Project Fallen Heroes

[jor133d]

Some may think my idea is a little whack but let me give you a few reasons (before I give you the details) why I came up with this idea. I have had this idea for almost a year now, my father being a police officer I have always wanted to do something with what I do (computers and design) to honor what he does. And about one week ago, a firefighter was killed in the line of duty in my town. This hasn’t happened in decades here so it give me another reason to move forward with my idea. Of course 9/11 and the war in Iraq is another reason. Will my idea ever become a reality.. I don’t know, hopefully.

But… I am calling all designers!

The idea is a memorial website for all fallen police officers, firefighters and armed forces members.

My vision:

A flash movie with some content management. Visitors to the website will be able to come to the website and submit their fallen hero: a photo, name, position, location, etc which will have to be approved by me (and others if they wish) to prevent spamming. The photos will be displayed in a flash movie to create a USA map. The photos of the fallen hero will be placed in the location they were from. When there are to many photos to fit on the map any longer, they will display at random. The photos will bounce larger when the mouse is over them. The photos will be grouped by the state, and form the shape of that state, and all the photos will enlarge in the form of the state when the mouse if over them. When you click on a state it will display all the fallen heroes of that state.

There will be CSS used for the contributors and submit a hero. When a link is clicked it will unveil the information. Like a page drop down to save on space and allow the page to be focused on the memorial.

There will also need to be a logo created.

The sky is the limit. This is only what I was thinking. If you make a valid effort towards this project, you become a contributor, whether we use your addition or not. In short, this is an open source website for designers and developers to honor Americas bravest.

What do you get from helping out in this project?

I’ll be honest your not going to benefit greatly from this project, you‘ll get publicity and feel good :) . If you contribute to this project, your logo, name and link to your website will be listed under the contributors section. My goal is to promote the website and get as much free publicity I can, and a project like this, I think would get some attention due to the different style of memorial and the collaborations of designers and developers. Also of course you can promote on your website that you are a contributor to this project.

I eventually want to raise money and donate to families of the fallen heroes and charities that deal with this but my first goal is to get a website going.

So, designers and developers, get involved. Here is a way we can make a difference with our talents.

If you need any more clarification or would like to help, get in contact with me. Post here and if you work on the website, I will get you my email and we get it on the website.

I know it is an out there idea but lets do something as web geeks to make a little difference.

http://www.projectfallenheroes.com

[jor133d]

I just wanted to clarify one thing. This is by no means a project I can't finish myself. I have been accused already by another forum of this.

This is a project I want to make a community project. An open source project with a meaningful purpose.

Also a community of designers and developers working on a project like this will make it more newsworthy, helping the website and the members who work on it.

[JoshuaJonah]

Your gonna need a couple more people. But if a couple more come, I'm interested. Great concept.

[ApixDesigns]

i'd be willing to do the design work for it.

[onemhunki]

Sounds a good idea, I'll have a go at a logo for ya.

[jor133d]

Here are the other forums that are helping so far:

http://forum.24-7media.de/viewtopic.php?t=8207
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=414789

[DDD]

Almost sounds like you have too many chefs in the kitchen. Good luck on your project. Sounds great.

[jor133d]

Nope, you can never have to many great minds working together.

But give me a few more days to see if we have any others that want to hop on board and I will be back with more details.

Thanks very much!!

[jor133d]

**** PROJECT DETAILS****


Ok, I am too anxious to hold off any longer. If any other designers want to join this project, I will gladly keep this thread updated.

Here are the details on this project:

First, let me begin by saying, I agree with cryo from DQS. If we are going to do this, lets do it right. Lets include Europe in our tribute website before there are copycats.

The original idea was to have an open source style website, where designers would come up with a concept and add others would add to the project. There has been so many designers willing to help, I have added a twist which will make this project more unique and hopefully fun.

This is now a design battle for a good cause where everyone wins. A mix of a battle and an open source website. The best design (or parts of a good design), flash, coding, etc. will be used for the website itself and all other efforts will be displayed in a showcase (either on a separate page or possibly with some type of pop up effect, if flash is used for the contributors section). The goal when putting this together will be to use as much of each designers work to make the most unique, feature-filled memorial experience possible. Everyone is a designer here, so lets bring out the big guns to make some buzz for a good cause.

Again, to become a contributor you must make a valid, and I stress valid, effort. I hope nobody just throws together something, knowing there design will not be used but still showcased, just to get there name on the project. I hope everyone shows respect for the cause and tries to make something truly great. I am sure you all will though, you guys are top notch professionals here!

I have divided everyone into teams, by what they said they wanted to do. For those who have not specified, I put you into the miscellaneous group. If you could get into contact with me, either on this board or through PM to let me know what you will be working on, that would be great. Also, if you do not know what you want to do at this point, why don't you let me know your skills and/or what you would be willing to do, then we can go from there.

It is rather difficult to manage a project like this. I am trying my best and feel the design battle form would work the best and add a little flare to the idea. Again, its all about getting press for the website so the designers benefit but most importantly the friends and families of the fallen heroes and even the general public.

The first is the DESIGN team. This category could be broad, doing anything from logo design, to mock-ups to flash design. So, if you could also let me know what you will be working on, that would be great!

Design Team

Logo deign, mock-ups, flash.. however far you want to take your design. Just keep me posted.

sergio (DQS)
d.codex (DQS)
cryo (DQS)
JasonYapp (DQS)
Ritalin (DQS)
Slickshots (DQS)
mycattoldme (DQS)
Xeor (DQS)
ApixDesigns (Kirupa)


Flash Design

Thats right, there has been no one who has committed to the flash development. This is the most important part. The reason I would like to see flash being used, is that we are going for a memorial experience like no other and flash seems to deliver this the best. Also, since were shooting for an award winning site, flash is the way to go.


evildrummer (Kirupa)


The Logo

I have not decided totally on the name. What do you think? ProjectFallenHero.com. ProjectFallenHeroes.com, or ProjectFallenHeroes.org? Any suggestions? Hopefully you can design the logo keeping in mind the ending may change a little.

Also this team are for those who have committed solely to logo, not “design.”

MissLee (Sitepoint)
onemhunki (Kirupa)


Coding

Hey coders, if you can hold off until we get some of the design and flash work done. Then it's your turn. I will provide you with more information as we near the time of your assistance.

Todd (DQS)
Slickshots (DQS)


Misc.

You know the scoop, let me know how you want to help.

Jayemsee (DQS)
247 Media Studios ( team@247– DQS)
cota (actionscript.org)
joshuajonah (Kirupa)


When you submit your work. Please include a brief bio of yourself including your name, location, your business name, website, website address, etc.

** if I forgot anybody, I'm sorry! Let me know and I will get you in here.**


I would ask that if you get a jump start on your part to hold off a few days before posting. I would like everyone to get some time to work on their design and not be influenced to much by others.

Also, this is a community project. Don't be limited by my ideas. If you can think of anything that will add to this website, do it!


You may also be wondering what my job is here. I am going to be playing the role as project coordinator if you haven't already figured that out. Also once the site is done, I am going to be promoting the heck out of it, but hopefully other will do a little promoting as well. I am also going to try to do some design and maybe take a stab at the logo.


Finally, some great news! After less than a day of sending out some emails to some of the big name studios, we have gotten a few big names on this project.

Shane Meilke, the art director from 2advanced Studios has agreed to be our own personal art director and give some feedback after we have gotten a good start.

Billy Bussey, of BBStudios, has also agreed to be an consultant.

Both have full schedules and are unable to provide and development but it's better than nothing and should help this project greatly. Plus hopefully we can get a few more.

So I will be in touch with them when choosing the designs we use, as well as all of your input, ts a community effort and project after all.

I am also in the beginning stages of talks with firstborn multimedia, and they may be willing to help out with some flash work.

I will keep you posted with new additions and any word on firstborn.

If we are talking big names, we have to include 247 media studios here as well.

Alright... lets design!! I look forward to seeing some amazing design and I am sure all who are involved in this project will rise to the challenge.

Thanks for your interest. Thanks for your willingness. Thanks for your dedication. Thanks making new ideas happen. You get the idea....Thanks you!!


Have any questions? Just ask... post here or PM me!

Jordan


P.S. Thanks to the forum owners who have allowed this project to get off to a good start. I want to give you credit on the project as well. But... maybe we can get this thread sticky??? :-)

[JoshuaJonah]

JoshuaJonah <- coder

BTW: go harass DDD, i know he wants to make the logo;):lol:

[jor133d]

Some good and bad news...

firtborn has decided not to help out on the project but we did get another consultant, the team over at Grow Interactive.

If we could only get some of this big name designers to help out with more than advice. :)



Also I forgot to mention. You can submit as many designs as you like. Don't think you only have to submit one.

[evildrummer]

If its for europe too then I could help out in coding and flash design :D

[jor133d]

Can everyone here reference the DQS forum. There is so much going on over there I can not possibly relay everything from there to here.