clear for newcomers. "Login Help" is good, "Register Free" I'll have to come up with something for - perhaps "Administrator Help" for now.
  
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• October 14, 2011 1:22 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  crude jpg mockup of design #1 http://www.hockeypoolguru.com/homepage/screenshot.png without doing anything about the existing top menu. Hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting a mockup, if so I'm sure I'll be informed.
  
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• October 14, 2011 12:00 PM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  timefortheweb - #3 is a clean design but leans a bit toward the hockey store type angle. Thank you but I was struck by helmuthmora's design this morning and am a bit stuck on it. I know it will pull in new users for sure. More of a radical departure from the existing page, but it works.
  
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• October 14, 2011 11:52 AM
   cgbatcds
    Project Holder
  helmuthmora - design #1 is fantastic, I knew I should keep my mind open because even with no guru it works. It's got Canada - something canadian hockey fans are always passionate about (I'd say 40% of pools are named after their city or province or country), it's got a Stanley Cup, and the only thing it needs beyond that is that little matter of the URL - done! I can make the new menu work and the new login box too. This is what I feared from logodesignguru - perhaps too many good designs. It's early in the morn here but let me review, I can't see how you could improve #1. Love the demo button too! You nailed it. Clean and simple.
  
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