Remember the IRS redesign?
Like many others, I was puzzled by the new color combination (blue and orange, really?). As promised, I sent IRS an email asking them why those particular colors. To my surprise, they replied fairly quickly. Perhaps not so surprising, there was no real answer. Instead, I received this reply:
We have forwarded your comments to the appropriate department for review.
So, rest easy. IRS is on it – or not.
I thought they could use some help. So, I had an idea: ask taxpayers to do a redesign! Here’s your opportunity to chime in on the IRS redesign and it’s a contest because… why not?
You can be as serious or as snarky, as witty or as practical, as staid or as droll (you get the idea) as you want to be. Just tell me how you would fix the IRS home page. New color combination? New layout? New slogan? Be specific and tell me why you’re suggesting it: green is the color of money, for example.
You don’t have to be a fancy web designer, just creative. Or opinionated. Either can work.
You can post your answer in the comments below or on my Facebook taxgirl page. And if you care to whip up a little drawing, you can scan and email it to me (fixirs@taxgirl.com).
And of course, there has to be a prize. I wanted it to be web and design related so immediately thought of Mike Meulstee (on twitter at @artisticdork). If you don’t know Mike, he’s the guy who did the brilliant design for my twitter background. He managed to capture my personality fairly perfectly.
So Mike and I came up with a great prize: a custom twitter background. Trust me, you want one. And if you’re not yet signed up on twitter, consider this your incentive (start here).
Mike and I will pick our favorite submission to be the winner. If he and I don’t agree, we’ll come to terms (arm wrestle, perhaps?). Our decision is final. No amount of bribery can change our minds – though you’re certainly welcome to try. I kid… sort of.
Here are the rules because, as you know, I’m a lawyer and I like rules:
- Entries must be submitted by 6:59 p.m. EST on October 6, 2011.
- Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately. If it goes to moderation because, for example, you’re new here, the time stamp on your comment is what counts.
- I love my Twitter followers but for this particular giveaway, tweets will not be counted.
- You can enter as many times as you like but you must leave a different answer each time you comment.
- Offensive comments or comments that otherwise violate the comment policy will be deleted and will not be considered valid for purposes of the contest.
- You must include your full name and your email address with your entry, just enter it when you register to comment. I won’t publish your email address but I do need contact information for the winning entry.
- I respect your privacy and I will not send you anything unrelated to your entry in this contest.
- By entering the contest, you agree that I may post any part or all of your submission including your name as a part of the contest announcements or promotions, with the exception of your email address.
- Our decision is in our sole discretion and is final.
I think that covers it. Have fun!
