All the latest news and announcements, straight from the WooThemes HQ!
WooContest – Submit your design and win!
03. Oct, 2008 by Mark Forrester in Contests
As you all know, we at WooThemes love collaborating with industry-leading, creative designers and launching stylish and unique Wordpress themes every month. We also love seeing how our fantastic community of users customize and implement our themes.
We therefore thought it would be a good idea to launch a competition where you our readers/users can get involved, and gain some exposure, designing a theme concept for us. Not to forget, you stand the chance to win some big money!
How to enter
To enter the competition, contestants must submit a theme concept you think would go down a treat on WooThemes.
- The design must be created in Photoshop, Fireworks or Illustrator format.
- The website container must have a width of between 940 and 980 pixels, catering for the average 1024 X 768 user.
- The entries must be submitted to the WooThemes Flickr pool in jpeg or png format and tagged “Woocontest”.
- Entries must be submitted before midnight on 31st October 2008. That’s Halloween night! Woooooooooooooo.
Your submission on Flickr must include:
- Your name and any URL you would like linked to in case you win.
- Any stock or source images you have used including URLs. Be sure to only use stock images that have Extended Usage licenses that allow for distributing the theme design once coded, otherwise avoid use of stock images.
The winner will be chosen according to the amount of positive comments it receives, as well as feedback gathered from guest judges (guest judges will be announced soon).
The winner will receive $2000 and a 6 month develop license, whilst the runner up will receive $1000 and a 3 month develop license. Both will obviously grab a heap of exposure.
We will then add some wordpress magic to the concept and launch it is an official WooTheme, crediting our winning designer.
Terms and Conditions
- The theme concept submitted must be entirely your own work. As mentioned above if stock imagery is used it must have an exttended usage license.
- By entering this competition you consent to your theme concept possibly being used by WooThemes and avaliable for purchase on our site. First and second prize will, as already stated, be awarded a cash prize for their work.
- If any other theme concepts are used by WooThemes the designer will be informed and a once-off fee will be awarded to the designer for the concept. The fee will be agreed upon by both parties. Sales generated off the theme will be kept by the company.
- The winning theme concept and the runner up may be required to mock up an inner page before payment is made, determined by an inspection of the design source file. A clearly noted grid structure is highly recommended.
135 Responses to “WooContest – Submit your design and win!”
9 October 2008 at 11:05 am #
submitted another news style theme:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8689981@N07/2927259276/in/pool-woothemes
9 October 2008 at 11:59 am #
wow! sounds just interesting design contest! I’ve never been into any online competition yet, maybe will try my luck if I got enough time to complete any design before the dateline.
great competition you have here Adii!! Congrats.. wish all the best!
9 October 2008 at 12:45 pm #
I think I need to learn these things now
9 October 2008 at 9:36 pm #
I surprised that everyone here is so exuberant about a design contest and particularly questioning why the awesome designers of this site is having one. Before everyone jumps down my throat, please openly and honestly read this link: http://www.no-spec.com/articles/design-contests/ and think for awhile if this is really the best way to professionally spend your time.
10 October 2008 at 12:42 am #
That’s great. I like it.
10 October 2008 at 1:47 am #
@Chris – Although I agree with some of your points, you must see that we are in a different position than your average company. We DO hire designers in addition to this contest. This is just our way of letting other WordPress designers get a chance to show off and get their name on the map.
“I’d venture to guess that very few of the companies running contests have the knowledge of the design industry to take over a project should they discover that their winner’s only skill is in making pleasing pictures.”
This does not apply to us.
10 October 2008 at 11:31 am #
Chris Wyatt,
Agree with Magnus.. for me as a beginner, I don’t really take this contest to be the best way to ‘professionally’ spent my time as it more less like the best way to ’socialize’ my design skills.
The prizes offered actually comes in second, the major thing is all about the quality + effort + results of the design you put in line with those talented graphic designers out there.
10 October 2008 at 12:50 pm #
The exposure is really what I’m diggin’ and the prize money isnt too bad either
11 October 2008 at 3:50 am #
Agreed with Chris. ^^
11 October 2008 at 4:18 pm #
Why is nobody trying?
I haven’t seen a single theme so far for the content that actually tries to cater to what WooThemes is!
It’s quite angering, it’s starting to look like my theme is the only one that will actually be centered around Woo and not just a theme I’ve already made and trying to make some money off of.
Shame on you lazy designers, making me rant like this. Now i’m all ticked off, thanks.
12 October 2008 at 1:24 am #
Awesome… submitting some tonight.
12 October 2008 at 2:49 am #
Nice contest, yesterday I’ve submitted my theme called Igloo. Hope you like it. Link to it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/19366836@N03/2932018815/in/pool-woothemes
12 October 2008 at 11:04 am #
This is a great idea… I will be submitting soon!
12 October 2008 at 11:26 am #
This is challenging, and can keep our skills for more experienced.
12 October 2008 at 5:10 pm #
I am also one of the designers who doesnt feel that “contest” is the best way to spend my valuable time, but…Alright, if thats the trick to get my name on the WP theme designers map why not…will submit my idea soon LOL.
12 October 2008 at 10:07 pm #
Alright, here is mine http://www.flickr.com/photos/wpmad/2937037716/in/pool-woothemes …good luck to all who enter the contest
.
13 October 2008 at 3:49 am #
One more Pink Girly Theme by Me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19715193@N05/2931305486/in/pool-woothemes
13 October 2008 at 4:31 am #
I’ve seen some designs submitted on your Flickr group, they are great!! Congratz for the contest
13 October 2008 at 2:02 pm #
Just added mine
Please check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tangkapimaji/2938352647/sizes/o/in/pool-903511@N21/
14 October 2008 at 4:51 am #
Here’s one more,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19715193@N05/2938047356/in/pool-woothemes
15 October 2008 at 8:23 pm #
my 2nd entry “eat on woo”, please take a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wpmad/2945193177/in/pool-903511@N21
16 October 2008 at 9:52 am #
Question for WooThemes … any idea when the Guest Judges will be announced and who they are ? Will they be posting commentson each individual design on Flicr ?
17 October 2008 at 6:18 am #
This is a great idea. Pitty it has to be done on the computer because I thought I would get involved and design it with pen and paper! Oh well, great stuff though!
17 October 2008 at 1:33 pm #
Tempting
I’ve thought about contacting you in the past in regards to a collaboration so if time permits I may have a little doodle in PS.
17 October 2008 at 2:32 pm #
Are there any limitations for this project, how far could we go in to designing something?
I got something really hard to build in my mind, so I want to know where you guys put the limits?
(as it will require custom wp-querys to probably pull this off, etc).
Could you guys shine some light on that? Or is there someone I can e-mail about it? As I don’t want to post this in public ^_^ before someone runs off with my killer idea o.o
17 October 2008 at 3:34 pm #
A new theme for the contest
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21179392@N07/2949358087/in/pool-woothemes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21179392@N07/2949323421/in/pool-woothemes
From all the themes added so far this is something different. Guys you said that you want new a theme concept, right? well there you have it, a new theme concept between a video player and a blog – working nicely together. I seen that there are some other video themes in this contest but guys lets be honest… they copy some already known wordpress themes that are already for sale. And the magazine themes – lets not even talk about it, or you want me to come with a list of the websites copied? On my concept you will see the youtube player integrated in an iphone (not photo but actually everything is made in photoshop) and a new type of videos playlist. Moving down you will see the blog part where you have 1 main post, 3 popular posts and a lifestream section, nicely integrated. Not mentioning all the features but in the footer you will see a carousel for the flickr photos. Please take a look and I am sure that you will agree this is an interesting template. Is something new that many bloggers would like.
Taking a look at the themes submitted so far… one could be disappointed because I think that many of the designs so far are just copies of other websites. I may be criticized but it is true, and I could give examples for almost, not all, the themes submitted that they are copied after another websites. Maybe this comment will be wrongly understood by some, but I just say what I see – copies, nothing new, just many guys who want to make $2000 the easy way. Honestly now, am I the only one who seen the striking resemblance between many of the designs on the contest and other websites? If one of the copied designs will win then I think that it wont take long to be compared to the original website and would be a little embarrassing for the guys who picked to win that design.
For the guys from WooThemes, I apologize if my opinion is upsetting for some, I dont mean to offend nobody. I am not a webdesigner so I dont have a website-portfolio yet, my job is about something different but soon I want to start working as a freelancer so winning this contest would help me a lot financially (if others said that the prize it is tempting, I really need the money hehe), with the $2000 I could buy me a new mac
and start rolling new original website concepts. Thank you WooThemes for making this contest, I am sure that in the end there will be many original templates.
And please comment, I still hope to win
You can see the HQ screenshot here: http://img229.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=75302_blog3.0_122_89lo.jpg
17 October 2008 at 4:21 pm #
Check out the Retro fUNK design http://www.flickr.com/photos/31483206@N02/2949108359/in/pool-woothemes
20 October 2008 at 7:53 am #
Hi this is an interesting contest. Count me in.
20 October 2008 at 12:41 pm #
A reply to my question would be nice
20 October 2008 at 3:03 pm #
@V1 Apologies the slow reply.
Are there any limitations for this project, how far could we go in to designing something?
A: There are no limitations to what you can submit. Obviously, it would be preferable for the designers to think with the web and it’s “limitations” in mind, but we really are after some creative pieces, something not done before with wordpress templating. We will obviously decide what functionality is possible/feasible within wordpress should we decide to go with your design.
I got something really hard to build in my mind, so I want to know where you guys put the limits?
(as it will require custom wp-querys to probably pull this off, etc).
A: Keen to see what you are brainstorming, if you have any questions email info@woothemes.com.
21 October 2008 at 12:20 pm #
Thanks for the answer Mark.
21 October 2008 at 12:36 pm #
I Submitted my first theme. it´s a clean and simple portfolio theme:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24339695@N04/2957525732/in/pool-woothemes
a little question. why my theme dosn’t show up on the themes list? Only show if you log in on flickr.
=)
22 October 2008 at 7:29 am #
That nearly bought a tear to my eye Olimpiu.
If I wanted to I’m pretty sure I could find a theme that uses a video as a focus point. Yes it’s good to try and be unique, but you can’t critisize people for designing a ‘magazine theme’. There probably the best selling theme on this or any other theme selling site so it makes sense to improve upon the existing ones.
And in regards to your preview you’ve uploaded and all the comments it’s gotten, i’m not even going to comment…
22 October 2008 at 1:46 pm #
Great idea guys, I’m gonna enter for sure!
24 October 2008 at 1:25 am #
Here are my first two entries:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebarcena/2967154875/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebarcena/2968052597/
Please check them out and comment if you like them.
25 October 2008 at 9:25 am #
@Olimpiu… all this below is only an friendly recomendations (not willing to offend anyone)
…i see your efforts dude, but let me tell you something from my experiences. I start nearly 6 years ago with freelance graphic design and at that times was thinking i am the best out there (compering my work with other’s work). Within time (when i get more experienced), i realised that i am actually at the very begining, this forced me first to improve my drawing skills and improve my ideas.
Now when i look to your video theme entries and read your comment here, i automaticaly feel the need to tell you that drawing an rectangle shape with rounded edges in photoshop is not an rocket science. Having a picture in iphone shape is not something i (and i guess many others) see for first time. Basically the “idea” and the “skills” you have remind me very much to my first designs when i have started 6 years ago. Now telling us we dont have unique ideas is something i 100% agree with you, but why dont you come up with an unique idea and show us you stay behind your words? In today design industry there is nothing unique anymore…it wont matter what you design and how great is your idea, this will be something that is probably already designed before for 100s of times if not 1000s. What we designers of today do is only mixup already “existing ideas” and improve them “our way”.
An recommendation from me would be, next time before you write something stupit, first think about it…compare your submissions with some others and then make some critque. The only part of your comment i am taking serious is where you say you need the 2000 bucks to buy a new mac…this is totaly acceptable reason to enter the contest. But maybe start like we all did with small things, design logos, banners and flyers ect…this is what will bring to you experience + some $
. If i say my submissions are the best so far, i must be a big lier as i see really great designs submited buy other guys which some of them can be the winner right away (in my oppinion). You have long way to go front of you, first start to earn your life with your freelancing career, be able to pay all your bills and only once you can do that, you can make such statements like at your comment…i hope all this will make some sense to you.
26 October 2008 at 3:15 pm #
just posted mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/denysri/2975654552/in/pool-woothemes
any comments are very welcome and appreciated – thanks
26 October 2008 at 6:17 pm #
Thought I would have a dabble and enter my http://nerdpress.co.uk theme, any feedback would be fantastic and muchley appreciated…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stugreenham/2975528105/in/pool-woothemes
27 October 2008 at 5:36 am #
Hi woothemes
May I know when would you announce the winner for the competition?
Olimpiu – 75% of your comment is unmature. If you have a section for posts, header, sidebar and footer is that copying?
28 October 2008 at 6:06 am #
Hmmm…
Can I join?
I design my weblog by myself (my friend did the html), and I’m still learning about web design.
But, I don’t really feel confident to attend this competition.
Hehe…
29 October 2008 at 5:10 pm #
This will keep me occupied over the next few days.
30 October 2008 at 11:00 pm #
Hi, I submitted my design about four hours ago but it only appears when I’m loged in on my Flickr account.
The link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31812949@N05/2987194347/in/pool-woothemes
There other themes that are only showing for loged in users.
I will really appreciate your comments.
31 October 2008 at 12:48 am #
Hi All…,
How long hours again the contest regristration will be closed ? And the exact time in GMT ??
Unfortunelly I know this contest today, but I’ll try to participate.
Thanks all,
GenthonX
31 October 2008 at 8:27 am #
I am also participating in this competition:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjacob/tags/woocontest/
But my submissions are not visible in the Wootheme.com sidebar
31 October 2008 at 2:31 pm #
Hi everybody
I hope that I am not to late to enter the contest with my design.
An online shop design.
Please comment about it, good or bad.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21179392@N07/2989174815/in/pool-woothemes
1 November 2008 at 8:47 am #
Hi submitted my design last night in time, although I’m a bit worried I submitted it to late and it won’t recieve enough comments to even be considered!
I’m proud of the minimalistic design, and combined with the color set I used, I think it really sets it apart from the rest
!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10484060@N07/2990203299/
4 December 2008 at 3:19 am #
Hi, I am wondering if anyone knows of a good place to publish details about my theme contest.
http://hotretech.com/wordpress-theme-contests/end-of-the-year-wordpress-theme-contest-real-estate
1 March 2009 at 1:16 pm #
Awesome really, i just heared about it, does anyone know when is the next event coming ?