Thread: Seeking web designer with strong graphics design skills

I'm creating a new web site with a different focus than shira.net, but still related to belly dancing.

I want to launch the new site with a 21st century look and feel. I'm looking for a web designer with strong graphic design skills to help me with that. It's desirable to have someone who knows something about belly dancing because that will make it easier for us to communicate when talking about the project and its goals.

I expect to pay a fair price that is consistent with the designer's skills and experience.

Here's what I have in mind:

• I have already created a prototype web site to help the designer see what types of menus / articles the new site will have.
• I'm looking for a design that is visually appealing without interfering with the utility of the site.
• The project will involve converting the existing prototype site into the new look and feel.
• I'll want the designer to turn over to me any "raw" cgi scripts, javascripts, and graphics files to me when done. Ie, they become my property to modify as I see fit. For example, if the designer creates a new image for the top menu, I'll want to receive the original Photoshop file with all the layers, effects, etc. intact.
• After the designer converts the existing prototype to the new design, I'll then take over from there, posting new articles in that look and feel myself. Ie, I'm not looking for long-term maintenance services.
• There is some possibility that I'll convert shira.net to the new look and feel, if I like it enough.

Here are my technology requirements:

• NO Microsoft products may be used for authoring html. None. I don't want to contaminate my site with the hideous html they produce.
• Graphics design work must be delivered to me in format of Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator. These are the products I use.
• The top page must be a menu, not a worthless splash page. I detest Flash splash pages that take forever to load.
• No automatically-coming-on musical background effects.
• Site must be authored in html, not in Flash. I hate how long Flash takes to load, and it hurts search engine rankings.
• No use of frames. I don't like 'em.
• I'd like to look at using rollover buttons for the top menu, and for the site navigation bar on the other pages.
• No use of exec cmd - GoDaddy doesn't support it and GoDaddy is the web hosting company I'm using. (Grrrr.)
• Design must include a format for presenting long articles of text, which may or may not have photos.

If you're an interested designer, send me a private message. Include your email address so I can mail you a formal RFP. I'd love it if your pm would include links to 2 or 3 other web sites you have designed and made the graphics for, especially if those sites include some long articles so that I can see how you would handle those.

Just a quick note to say that I finished writing the formal "request for proposal" tonight, and I intend to send it out tomorrow to those who have responded to me so far.

If there are additional web/graphics designers who would like to throw their hat into the ring, please send me an email to this address:

bhuz {at} shira {dot} net

In your email, tell me what your email address is, and include links to sites you have designed so I can see what your design skills are like.

Although price is certainly important, it won't be my only criterion in making a choice. I'm looking for quality and professionalism as well.

Hi Shira !!!
Actually this week we are working on the site of my studio with an excellent artist that happens to be a tribal dancer also.
She is Erifily Nikolakopoulou, Erifily Nikolakopoulou she is member here in bhuz but dont come often as 3rifily nickname i think. (she is greek)
I admire her work, you can check it in her site also
She have worked with Rachel Brice for official posters, Sharon Kihara, and did the last work for the A'kai Silks, i cant recomend her enough.
Reasonable prices also, and pure artistic work, she is doing miracles.

Maria Aya, Greece,r:;