request for proposal: web designer
Request for Proposal: Website Redesign & Development for weareo.tv
Issuing Organization: OTV
Submission Deadline: Sunday, October 18
Ideal Start Date: Monday, October 26
OTV is seeking a creative and technically proficient web design and development contractor to reimagine weareo.tv as a bold, high-performing digital entry point into the OTV ecosystem.
The redesigned website should move away from functioning primarily as an archive of organizational information and artist development programming. Instead, it should become a streamlined, audience-facing platform designed to communicate OTV's value quickly, showcase the distinctiveness of our content and community, and convert visitors into viewers and subscribers.
We are interested in contemporary entertainment and direct-to-consumer platforms that use strong brand personality, video, motion, editorial storytelling, and clear calls to action to create an immediate sense of identity.
OTV operates through Vimeo OTT. We are interested in understanding what may be technically possible within or alongside that ecosystem and in leaning in to clear conversion pathways and relationship between our marketing site and streaming product.
The selected partner will be expected to translate best practices from entertainment, streaming, cultural, editorial, and direct-to-consumer platforms into an experience that is unmistakably OTV.
2. About OTV
OTV | Open Television is a non-profit streaming platform and media incubator for intersectional storytelling, with artists and their creative visions at the center. Since launching in 2015 as a research project housed at Northwestern University, OTV has transformed the way the film and television industry supports independent artists and communities marginalized by their race, gender, sexuality, class, disability or nationality. Through intentional artist development and holistic community development, the award-winning organization provides a network of care to identify, activate and mobilize the next generation of storytellers.
3. Project Goals & Strategy
The primary objectives of this redesign are:
App-First Conversion: Shift the site's primary function from artist development programming and information about the organization, to OTV App membership purchases/free trials. Note that these metrics of success will be further refined by an incoming Growth Specialist.
Brand Alignment: Align the web presence with our in-app experience, adopting a bold, video-forward, and personality-driven aesthetic that is uniquely OTV
Simplify User Journey: Create a razor-sharp funnel: land → experience the vibe → sign up for a free trial .
Showcase Content: Use gifs, trailers, film stills, and bold typography to sell the catalogue and attitude without giving everything away on the web.
Improve SEO & Performance: Ensure the new site is technically sound, fast, and optimized for SEO. This will be informed by the incoming Growth Specialist
4. Design Inspiration & Functional Requirements
The proposal must clearly articulate how they will capture the essence of OTV’s brand across:
Bold, Maximalist Typography: Use of oversized, playful, and dynamic fonts for headlines. No subtle, minimalist corporate fonts.
Video-Dominant Backgrounds: Full-bleed, auto-playing (muted) background video trailers that immediately immerse the user in the chaos and fun of OTV.
Movement: The page should feel alive with scroll-triggered animations, moving graphics, and sticky positioning, emphasizing the energetic, "internet-first" motion design grounded in OTV’s voice and brand.
High-Contrast & Vibrant Palette: Unapologetic use of a specific, vibrant color palette following our brand style guide and design elements like stark borders, grids, and cutouts.
Talent & Character-Focused Imagery: Photography and illustration style that highlights our storytellers in a gritty, editorial, or highly stylized manner.
Clarity: A hero section that immediately answers "What is OTV?" with a punchy tagline i.e. “Tap Into a New Wave” and a prominent "Download" or "Start Free Trial" CTA.
Curated Content Teasers: A visually dynamic grid or carousel (not a generic Netflix-style row) showcasing key shows with animated hover states, driving curiosity for the full app experience.
5. Scope of Work
The project is divided into three phases. Bidders should provide a fixed price or time-and-materials estimate for each.
Phase 1: Discovery & UX Strategy Implementation (3-5 days)
Review of existing site and analytics from growth specialist.
Delivery of lo-fi wireframes showing the new single-page flow prioritizing membership conversion.
Phase 2: UI/UX Design (1-2 weeks)
Creation of 2 distinct visual style directions for the landing page.
High-fidelity, fully responsive mockups for desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Design of all key components:
Hero Section: Fullscreen video background, punchy tagline, primary CTA, and floating phone/app mockups.
"How It Works": App functionality is animated through mockups of the desktop, tablet, web, and mobile experience.
Show Carousel: Interactive, people-driven content cards.
Pricing Tier Cards: Clearly display different membership tiers
Footer with persistent App Store/Google Play download buttons.
Phase 3: Development & Content Management System Integration (1-2 weeks)
Front-End Development: Seamless responsive implementation.
Animation Development: Smooth animation of all scroll-triggered elements, video backgrounds, and hover micro-interactions.
Content Management System: Implementation of an intuitive content management system that allows the OTV team to easily update hero videos, show cards, talent bios, and links etc. without coding.
Integration: Embed dynamic store badges (Apple App Store, Google Play) and integrate a simple newsletter sign-up form (Mailchimp)
Phase 4: Quality Control & Launch: (1 week)
Cross browser/device testing, Performance testing, accessibility testing, launch
6. Technical Requirements
SEO: Implement best practices from incoming Growth Specialist
Mobile-Responsiveness: Fully responsive and tested on latest iOS/Android devices.
Accessibility: Compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for color contrast, keyboard navigation, and alt text.
7. Deliverables Schedule
Proposal Submission Deadline: October 18, 2026
Project Kickoff: October 26, 2026
Wireframes & UX Approval: Oct 30, 2026
Design Concepts Presentation: November 9, 2026
Final Design Approval: November 26, 2026
Staging link delivery: November 30
OTV Feedback: December 2, 2026
Final Launch Date: December 8, 2026
30 Day Bug fix window: Dec 8 - Jan 5, 2026
Post-launch performance report (metrics informed by growth specialist): December 21
8. Budget & Payment Terms
Budget Constraints: Please provide a comprehensive proposal with transparent costs for Phases 1-4.
Payment Schedule: Please include your standard payment terms in the proposal for discussion.
9. Proposal Submission Requirements
Interested parties should apply at this link
Portfolio: Links to at least 3 relevant projects
Team: Bios of the designer and lead developer who will be working on the project.
Approach & Methodology: A high-level project plan, recommended tech stack, and content management solution.
Detailed Pricing: A breakdown of costs for each phase, including the cost of any premium plugins, fonts, or stock photography.
References: Three past client references with contact information.
10. Terms and Conditions
OTV reserves the right to reject any and all proposals.
All submitted materials become the property of OTV and will not be returned.
The winning respondent will be required to sign a standard service agreement before commencing work.
No verbal agreements will be binding until formalized in writing.
Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to chris[at]weareo[dot]tv, cc vic[at]weareo[dot]tv. We look forward to finding a bold, visionary partner to bring the OTV web presence to life.