Need some help on new website

[MSIuser]

I'm starting a new website - phpchallenge.com (http://www.phpchallenge.com) and I need some help with it. The website is hopefully going to be a website containing lots of challenges for php programmers, ranging from novice to advanced (in future anyway). A challenge shall be set every few weeks for each section and members will be able to take part. Then a new task will be set and submissions will be marked or graded in some form. Maybe even make a league table running over every 10 challenges or whatever. Well that's hopefully the plan anyway. Still at the planning stage so a lot may change.

What I want to know is, is there anyone who would like to get involved in setting challenges, marking submissions, design of the site. There is a huge area for growth of the site and I'm hoping it will grow, but I need help to get it off the ground. If you interested follow the link above.

What do you think of the idea anyway?

[vizun]

Dude i freaking love the idea. I'm really getting into php and this is an excelent way to sharpen your skills! DO IT.

I would be very interested in helping / being involved in the site and challenges

[MSIuser]

Great! :D I'm gonna be out of action on the site for a month or so because of exams, but once they are over, I'll be getting stuck in and in a week or 2 the site should be fully functional and online! :D Working on a design at the minute slowly during breaks. :D

[m3talc0re]

Well, I can't program, but I can do graphics and layout design if you want? http://www.niqdesigns.com/ is my main design site. Free btw, I'm not gonna charge if you want my help :p

[MSIuser]

That would be brilliant, if you could. Have a look there and you might get an idea of what I've been thinking so far. It's definitely my weak part though. We on the forum there of email me to admin at phpchallenge.com. Thanks so much if you can help!

[m3talc0re]

How about something like this? This is a fluid layout btw, meaning it'll expand/contract for different resolutions.

http://www.niqdesigns.com/temp/layout_preview.jpg

[MSIuser]

That design looks great! I told you I wasn't too good at it, professional looking especially! I'll stick a link in with the copyright information for your site. Thanks for making that for me! If you could email me everything like psd's and html files it would be great! Thanks again!

[MSIuser]

One thing I just wondered if it would be possible? You know the whole Member info section on the left? Would it be possible to make a container for that so that I can put similar things below it because there are other sections I want to put below it? Even just shift it down a bit so it doesn't interfere with the flowing graphics from the banner?

[m3talc0re]

You mean that curve behind the "Members Info" text? I was gonna use css to control that as a background image so it would work and look better. I was gonna go with no containers for the things on the left side because your content is already seperated from them with their own boxes. I can make the changes you're wanting, I'll post another preview once I do.

[MSIuser]

I see your point, I just think it might look a bit better slightly further down than having the title right on top of the curve even without a container. I'm gonna have stats tables and things as the main content so I was wondering how they would look in it? I'll make them flowing as well anyway.

[m3talc0re]

How about now?
http://www.niqdesigns.com/temp/layout_preview_02.jpg
I was thinking we could use a css controlled table border to seperate the left content sections themselves, kinda like how I did with the orange dotted line for the right content on my site.

[MSIuser]

Yeah, I like that. How would the different sections on the left be seperated? You got any ideas? Stick another section for links or something see how it looks?

Thanks for all the work! It looks great, I'm getting busy with all the scripts.

[MSIuser]

One other idea? How about a different font? Just to see how it looks, how bout myraid or something?

[m3talc0re]

For the seperation of the left sections, I told you, I was thinkin' of doing them like the right content sections on my site. You see those orange dotted lines? That's the bottom border of those cells. I was thinking we could do that to yours as well.. just not orange, lol.

You mean the font of the main title right?

[MSIuser]

I mean font for the logo on the top left. Just wondering what something else would look like. The dotted line sounds good, I didn't quite understand when I read it last night, was pretty tired after playing a game for football. :)

[MSIuser]

Would it be possible for you to make me a logo?

[m3talc0re]

What you mean a logo? You mean like a symbol or shape type logo?

[MSIuser]

Yep, thats what i mean if it possible. If not then no problem!

[m3talc0re]

Sure, it's no problem.

[MSIuser]

Any chance of another preview shortly? :)

[m3talc0re]

Okay, new preview. For the logo, I decided against a shape type logo and used the name itself for the logo. What you think so far?

3rd Layout Preview (http://www.niqdesigns.com/temp/layout_preview_03.jpg)

[MSIuser]

I like the way PHP is done, but not sure about the Challenge, it almost looks out of place because the rest of the design looks pretty professional.

[MSIuser]

The sidebar layout I was thinking of is something like www.ibplanet.com the way there is different sections for different things.

[m3talc0re]

Are you wanting something more graphical? Like IBPlanet's site? If so, lemme know and I can make a new layout and scrap the current one.

[MSIuser]

Well I like that one, but I was thinking maybe a slightly more graphical design, but I know the more graphics you put in the more cheesy it can look. See how something more graphical comes out. I guess I really just want something that's a clean design and also looks interesting. I ain't great at web design so I guess I'll leave it up to you. :)

[m3talc0re]

Lol, that's okay. I'll see what I can come up with.

[MSIuser]

Sounds good! :) I'll try get a few main page scripts written and then can maybe get a proper preview of what you come up with looks like in use? What you think?

[MSIuser]

Just found a site that I really like the menu of http://www.sothebys.com would that be a possibility? Any previews lately or you busy with stuff? If you are tis quite alright! Really appreciate all you done for me so far!

[m3talc0re]

Yeah, I can do something like that easily, lol.

Just so you know, I've been sick for the past week and been busy at work too, so I've just been too tired to work on it. I'm starting to feel a little better, so hopefully I'll have time to come up with something new for you soon.

[MSIuser]

That's not a problem, I got a few of the scripts done for the site, but I think I will be out of action for a little bit because got a few big exams next week, take you time in doing it whenever you get the chance. I don't think i'll be finished myself until middle of june. :D