Design Content Submission

[HotariTobu]

Names and Contact Details

Hotari / hotari24tools@gmail.com

Link to mockup/prototype

https://hotaritobu.github.io/php-8.5-release-page-design-contest/

Rationale (300-600 words)

Key Points

• PHP Branding: Achieved through the angular card layout, minimal corner rounding, and the PHP-specific blue-purple color palette.
• Modernity: Achieved through the subtle use of shadow effects, responsive design, and contemporary typography.
• Maintainability: Ensured by consistent styling via CSS variables, an 8pt grid system, and a component-based design with semantic class naming.

Information Hierarchy

The content is structured to prioritize the most critical information first:

• Header Section: Serves as the primary announcement and Call-to-Action (CTA). It prominently features the logo, the maximized "Released!" title (4rem), a descriptive subtitle (1.5rem), and the main CTA button.
• Main Content: This section details the new features. Each feature is presented in an independent card format, including a distinguishing feature title (2rem), a descriptive text, and a crucial Before/After code comparison using a desktop-friendly grid system for side-by-side viewing.
• Footer Section: Contains supplementary information, a value-proposition tagline (2rem), a repeated CTA button for conversion, and a list of detailed links.

Layout and Design Choices

The visual design is based on a "classic, technical, yet modern" aesthetic, aligning with the PHP brand:

• Angular Shapes and Card Layout: The layout uses a card-based system for section isolation and maintains an angular appearance by minimizing corner rounding, reserving border-radius: 9999px primarily for buttons.
• Color Palette: The design utilizes a blue-purple color scheme consistent with the PHP brand: --primary-color-dark: #4F5B93 (main brand), --primary-color-medium: #7A86B8 (accent), and --primary-color-light: #E2E4EF (background accent).
• Nostalgic Elements: A sense of retro-simplicity is achieved through subdued colors, minimal decorative elements, simple typography (Fira Sans family), and a clean, function-first layout.
• Modern Touches: Modernity is subtly introduced via calculated shadows: --outset-shadow-dark provides card depth, and --inset-shadow-light adds dimension to the code blocks.

How the Design Meets Goals

This design prioritizes a PHP-like simplicity and high maintainability:

• Purity & Simplicity:
  • Implemented with Vanilla HTML/CSS (no frameworks/build tools).
  • Utilizes lightweight system fonts and minimal external assets for performance.
• Maintenance & Consistency:
  • Semantic HTML and clear 8pt grid system for easy future contributions.
  • Achieves a unified design through CSS variables.
  • Employs Component-Based Design.
• PHP.net Brand Harmony:
  • Consistent use of PHP brand colors.
  • Features a technical and modern aesthetic while retaining a functional, nostalgic feel.

Implementation

https://github.com/HotariTobu/php-8.5-release-page-design-contest

License

• I confirm, and agree.

[lwlwilliam]

The path of styles.css is incorrect.

[HotariTobu]

@lwlwilliam Thank you!

[pronskiy]

Thank you for the submission. Results are now published. You are welcome to join the implementation process #1592. Closing this thread as part of post-contest housekeeping.