Hello!
I'm interested in working with a talented individual that can create a fully functional and modular website as well as its corresponding database, which has its own CMS/Admin CMS. Some of the skills I'm looking for are: HTML, CSS, jQuery, PHP, MySQL, CMS knowledge, Apache, API, etc.
BACKGROUND
I'm apart of a online gaming internet community that has been around since 2001. Since then, we've grown and have had the urge to expand into other realms of gaming. Because of our growth, we've felt like we need a more established home than just some internet forums that we've been using for the last 9 years. So, this is our next step, a big step. We're interested in developing a more structured online home for ourselves with various ways of expressing who we are to the outside community as well the immediate community.
There is no one in the community that has the expertise that we're looking for, however we do have the basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and some JS. With that said, we can maintain and update content, but creating a database and the sophisticated jQuery that is needed is something out of our reach.
SITE STRUCTURE
As far as the actual look and feel of the site goes, we want something that is incredibly easy to use as well as something that doesn't require the user to navigate left, right, up, down, basically all over the place. Ease and functionality is key.
Static Information
No matter where the user is on the page, we want them to have their information visible. This information would include: their avatar, name, if they have any new messages, if they have any event invites, recent forum activity, recent and/or upcoming events that they've signed up for, as well as a news ticker or event ticker that displays any and all upcoming events that the community is engaged in.
News Headlines/Articles
A major feature the community would like is the ability to publish their own news headlines and articles. We're interested in utilizing mult-accordions via jQuery for this task. The idea is that all the user gets is a list of current news, categorized if the user chooses. A thumbnail + Headline with information who the article was posted by and when + the post count of comments is all that would be immediately visible. The user then can click the headline, which will animate the thumbnail out and expand the headline field into the actual article.
Three more options are given to the user from this point, they can obviously read the article, but they can either view the comments of the article, which by clicking on that link will expand the article field even further to show all of the comments or a page of comments. They could also choose to post a comment for themselves, which expands a field for them to type in and submit just like the view commented field expanded. Both these fields should also be able to be expanded together. To wrap it up, there will be a close link that will collapse the entire accordion back to its original state with its thumbnail. We would also like that if the user clicks on a headline that is already opened, it would collapse on itself to its original position, so there are 2 ways to always closing one news field.
Also, we would like a shortcut to view the comments. To the right of the headline is the post count of comments, if the user clicks that, the article will immediately expand directly to the view comments expansion.
All in all, this is how we would like the news to work. We would also like for only one news accordion to be opened at once, if they choose to open a second news article with a previously one already opened, the first would collapse on itself and the newly clicked field would expand as seen fit.
Event ticker
A pretty simple function, it's directly connected to the event calendar, cycling through the most recent upcoming events that the community has created.
Forums
We want structured and secured forums that are connected to the login information that the user uses to post comments on the main news. We don't want users logging in once just to post on the news and then log in yet again just to use the forums. We want it all connected to one place. The forums are nothing special, just an additional and vital link for the community. We don't envision them being something very special, just your typical and normal forum.
Event Calendar
We want some way for users to create, edit, manage, invite friends, etc. events through a calendar. A lot of forums already utilize a feature like this, but we want it to be a little more detailed and involved. If someone creates a event, we want it broadcasted through the community, like wise if certain individuals are invited to participate in a certain event.
Settings (My profile, preferences etc.)
Since we don't want the user to have to input everything 2x (login information, etc.), we want a join Profile and Preferences function which allows them to change their avatars, signatures, etc.
The site design itself isn't very labor intensive, it's actually pretty minimalist in nature, which is something we're very much interested in. However, it's the database which seems to be the real work. I've touched up on major components of what we're looking to incorporate, but it doesn't cover everything 100%. For instance, we need some way to edit, delete, be administrators for all of this information, only allow certain users to see certain things, etc. This is something we're also looking for someone to develop for us.
Also, a fluid design is a plus, starting at 1024x768 resolution and going up.
As well, we're very interested that the design as well as the DB works with:
- Safari
- Firefox
- Chrome
- IE8+
Attached are some concept images of what we want the site to look like and feel like. However, these are just concepts, more so ideas for you to use and jump off from. We're very eager to get this project up and off the ground and to its feet and very anxious to start working with one of you.
If you are rewarded the job, more detailed information will be available.