Update: To make this very, very clear. The preferred qualities below are just that, preferred. They are not requirements. If you think you can make a sweet looking website comment on this post and I will talk to you so you can send me a mockup.
As part of my redesign efforts for dot.kde.org I (and many others) would love to have a new visual style for dot.kde.org. So, do you want to help out a large community website? Do you want to add an excellent centerpiece to portfolio? Do you want to be hip and Kool? If so, please comment on this post, indicating that you are interested and I will contact you via e-mail. Below is a list of some preferred qualities that I will be looking for when I talk to people. You don't have to have all of them (or any of them), but the more of them you have the easier things will be (for you and me).
Preferred Qualities
- Good graphic design skills.
- Can work on a tight schedule.
- Ability to take strong criticism.
- Knowledge of Drupal 6 themeing and templating.
- Is enjoyable to work with and passionate about open source software.
Again, please comment on this post if you are interested! This is a chance to do some good portfolio work that many people will appreciate.
Syndicate
Comments
ooo pick me pick me!
Hey,
I'm developing my website portfolio and have been looking for an opportunity like this. I have delivered a handful of sites to clients and have made a theme for Drupal about a year ago. I have strong front-end design skills and would love to contribute a sexy looking site for dot.kde.
Check my folio so far at amparose.com
Cyas
Hi, I'm no Drupal genius,
Hi,
I'm no Drupal genius, have tinkered with it in the past though, but I can use GIMP well and am currently editor of Full Circle Magazine (www.FullCircleMagazine.org), I do all the Scribus layout and all the graphical bits and bobs and am currently writing a series of articles on GIMP.
I'd be more than willing to help out as I have some free time from work for the next few months.
All the best!
Ronnie
*.kde.org coherency
Speaking as a user:
I really like the fact that websvn.kde.org, techbase.kde.org, koffice.kde.org, etc. all look the same. It makes the project look more professional. It also means that I can expect most pages linked to on the kde.org site to be structured in a fairly constant manner.
One of the main exceptions that come to mind are the links to the Dot. I have no clue what the relationship between the Dot and the kde.org site actually is, but if a the Dot is linked to by the "Official" kde site, then must at least be endorsed by the kde project. Given that, how hard would it be to get access to the kde.org theme so it could be modified to work on the Dot?
More coherency to come
While dot.kde.org will have a style similar to that of the other kde websites, it won't be the same. The Dot is the official news/community site for KDE, and it is important to distinguish it as such. So the dot will have it's own style, but it will definitely be clear that it is a KDE site.
Help with Theme-Generation
Hi there!
I'm no Graphics-Ninja but I can do web development for the LAMPP stack pretty well. I use Drupal 6 on my site as well and I'd love to help dot.KDE get a proper theme. So what I am proposing is:
You find someone who can create nice looking graphics. When you finally found what you are looking for, you get in contact with me and I'll write you the Drupal theme.
That way every designer can give his best and does not have to mess with the template code.
Regarding the Qualities:
Work on a tight schedule: schould be able to do so after next thursday
Ability to take strong criticism: yes of course
Knowledge of Drupal 6 themeing and templating: Yes I have that
Is enjoyable to work with and passionate about open source software: Yes both :) The first one I hope is true, the latter I'm sure is true.
Also note that I got in contact with quite some nice modules, like Mollom for example, which might be a good choice for the Dot.
Happy to help, but am .tpl impared
Well....
I have good graphic design skills, can work on tight schedules, use all open source software (mainly Inkscape, Gimp and Blender), have created Joomla templates, love KDE (Hey, my blog *is* called Kubuntu Lover...). I've been told I'm fun to work with (although maybe they were just being nice... hmmm....) however I will warn you that while I love Drupal 6, it's template system (or at least documentation) just made my brain hurt. I get css although I'm a bit rusty. Let's just say I'm a better artist than code person, especially where .tpl files are concerned.
For what it's worth I also contributed quite a bit of art to Secret Maryo Chronicles the FOSS, 2d platform game at secretmaryo.org under the handle Helios.
Anyway, to be frank I suspect you'll get applicants who are more hard core web designers than me, but if you need some help with a design / mockup, or even just some new renders of that 3d Konqi give me a buzz.
Bugsbane
http://Kubuntulover.Blogspot.com
E-Mail Sent
I've sent you an e-mail. The sooner you can get back to me the better.
Drupal theming?
Given the relatively small group of graphic designers active in the KDE community, I think the extra requirement of Drupal knowledge is going to restrict the number of people who come forward to tech-types without much graphic design experience. I suggest you break this into two different tasks or projects - one for pure design, and another for template implementation.
Preferred, Not Required
Below is a list of some preferred qualities that I will be looking for when I talk to people. You don't have to have all of them (or any of them), but the more of them you have the easier things will be (for you and me).
As you may notice these are not requirements. In fact, I will likely be the one creating the template from a mockup or something like that. However, if it comes down to a good graphic designer vs. a good graphic designer that has Dupal knowledge, the one with Druapl knowledge may be chosen over the other because it ultimately will make my life easier.
It may even be the case the multiple people make mockups, and if someone wants to make a mockup and send that to me too that is fine. I can't make guarantees about it being chosen, but I will look at everything and consider them all fairly (along with the Dot editors, KDE community, etc.).
CSS
Does that mean the Dot will finally get a CSS layout instead of this ancient table stuff? That is really great, now the sidebars will (hopefully) not be displayed any more when an article or the overview is printed. I'm looking forward to the new design!
Of course!
It will indeed be a CSS based layout. If you look at the output for my blog you can get an idea of what the Dot's HTML will be like. If there isn't CSS for printers at the very least there will be a printer friendly page view.