SouthDakota.com needs a web design

Homepage (and later 2-nd tier webpage) design for SouthDakota.com. Design includes image placement ideas, navigation icons, ad placement ideas, logo placement and more. Design style MUST fit logo. You can integrate Web 2.0 design, but it must integrate the style and color in the end too.

SouthDakota.com

Tagline:
explore | life

Desired Color Scheme:
Earthtones - see logo and integrate

Desired Style:
Rustic character integrated with modern web design

Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)

Design a website for SouthDakota.com using the following criteria, assistance and your skills.

See our logo winner: http://contests.sitepoint.com/conte…ies/338357

Visit these sites to see some very nice Geo/State sites and gather ideas on what we may be looking for...

http://traveltex.com
http://arkansas.com
http://utah.com
http://us.holland.com

HOMEPAGE-

1. Big IMAGE area with images that will change on scrolling over certain navigation links. See holland.com and arkansas.com for big IMAGE examples. Check istock.com for photo options. Put in a demo, we will buy the actual ones used.

2. Navigation above and below or on side of Big IMAGE area. You decide what looks best. There are 2 Primary navigation sets though...they are:

a) Travel & Tourism | Cities & Regions | Jobs & Relocation | Real Estate | Business Directory | Classifieds --- all in text most likely as navigation ABOVE the big picture ran across in a bar.

b) Things to Do | Places to Stay |Outdoor Activities | Top Attractions | Major Destinations --- if possible, use Icons for these as well and make each navigation a stand alone object.

ALL OF THAT GOES ABOVE THE FOLD.

Then we need an area for about 200 words of text. Also in this area - 2 Promo sections (Events Calendar & Vacation Packages)

Below that we can finish up with placements for 3 Ad Spaces and close with a footer.

2ND TIER PAGE - minor HEADER/PICTURE area change.

2ndary page - WAIT ON THIS -

 DO NOT DO THIS PAGE UNLESS INSTRUCTED AS WE DO NOT WANT TO WASTE ANYONE'S TIME. PLEASE FOCUS ON HOMEPAGE AFTER GIVING FEEDBACK, MOVE ON TO THIS.

We want to DUPLICATE THE NAVIGATION on the Homepage, but make the page more "tight" by shrinking the IMAGE area. utah.com uses smaller image are for example.

Then below the Header and Nav area, we need a content area for text as well as 2 SIDE promo ad spaces and 3 spaces below the TEXT.

MAKE THE SITE LOOK PROFESSIONAL and integrate the ads as best possible without making it a major billboard as best able.

Make sure to see the logo link and color such that you make the site look nice. Also, we are designing the site for BOTH visitors and resident of the state of South Dakota.

Look forward to your work. The WINNER will be selected based on the HOMEPAGE design - with 2ndary page modification ideas in mind.