redesign bipolar before we do!

this contest is simple.

since we obviously can't be bothered to get off our asses and finish the redesign we started without a little incentive, if you manage to create a redesign for bipolar before we finish ours, we may use your design as the new bipolar.

rule-type-stuff:
  1. if you can get your redesign in to us before we put our "interim" redesign up (or before Feb. 23rd, whichever comes first), you're in the running.
  2. your design will be judged (by us) against any other entries we receive, for visual uniqueness, functionality, adherence to the design guidelines, etc.  in the event of a tough call...we'll flip a coin. if you don't win, fates be damned.
  3. we reserve the right to NOT use any of the redesigns if we feel they don't meet our ideas, desires, or standards.
  4. even if we invoke rule 3, a winner will still be chosen, and the winning design and any runner's up will be announced and displayed on a special contest-winners page.

design guidelines:

  1. frames, DHTML layers, php scripting, whatever... however you want to do it.
            sub a - our ONLY stipulation to #1 is that we must be able to use individual files for the blog text... either include files or files loaded into frames...
  2. NO black backgrounds, NO skulls
  3. brian is on the left, matt is on the right.
  4. need room for one list of permanent links to other sites.
  5. navigational elements of some kind are optional... so that if we decide to add other sections to the site at some point in the future, we have an established place to put those links.
  6. and, if you want, be sure to put your name (or your website's name) somewhere in an out-of-the way place, so you can have a permanent link from there.
  7. beyond those 6 points, everything else is fair game.

submission guidelines:
any number of ways -- as site mockups in .gif, .jpg, .psd, or .png; as a fully developed web page online, or in a .zip file; any other way you can think of... send files or page links to .

deadline:
deadline for entries is midnight Friday, Feb. 23rd. entries will be judged over the weekend, and the winner will notified by email sometime Sunday evening. winners will be publicly announced on the evening of Monday, Feb. 26th by 9:00P.M. EST.

judging:
judging will be done by matt & brian (probably with some help from paul, though he will NOT be judging his own work...), most likely under the influence of alcohol. be aware that "finished" entries (those already marked up in HTML) will take precedence over mockups or concept sketches, unless the "unfinished" entries are of exceptional quality. the judging will be totally arbitrary, based on what we like and how we feel at the time.

the prizes:
winner gets: to pick a show from Transmission3000 to be put on CD with specially designed t3k packaging, a copy of matt's book of poetry the christ of my confusion, and maybe a couple other random items from around the house, and, of course, special mention on the contest winners' page and (possibly) their design used for the new bipolar2.0.
runners up get: a couple random items from bipolar headquarters (the house), and special mention on the contest winners' page.
losers get: NOTHING. well, we will put a list of all those who submit a design up on the contest winners page, along with a link to your web site, email, or whatever of yours you'd like us to link to.