Alright, we admit. Our PDF Manuals page has been static and text-based for some time now. It almost seems archaic. So, we’re going to ask for some help from our talented fellow readers. Are any of you talented web designers per chance?

If you’re interested, here’s what you need to know. Email a quick and simple illustrated mock-up of what you think our PDF Manuals page should look like. Ideally, it should showcase our PDF Manuals. At the end of this week, we’ll pick 10 runner-ups with the most innovative designs and they’ll each receive a free 3-month hosting 12-month unlimited subscription by Awardspace.

Use your free subscription to build a working model of your mock-up within 2 weeks and the designer with the best implementation will win 3 years’ worth of unlimited hosting by Awardspace!

Are you excited yet? Read on for contest rules and requirements.

Rules are what makes a sporting contest, so here are some:

• All initial illustrated mock-ups should be submitted by 2100hrs Friday 9th April, 2010 in order to be considered.
• Illustrated mock-ups needs to be high resolution PNG, PDF or PSD. Other file formats will not be considered.
• You can also build your mock-up using MockingBird.
• Illustrated mock-ups need to be attached to an email to Jackson Chung with a brief description of how the page will operate if implemented. Do not send them to another MakeUseOf employee.
• If you are chosen as a runner-up:
  1. You will be asked to create a working model within the next 2 weeks.
  2. The page needs to be based on WordPress and any available free plugin.
  3. Optimally, the width of the page should be 600px.
  4. The page needs to low-maintenance and can be automatically updated whenever we release a new manual.
  5. The page should be easily implemented.
• Although a winner will be chosen, there is no guarantee that the design will be used.
• The winning design and its code will be handed over to MakeUseOf along with the rights to use it as we see fit.
• The design must not be submitted to any other website/contest.
• The other 9 runner-ups will be able to keep their free hosting subscriptions until they expire.
• The specific hosting plan which will be awarded is Awardspace’s Max Pack Plus Hosting which features unlimited disk space and traffic. However, free domain names will not be provided.

Remember, the closing date for the initial illustrated mock-up submission is Friday 9th April, 2010 at 2100hrs. The 10 runner-ups will be selected and announced the following day.

Sponsored by Awardspace

MakeUseOf would like to thank David from Awardspace for his generosity and sponsoring this contest. Interesting in sponsoring? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us via email.

Image credit: Modified from Svengraph’s icon set

Tagged: announcements • contest