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Apprentice Style Design Competition. You be the Judge.

Ever wanted to feel like Donald Trump?

Well I decided to finally break down and redesign my FranklyMLS.com site. Initially I wanted to KISS, Keep it Simple Stupid with the design. Have it be DATA driven and ultra fast. Actually not ONE graphic or Icon on the entire site (except photos of homes).

So with my redesign... I went to INDIA.

Initially I was going to hire 2 or 3 designers and see what they could do. But after I put up a request for proposal, everyone wanted a crack at it. Turned into an Apprentice style competition.

I gave each designer 2 hours (WITH PAY) to do their thing, and I gave them some guidelines to not use graphics and make it lean. Also that my favorite color was purple.

Their design prices ranged from $5 an hour to $15. (Except the USA designer for $65)

Will you be the judge? Tell me which ones your like?

Here is the original design that I made: Search for 1021 Clarendon on FranklyMLS.com

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#1 ALDI

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#2 Alwin:

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#3 Atul

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#4 Keane

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#5 Sandeep

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#6 Prat

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#7 Dolly= Fired for using a graphic and doing the wrong page.

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#8 Cath

What do you all think? Who is best? The goal is to convey the concept of a fast and lean site.

Frank

Posted by FRANK LL0SA- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com on 10/16/2008 11:19 PM

Comments (38)

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38 Comments on Apprentice Style Design Competition. You be the Judge.

OCT

2008

#2 seems the cleanest altough the buttons at the top are a bit confusing and take a minute to figure out. Good luck nice project and approach.

I like #4 but I'd like to see it with all the fields populated. It looks great now but it would really depend on how the text / fonts looked when done. If it could look something like #2 it would be great. If it ended up looking like # 3 it wouldn't be worth it. I do also like #2 but I know purple is your color so I'd stick with that and keep all your sites branded with the purple.

That's my 2¢.

#2 and #4 are the most visually appealing. Lean and mean doesn't have to look homemade. The others might be improved with a font change.

Isn't it funny how everyone differs.

First of all these aren't final versions, I just wanted to see what direction people were going.

At first I liked #2, but then I started looking at the colors. They are all over the place. A little green , a little pink, some purplem orange, blue.

So I have been leaning toward #3. With a simple and clean look. A look that isn't trying too hard.

We'll see. Thanks for your input!

I like the colors of #2, but the layout of #6. #6 is the only one that didn't just "reproduce" what you had already done yourself, it's actually a different layout.

But get rid of the FaceBook link - a littel hokey for an MLS search site IMHO.

I vote for Prat#6 and ALDI#1. #1 needs to tone down the colors a little, but I like it because I'm used to that set up on the site. #6 is great, but not SEXY enough when it comes to the branding of FranklyMLS...If tweeked, may be my fave...

At a first glance I like #2 the best- easiest for the eye, at least for my eyes LOL - I stare at the computer too much as it is. ~Rita

Frank - Prat#6 would get my only vote. He or She has your color branding and the set up and font is a lot easier to read.

I added a new entry from a US designer. Thoughts?

OCT

2008

I like #8 and #2. The yellow in #4 is hard on the eyes. I enjoy your blog and search - Thanks!

My top three:

1) Cath 8

2) Sandeep 5

3) Atul 3

Welcome to the USA

OCT

2008

#8 Cath
The font has a cleaner, less complicated look. The whole thing looks 'tighter,' but it may be because the graphic is smaller

#2 Alwin
The white space between the columns makes it easier to read

Thanks for the site. Love having access to the information usually reserved for those with MRIS access. It would be nice to be able to see comps, though, of actual closed sales...;-)

Janice (just love real estate, not a Realtor)

Hey Janice,

Keep sending in the suggestions.

I wish we could show MRIS sold data, but we aren't allowed. I might be able to use Zillow sold data, but it might be kinda old.

Soon we will be showing you the price drop history.

Frank

Your site is excellent even if you don't change it! I have always wished I could sort by more of the column titles such as "year built". I believe there is a HTML command that will force the table to fit any screen. Many websites these days also offer the ability to change the font size and grow the table if the user likes.

cheers

I am really feeling the following:

#8 Cath (I really like how every choice is framed with a faint grey box)

#2 Alwin (The key list and results really pop)

#3 Atul (a less polished version of Cath)

#6 Why?

If the object is to keep it clean and sleak, the less jarring the look, the better. Because of the 'barely there' cell-layout, the smooth look of #6 was the easiest on the eyes. Though, I am less crazy about the greenish background on the header...looks ill. #2 was not a bad layout choice but that yucky wiki yellow color has got to go. Actually, the whole color scheme is 'off' on #2. You can always try #2 with different color scheme. (As in, not so many different colors..it looks like an Easter egg & yolk now...lol!)

#8 has my close second vote. More white space in the header allowed me to focus directly towards the listings...fast and easily.

PS-I prefer the SEARCH box in the center...not located so far off to the right.

Hey Frank, is that a Facebook link on there? Really? Hmmm...might want to re-think that choice professionally-speaking.

Good Luck...I think there is more than one good choice, just tweaking a few things here and there will create the best look for you. Regards-Kathleen G

OCT

2008

Hi Frank,

I really liked how #1 looked, however the colors are very harsh. (yuck!) Why? I like how the search content is boxes, how a consumer can visually see what is Under Contract and Wiki'd as well as how a saved home has gone Under Contract ( very cool) a good motivating visually.

My second choice would be #6 Softer on the eyes.

I think simple is better. Nothing fancy. #3

I vote for number 2. Easiest to read and navigate

#6-- IF the font gets changed to something more defined.

I love your site as it is--information is what I am looking for, not to be wowed by design!

I like #3.

Frankly, I like # 2 seems to be the easiest to read.

OCT

2008

I like Prat #6 and Alwin #2

Frank I Love your website and thank you so much for wanting to keep it fast by eliminating the graphics. That's one reason why we keep coming back to your site. It is fast and uncluttered.

I like the colors and I find the fonts easy to read in the list part. But the headings seem to bleed into the color a bit.
Nice colors but the bold font in the list is kind of harsh
I would rather see the strikethrough for the under contract listings, I know right away that its not available anymore. Red makes me think its a hot one.
Has a nice clean look. Easy on the eyes.
Nice and simple but the font especially when bolded is too thick.
My favorite. The colors are not to harsh. It is more professional looking. Some men may not like the pinkish colors though.

2, 3, 5 or 8

I like #4.

Hey Jamie,

Which one are you referring to? I assume the #3 since you spoke about red for under contract.

Glad I'm not the only person that thinks the site should stay fast and icon & graphics-less.

Thanks Tara, Treadwell and Meg and Jana!

Frank

I would go with your design. I like the simple layout, not too much action, lots of white. I would drop the yellow color a bit to match the yellow in #5's entry. In my experience pastel colors are good highlighters.

I like #2.

I like #4. The yellow highlight can be be improved or changed.

OCT

2008

Frank,
I am a VA from NJ, I think we have corresponded once before...I would really strongly suggest putting your photo on the site. I look at these things as though I were the consumer, and if I were on your site I'd take the information but I don't think I'd call you. The site doesn't feel like there's a real person behind it without a photo..

Also, getting clients the sold data is a reason for them to contact you - put something in there telling them that information isn't allowed to be viewed online, but you can research that info for them at a meeting or phone conference.

Good luck!

NOV

2008

No. 6 and No. 5 would get my vote.

Will you share how you found the designers and how you arranged for this test? Did you prepay 2 hours and they sent you what they had worked up after that?

NOV

2008

I designed my site with the same logic and get a lot of compliments on the simplicity of it. 6 & 8 are definately within KISS - I don't know why people think they need bells and whistles to keep people interested in their sites, it just detracts from the message they are trying to convey.