Freelance Drupal Development & Design | Chicago City Arts/Cultural Chicago

Request for Proposal (RFP) - CulturalChicago.com

CulturalChicago.com is a local arts Web site run by Chicago City Arts LLC and Scenergy Marketing LLC. It currently operates as a weekly online local arts magazine. Chicago City Arts LLC also operates an art gallery and an online fine art print site. Scenergy Marketing LLC is a online and social media marketing company. Both companies are based in Chicago. The point of contact for this proposal is:

Matt McDermott
matthew@chicagocityarts.com

Deadline for proposals: Wednesday, September 5th, 2007.
Selection will take place by Sept. 7th.

Key criteria for assessing proposal include:
1) Experience developing for Drupal/DrupalED,
2) Solid PHP/MySQL skills,
3) Familiarity with Google Maps API,
4) Ability to integrate a non-Drupal PHP script into Drupal.
5) Drupal theme design skills – not necessary for consideration but preferred

Project Overview: The ultimate goal is to expand the existing site to a subscription-based social networking site with a weekly local arts magazine as the front end.

Time Frame: We would like to launch the redesigned site in October.
Base installation: DrupalED - http://www.drupaled.org/

DrupalED functionality to be utilized in CulturalChicago.com includes:
1. a personal workspace;
2. a group workspace;
3. the ability for site members to create informal working groups;
4. the ability to create formal class spaces;
5. podcasting;
6. wiki functionality;
7. personal and class blogs;
8. rss feeds for entire site, individual courses, individual terms, and individual users;
9. personal image galleries;
10. personal file repositories;
11. the ability to create private, invitation-only groups;
12. social bookmarking, with searching within bookmark descriptions;
13. spam protection;
14. assignment calendars by course;
15. event calendars for site-wide events;

Example installation at http://drupaled.alphabetademo.org/

Additional development needed:

1. Drupal dating module - including integration with following modules: user, profile, events, image, audio, video, plus access rights, and role assignment

2. Directory of local organizations (organization is a new node type, similar to a business listing) – with taxonomy, location module. Users can comment on organization listings (node comment module) with reviews, images, video clips, or admin-defined node type. Initial data will be provided through CSV file.

3. Organization nodes mapped on GMap. Data from organization directory will be used to build an aggregated GMap of organizations in Chicago. Default setting includes all organizations on map. Admin can opt to not publish individual organization nodes on map. User should be able to add organization that is not in the directory with admin approval.

When user clicks on a mapped location, it will display data about that organization. Will also display links to user reviews, comments, images, etc.

1. Node types – Event & Activity. Both node types need to be attached to an organization node or other location. Activity nodes are activities which can be done at an organization or location – non-time specific. Activities will not display on calendars. Events are time-specific activities, will be displayed on calendars.

2. New node type – Cultural experience trail map. Users can create a trail map by selecting organizations from the main organization directory to plot on a separate GMap. A user’s trail maps would be listed on that user’s profile so other users can see them. User can provide own comments or meta data to display with each organization on each trail map. The node type Trail Map will have its own taxonomy & central directory.

3. Users sell tickets to events. Building from events, calendar, RSVP, & ecommerce module, integrate a ticketing script so that assigned user roles can list events and sell tickets. All tickets sold through site merchant account. Possibly integrate open source event ticketing software.

4. User account balances – Basic accounting system to track ticket sales by seller. Perhaps modified version of user points module could be used.

5. Implement content recommendation engine module -

6. If possible, redesign the visual look of the theme or suggest a Drupal-experienced theme designer.

Site audience: Our site audience combines laypeople who are interested in the arts with actual arts practitioners and arts businesspeople.

Proposal Requirements: Programmer/Designer should provide portfolio examples and references. Explanation of proposed solution should be thorough but in clear language. Cost should be broken out by project section within the proposal so we can understand the overall development cost proposed. Please indicated available start date and projected finish date as well as include your standard Terms of Service (TOS) agreement.