here is one of VBdesks designs :D

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/

Glad you like it John :)

I Think most vB designers go RIP by software like phpBB wich is getting better all the time, mostly because it's free. since vB is very expensive and only some people are so generous to buy it from our vB Crew (hello m8s:P) it isn't used that much.

Also the graphic interface of phpBB is changed alot.
Just likely vB communities popped out everywhere it happends the same with phpBB now.

ture , but i have been get email with prices way to high\
nice work tho but the price is killing me

It surprises me that the market for specialized vB designers is currently still so small. When I browse the various vB boards, it appears to me that demand for custom vB designs is *very* high. Look at Corey in the past, for example: He had so many inquiries that he couldn't manage to catch up with the immense work load. And yet, today we can count the available designers with five fingers. :disappointed:

I agree that coding vB is perhaps more complex than standard (x)html. But once someone understands the template system (which is much more intuitive in vb3 than in vB2, btw), it isn't a great barrier of entry for a designer anymore. I see so many capable designers who are looking for jobs and who do cheap work (a look at yaxay is enough), and I am surprised that most of them didn't get the idea yet to invest some time learning the vB (perhaps even buying a leased license) template system, and do custom designing the grant way Ravio did (without ripping customers off at the end, of course!).

I think Chris is a very capable designer, his alfaowner.com looks very advanced; unfortunately, it is not the kind of style I am looking for (too heavy gfx) and it is difficult to judge a designer's capability to change his designing style if his portfolio is so small.

Greets

Alex

All true, Alexander. vBMechanic could not be busier; I turn down projects all the time now so that I can focus on my existing workload. I would consider hiring an employee if I knew there was someone I could trust, but that is a big step for any new business.

There is a serious lack of programmers and designers filling this niche. I'd be more protective of it if I thought it would matter, but I get twice as many project inquiries as I could possibly handle. Where Ravio made the mistake was not learning to control his workflow. It is difficult to turn down projects when someone is ready to send you cash.

Also, one problem is that many of the graphics designers don't believe they could possibly create the skin and that they need a 'programmer' to do it. That makes many operations a 'two man' team and then you have to count on two people being reliable, not just one.

p.s. You could at least add me to the list on the first page ;)

Done :)

Thanks!

>>lacks a portfolio with fully featured custom forum designs

No doubt, eh? The portfolio will be updated soon-- I have 3 in the works; I'm busy right now with an integrated CMS.

preview: http://www.vbmechanic.com/demo/cms.gif

Impressive! You coded the article management yourself? Looks very nice judging from the screenshot.

vBmechanic.com (one of the newer vB designers, has some nice testimonials, but still lacks a portfolio with fully featured custom forum designs)

I have used VBmechanic.com constantly for the past 6 months on my site www.ukmusic.com and highly reccomend VBmechanic, fast , friendly, and fair prices.

Doug Cooper.
www.ukmusic.com