How

[patkennedy78]

I pretty sure I'm not the only one who is the lone 'creative person' in their company or building. For me it's very tough to get new and interesting concepts when there isn't anyone else to bounce ideas off. Especially being an entry level in-house designer who doesn't have a real passion for the product.

I think a great way to help this creative process along would be to have other 'creative people' ( that means you :D ) on IM to throw ideas at. Kind of virtual brainstorming. Any thoughts? Any takers?

I'm online all day, so feel free to pick my brain. My aol screen name is digitaltaffy1

[Navian]

wonder if we could do a java chat room or something from here, instead of IM? have the message board np (good references), but say for quick responses, have a side java chat or some IRC (http://www.irchelp.org/).

[captain spanky]

the concept would be cool but the company i work for rules with an iron fist and i cannot get any sort of streaming info.
But i too am a sole creative and i too have inhouse syndrome. doom.

[peder]

GDF java IRC sounds great to me. I'd hang out in there for sure.

(Nobody asked me, but heck, might make a difference.

[Navian]

Even if you are conveying with other artist/designers? Some companies are just lame. If I ran a company, my rule for designers would be: Do what you need to do, to finish the job (meet deadlines), even if it means playing a game for an hour. something to get the creative juices flowing. shoot i'd probably set aside 1-2 hrs every morning doing some sort of creative warmups, if it involves a game, lol I'd involve myself. I think of it as another resource.

I remember using IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and the BBS (Bulletin Board System). I also remember when "Legend of the Red Dragon" was the game to play.

[budafist]

You can always just do it in a thread. Will take a bit longer, but then there is a good record of it.

[Ned]

I'm online all day, so feel free to pick my brain. My aol screen name is digitaltaffy1

AOL!? Ick... Don't you use MSN or anything?

[patkennedy78]

I use trillian. I've had a different AOL name with all my contacts for a while and was going to switch, but trillian works with all IM services (accept g-mail).

[Navian]

I heared of Trillian, I found it on downloads.com its free, but is 8.58mb to download.

You can get it here (http://www.download.com/Trillian/3000-2150-10047473.html)

Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC. It provides capabilities not possible with original network clients, while supporting standard features such as audio chat, file transfers, group chats, chat rooms, buddy icons, multiple simultaneous connections to the same network, server-side contact importing, typing notification, direct connection (AIM), proxy support, encrypted messaging (AIM/ICQ), SMS support, and privacy settings.

Without stealing your home page and with no other included software, pop-ups, or spyware, Trillian provides unique functionality such as contact message history, a powerful skinning language, tabbed messaging, global status changes (set all networks away at once), Instant Lookup (automatic Wikipedia integration), contact alerts, an advanced automation system to trigger events based on anything happening in the client, docking, hundreds of emoticons, emotisounds, shell extensions for file transfers, and systray notifications.

Version 3.1 adds a new identity feature that helps you organize your home and work contact lists, HTML editing for AIM profiles, UPnP support, enhanced IRC performance, and speed enhancements.

[HUNT]

I use Yahoo IM. Anyone esle?

Ad me is you like for a referrence person.

name: fossilgreen

[frankster]

I've been using google talk. It's functional, but you don't have any of the emoticon bobbins that people seem to love so much and no webcam options like msn offers.

[WannaBrie]

I'm not entry level, but I can totally relate to being the lone creative person. I work for a huge corporation at a satellite office and the product is extremely boring! Being creative 8 hrs a day is sometimes a big struggle, plus all my designs have to have corporate approval, so lots of my ideas get nixed, either due to budget constraints or just whatever whim the suits have. It is very frustrating sometimes and when its boring and I'm blocked, I surf around for images that interest me and research designs and artists that I like. sometimes this works, sometimes not. I'd love the idea of Im or something, but my corp. is like big brother, all my internet usage is patrolled and sometimes blocked. In fact I can view the GDF, but I cannot post on it at work! Lame!!

[budafist]

You guys alowed to use msn at work?

[WannaBrie]

we are, but we are so closely monitored, i am scared to sign on with anybody outside the corporate realm! It's big brother to the max where I am!