RFP 21512: Website for Web Comic

DESCRIPTION of PURPOSE, APPEARANCE and FUNCTIONALITY

Purpose

To display a regular (multiple times weekly) updating web-comic and provide interactive opportunities (e.g., blog commentary, message boards and downloadable resources) for the purpose of building and maintaining a readership community.

*All writing, art and images will be provided by the website owners.

Description of Website by Components

1.Home Page

Aesthetics

________ logo is featured at the top left of the page, above a horizontal display of tabs (navigation) for other pages of the site. Borders utilize a thematically consistent art style derives from the comic story itself. Specifics regarding colors, backgrounds, etc. are detailed on the accompanying mock layout of the Home Page

Navigation

Tabs to be included are

HOME, MESSAGE BOARDS, BLOG, DOWNLOADS, ABOUT. This tab-based navigation is to be visible on each page EXCEPT the Comic Viewer. While it is not our intention to begin with an online store, we do want the option of adding one in future, should it become feasible. Thus, the ability to add a MERCH tab later is important and should be considered in the initial design.

Arrangement

Central to the Home Page is the button that opens the Comic Viewer. This button is disproportionately large relative to other tabs, links, etc. on this page. It is adorned with art from the comic and will have clear instructions on its face

CLICK HERE TO READ THE _______ COMIC. The space below the Comic Viewer button is separated into sections displaying

a) A 3-line sample of the most recent Blog post, including its date, time and subject;

b) The dates, times and subjects of the THREE most recent Message Board posts;

c) The current month of the Calendar with highlighted links for dates pre-designated as event dates by the website owners. This should include the standard function of cycling through upcoming months to access those dates as well.

In the upper portion of the right sidebar will be CONTACT information (email addresses, etc.) and SHARE links (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, RSS Feed etc.). At the top and along the sides of the Home Page, space should be left for ads. Again, although it is not our intention to sell ad space initially, should that become a viable option later, we want the initial site design to account for the possibility.

2. Comic Viewer

The centerpiece and most essential element of the website, the Comic Viewer is a program, activated by the button on the Home Page, that accesses the comic image files in a specified and consistent order to display the story for readers. It is to display the images at a size consistently proportional to the size of the window in which they are displayed, whether maximized or not. The image must occupy most of the window above the lower toolbar to ensure maximum resolution and legibility of the text on the comic screens. The Comic Viewer must include simple methods (arrow buttons and a field for entering numerical page numbers) for scrolling through the comic images in order, both forward and reverse, and jumping to specific images by number. We also require the Comic Viewer to have an optional Full Screen function that removes the lower toolbar and switches the comic images to occupy the maximum amount of the monitor area while maintaining proportionality. In this mode, the comic navigation toolbar fades and returns when the cursor dips below the lower border of the comic image. Scrolling between sequentially contiguous comic images in full screen mode should also be available via clicking on the left half of the image (to scroll forward) or the right half (to scroll backward).

The website owners must have the capability to easily add new comic images of both sizes (regular and full screen) multiple times weekly in order to advance the story. With regard to possibility of adding more comic stories to the website in the future, the Comic Viewer must have the ability to access image files from various sources (e.g., folders) dependent upon the specific comic story selected by readers from the Home Page. While it is our intention to begin with only one comic story to be viewed, the Comic Viewer must be flexibly designed so that it can accommodate multiple stories in future.

3.Blog

Standard blog functionality is required, including the options for the website owners to post narratives, images, etc. and for readers to respond with comments. Registration by readers is a criterion for use and must provide access to all registration-based functions within the website. Security of registrant information and to prevent Blog corruption is necessary.

4.Message Boards

Standard message board functionality is required, including the options for the website owners to easily modify forums, threads and messages as needed. Posting capabilities must include text and images. Registration by readers is a criterion for use and must provide access to all registration-based functions within the website. Security of registrant information and to prevent Message Board corruption is necessary.

5.Downloads

The website owners will make available to readers free wallpapers for computers/phones, screen savers, instant message icons, etc. The Downloads page will include sample images of those items available for download as well as listed options for various specifications (size, resolution, etc.) that readers may choose from. The website owners must have the ability to easily update and modify the items available for download here, as these will change as the comic advances and the readership develops.

6.About

This portion of the website will include narrative background information on the comic story and characters and accompanying images, as well as biographical information on each creator and pictures of each. There will be no interactive functions for readers on this page at all.

7.Calendar

The Calendar is accessed from the mini-calendar seen on the Home Page. On the actual Calendar page, the display will consist of a chronological, line-by-line listing of scheduled events (live appearances by creators, new updates, new downloads, etc.), beginning with the current date. As dates pass, they should automatically cease appearing on the Calendar page. The website owners must have the capability to easily update this information.