Web Designer?

[Broderick]

I was wondering if anyone can recommend a website designer. The website we want to create is a social media site and already has some mock-up designs....we just wanted to make it look more professional before we actually get to building it. I like going off referrals, so if anyone can recommend a good one or is one themselves I'd appreciate it!

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Broderick

is a social media site

Are you sure you want to compete with the likes of Facebook and Twitter?



Also, are you looking just for someone to make an html/css template, or are you looking for a designer and a programmer to actually make the website have interactive functionality?

[aelle]

Forum member Ellie made the design for my blog, and I have only good things to say about it. She's strictly a designer, though, and I don't know if she's interested in that kind of projects at this point.

[Broderick]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Are you sure you want to compete with the likes of Facebook and Twitter?

Sure! I don't really see too much downside. Worst case scenario we flop and we're out some money.

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Also, are you looking just for someone to make an html/css template, or are you looking for a designer and a programmer to actually make the website have interactive functionality?

Just the design now. Photoshop. We want to have a sleek, professional design before we go to someone for the html/css template.

[AdamF24]

Originally Posted by Broderick

Sure! I don't really see too much downside. Worst case scenario we flop and we're out some money.

If you have any intention of building a serious competitor to Facebook/Twitter/Any Major Social Site, you're going to have to spend more than just "some money" on getting it programmed.

[Broderick]

Originally Posted by AdamF24

If you have any intention of building a serious competitor to Facebook/Twitter/Any Major Social Site, you're going to have to spend more than just "some money" on getting it programmed.

Maybe....but for now I'm only concerned with the design.

[awaqas1]

If you are only looking for contact information ignore this post.

For the project that you are looking for, i think it would be a good idea to know what to expect from a good designer who can give your site and original design instead of someone who would just put something together for the sake of good design sort of speak.

I have been reading Smashing magazine for some time and often the writer who post on that site are established designers who might be able to either redirect you to someone worthy or take your project.

I looked up a few articles which might help you get an idea of what to look for in a designer.

• The Designer Who Delivers - Smashing Magazine

• How to choose a logo designer
  

You can also post a job there and see what kind of response you get because lots of designers regularly visit that site.

This should gets you started,

Best wishes

[Broderick]

Had a chance to read through it....great resources man...thanks! Yeah, most of the stuff I've done is with blogs, so going from an idea to a functioning social media website is a new ballgame for me, and information like that is certainly helpful.

We actually have a logo that we got off Elance and some Photoshop mock-ups like that article suggested.

One thing I have learned is how clear and precise you have to be. It seems like we spent a lot of extra time with paper and pencil just getting clear on what we wanted the site to look like.

[Brutha]

If I would start a social media site I would probably build on the Pinax framework. It will give you some constraints but it will save a huge amount of work.

[Fred Tracy]

I was going to suggest Elance for cost effectiveness but looks like you already know about that. I'm curious.. what's this site going to be about? How will it differ from FB/Twitter? I suppose you can't tell us all your secrets, but anything you can reveal?

[Broderick]

We want the site to be a place where you let your network (Facebook friends/Twitter followers) make decisions for you. The site is called YouPick. Yall are so cool here, but I don't really wanna post the info on the forum. PM me and I'll show you a lot if you're interested/just curious.

I think we're going to go with Elance for the design and possibly the whole project. Putting out the job for the logo went really well. There were lots of people offering to do it for great prices and it seemed like they were excited to do it...but we'll see how it goes.

I appreciate all the PM's/comments/suggestions about it though, and I still may take some of the suggestions for designers I got through PM's...I just want to see how Elance goes first.

[domjt]

would love to say i'd give you a hand, but only started web design in sep 2010.
So I don't think I'd know enough yet, in terms of the coding.

But if you need any help with design then I'll be happy to help

In terms of experience I have A-levels in design, 2 years experience from doing part of a architecture degree, and I'm now doing an art and technology degree.

I also recently did a freelance project with my university and IBM for a Red Ribbon event which took place.


Heres my site Welcome

But keep us update anyway, will be interested to hear how it goes.