Web Elegance Awards

Purpose | Winners | Criteria | Application form | Email entry | Return to Awards Page

The purpose of this Award
Web Elegance Award Samples of the two awards given for Elegance on the Web. Neither is easy to win. The Elite award cannot be applied for, but will be given at my discretion to sites that give unforgettable praise to beauty and prose. Web Elegance Elite Award
The web is a new form of self expression. Whatever the subject, whatever the method, the individual now has an opportunity to make himself heard. There are countless awards given on the Net, and they range from supreme achievement awards to de facto site banners. I wanted to give an award to sites that exhibit beauty of layout, and eloquence in words. Combined, it makes for sheer elegance. I've visited sites that held my gaze in astonishment. Such artistry as I've seen fill the soul with warmth, widen the eyes with amazement, and enlighten the mind with the mastery of the medium. For those sites that touch my heart with the lyrical beauty of their pages and magical use of pictures, I give out the Web Elegance award to show my appreciation for the website artiste. I will judge mainly on the design and integration of text and graphics.

If a site is worthy, I will find you. However, I can only go to so many places, and I cannot travel as far and wide as I might like. If you believe your site deserves recognition, please read the criteria first, and refer to the Mistakes to Avoid in Web Design before applying. This is a very hard award to win, but I hope every site with true originality or quality will be rewarded.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 This award is special to me and, consequently, difficult to garner. It's rating as a 4.5 award from FOCUS Associates is a measure of the winners' quality.
The Winners
Web Elegance Award Winners

The Criteria for applying

To apply for the Web Elegance award, your site must satisfy the following criteria:
Style 30%

This is a design award for the most part, though content will still remain a primary consideration. I look for flowing layout and style of the site, original graphics, and a pervading theme that shapes a site ambience unlike any I've experienced. In short, the layout and content must combine for an unique, exquisite, and awe-inspiring site. Style comes in all kinds of flavors, from the graphics intensive to the JV intensive, but the elements of extraordinary good style is consistent despite all the superficial differences.

Content 20%

Content is what makes a site interesting enough to return to. Depth of information or pertinent data to the site is good style. While breathtaking artistry is in itself a treat, something to see and read at the site can only enhance the effect. Generally speaking, a site must have a central theme that is developed in a logical, interesting fashion. I don't care for a smattering of loose odds and ends all placed in one page. Consideration will not be given to sites that are tainted with pornography, offensive pictures or text, or excessively violent content. Since text is still the primary means of communication to visitors on most websites, it is important that a site has something to say, something to show, and not merely display text to offset graphics.

Originality 20%

I've been on the net for a long while and I am always appreciative of original ideas in concept and design. The most compelling sites find a happy medium between content and graphics, but any site worth visiting must have something original about it, whether it be the approach to the topic or personal input. A boring site shows little thought and creativity invested in them, and they invite the visitor to close the browser window very quickly. Sites must hold my attention or provide an original perspective to win.

Function 10%

This award is not given out lightly, and only truly awe-inspiring sites will be considered. So it is only logical that sites heavily under construction will not be considered for the award. All good sites are constantly under construction, and if the site is so entrenched in construction that it has to warn visitors, it is not ready for this award.

Quality 10%

Quality is the harmonic combination of all the elements that set apart average sites from truly superior sites. Every detail must must be balanced, and balanced well: clear navigation, clarity of writing, distinctive graphics, original ideas, and good content are a must for a site of good quality.

Subjectiveness 10%

This is the one factor that you cannot control. I look for evidence of good work in the makeup of a site's design and content, and this award will reflect that. However, even someone as eclectic as I with regards to this genre of websites have my own likes and dislikes. The final decision about what to award the applicant, if any, will rest solely on whether I liked it or not. If I don't award you, it doesn't necessarily mean your site is lacking or bad. Remember that this is more like a personal thanks to those who have worked to make their sites a memorable place to visit.

Sites that score 85 and above are given the Web Elegance Award, while those that score 95 and above are given the elite award. I will not disclose the actual score with which your site has been judged, and only winning sites will receive email notification.

Application form
These awards will not be given to all that apply. This is a special award to me, and I will only award it as I see fit. Sites that satisfy this award's stringent demands for an outstanding combination of content, functionality, and beauty are the only ones that will receive it. If you believe your site meets with the above criteria, please use the form below to send in an application, or if your browser does not support forms, then email me with the following items:
  1. Your name
  2. Your email address
  3. Your site's URL
  4. Site name
  5. Short description of site
Application Form
Your name

Site name

URL

Email

A short description of your site

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