Challenge Summary
The Austin Times is a hyper-local, user-driven news aggregation site. News articles from various feeds as well as from user-submitted content populate the site. Through user-driven content and comments, the client is looking to create an active online community.This contest will create a clickable HTML prototype that follows the visual design of the storyboards. The prototype will include all major interfaces in the application.
Background The Austin Times site is an online newspaper replacement. Required Pages The pages included in the prototype include: - Home Page: Main/featured stories - Category Detail: Stories in a given category - View Article: Story headline and content, along with user comments - Submit Content: Users submit stories - View User Profile: Users can set up their own profiles, which are linked from their comments and articles These pages were created during a storyboard contest and have already been visually designed. This contest is intended to implement these screens in HTML and CSS. In addition, these screens are required, but not included in the storyboards. Visually, these pages should all be similar to the Submit Content storyboard. User Profile Edit - Allow user to edit the fields they display on their profile page. - Allow user to select categories for email updates User Registration - Contains user name, password, email address, and profile fields Admin Submission List - This page will list the pending submissions for review, and must include a table with column data found in the admin_column_data.doc that is available for download Links For links in the prototype, we have attached a guide for how they should be handled. Please reference link-guide.doc Development Consideration - Submissions must render correctly in Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2 and 3, Google Chrome and Safari in both Mac and PC environments. - Use styling and design from the storyboard provided. - Follow all functionality and navigation shown in the wireframes Specific HTML/CSS Requirements - Your HTML code must be XHTML 1.0 Strict compliant - Validate your code - we will accept minor validation errors, but please comment your reasons for any validation errors in a text file you provide. - Your code must render properly in Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2 and 3, Google Chrome and Safari in both Mac and PC environments. - Use CSS to space out objects, not clear/transparent images (GIFs or PNGs). - If alpha channel PNGS are used be sure to include script to use filters for IE 6 - Do not use graphical text (for buttons use the graphics as backgrounds) - Proper use of structural CSS to lay out your page is strongly encouraged. - No inline CSS styles - all styles must be placed in an external stylesheet. - Provide as much semantic code as possible. Elements such as ABBR, ACRONYM, ADDRESS, CITE and CODE enhance the semantics of content when used appropriately. - Use strong and em tags instead of bold and italic tags - Only use table tags for tables of data/information and not for page layout. Judging Criteria - How closely the prototype matches the provided storyboard - How closely the prototype maintaining its layout and design schemes across all pages. - How far the prototype goes further from storyboard and wireframe guidelines to going that extra mile. Note that this applies to layout and use of space but not to colors or the graphics since this story board is being used for another application that must have the same look and feel. - Code Formatting - whether on not your code validates against W3C HTML Validation and CSS Validation.
Background The Austin Times site is an online newspaper replacement. Required Pages The pages included in the prototype include: - Home Page: Main/featured stories - Category Detail: Stories in a given category - View Article: Story headline and content, along with user comments - Submit Content: Users submit stories - View User Profile: Users can set up their own profiles, which are linked from their comments and articles These pages were created during a storyboard contest and have already been visually designed. This contest is intended to implement these screens in HTML and CSS. In addition, these screens are required, but not included in the storyboards. Visually, these pages should all be similar to the Submit Content storyboard. User Profile Edit - Allow user to edit the fields they display on their profile page. - Allow user to select categories for email updates User Registration - Contains user name, password, email address, and profile fields Admin Submission List - This page will list the pending submissions for review, and must include a table with column data found in the admin_column_data.doc that is available for download Links For links in the prototype, we have attached a guide for how they should be handled. Please reference link-guide.doc Development Consideration - Submissions must render correctly in Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2 and 3, Google Chrome and Safari in both Mac and PC environments. - Use styling and design from the storyboard provided. - Follow all functionality and navigation shown in the wireframes Specific HTML/CSS Requirements - Your HTML code must be XHTML 1.0 Strict compliant - Validate your code - we will accept minor validation errors, but please comment your reasons for any validation errors in a text file you provide. - Your code must render properly in Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2 and 3, Google Chrome and Safari in both Mac and PC environments. - Use CSS to space out objects, not clear/transparent images (GIFs or PNGs). - If alpha channel PNGS are used be sure to include script to use filters for IE 6 - Do not use graphical text (for buttons use the graphics as backgrounds) - Proper use of structural CSS to lay out your page is strongly encouraged. - No inline CSS styles - all styles must be placed in an external stylesheet. - Provide as much semantic code as possible. Elements such as ABBR, ACRONYM, ADDRESS, CITE and CODE enhance the semantics of content when used appropriately. - Use strong and em tags instead of bold and italic tags - Only use table tags for tables of data/information and not for page layout. Judging Criteria - How closely the prototype matches the provided storyboard - How closely the prototype maintaining its layout and design schemes across all pages. - How far the prototype goes further from storyboard and wireframe guidelines to going that extra mile. Note that this applies to layout and use of space but not to colors or the graphics since this story board is being used for another application that must have the same look and feel. - Code Formatting - whether on not your code validates against W3C HTML Validation and CSS Validation.
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.