This inspired me, what do u think? (The thread that started it all)

[WannaBrie]

Ok, so I participate in a couple of other forums, does this make me a forum slut? Anyway, the point of my thread is I saw that the how design forum has a zine that they create. Info here: http://www.howiezine.com/
Anyway, I love this idea, but I feel much more at home on this forum and would love to do something like this here. Would any of you all be interested in doing a book or something like this? I don't want to do exactly what they are doing, perhaps we could make it more personal, with themes like 'our pets' or 'our children'....I think this would be a great addition to our portfolios and just a fantastic outlet for our creativity for those of us here that have more technical jobs or design for corporate environs. We could do anything we want and I think we could do it on the cheap. I hope this isn't viewed as ripping off their idea, I just would love to do this, but with you guys, becuz, the GDF rocks! Any takers?

[PrintDriver]

It would be viewed as ripping off their idea.
After all, it was their idea.

[WannaBrie]

yeah I guess your right, its just I thought it would be fun and maybe we could do it differently somehow..I tried to get in on their next issue, but it is extremely difficult to get a response there and like I said, I dont feel the as comfortable there as I do here, but I thought about that. Maybe we could come up with something compelety different. Say a book...with lots of chapters...think up many concepts and have it be a year long project or something,,,maybe with each chapter concerning each thread topic?

[WannaBrie]

Maybe make it more about this forum? There's so much here that is so personal and so funny....I think the content on this forum could be made into something that would make others LOL as much as I do when I read??

[budafist]

It would be cool to put together a calendar.

1 design/page per week which means that 52 of us can participate.

Just need to decide on a size and then have it on here as a pdf for downloading and anyone can download and print it for free.

I'm not entirely sure if we have 52 willing participants is all...

[WannaBrie]

I thought of something else too, maybe we could do a deck of cards or coasters...for the cards, we'd need 52, but coasters, we could pick a theme and do an endless number of them!

[WannaBrie]

I like that Buda, if we didn't have 52 willing participants, we could have others fill in, though...

[hewligan]

I like the idea. Sounds like fun.

[urstwile]

I dunno, PD, this hardly seems like something totally unique to HOW. For example, 1000 Journals (http://www.1000journals.com/) strikes me as being in a similar vein, in terms of the collaborative aspect of it.

The trick is to make it unique to this forum.

[PrintDriver]

The trick is more not to have the people over there thinking we copied them. I'm done with How.

[urstwile]

Well, if we're concerned about HOW thinking we copied them, well, um, screw 'em? They're certainly not the first to come up with the collaborative effort idea, and certainly won't be the last.

I'm not done with HOW, since I never started. Actually, I do have a sign on "over there", but I never go there. They're too full of themselves, for the most part. The magazine's cool, however.

[budafist]

...let's delete this thread. Leave no trace lest their spies come hunting.

Never been over to HOW myself though. I'm quite comfortable here. Won't be moving anytime soon :D In fact, I've disappeared from the forum I've been on since I was 16 so that I can devote myself to here. About time too. Too many incriminating posts from when I was 16...some people find it hard to believe that you change....or grow up.

[WannaBrie]

I don't want to "copy" their idea, (and I'm not keen on participating in their deal) I would just like to create something, like u said, urst, a collaborative effort of some sort... I just think it would be fun and a gread add. to our portfolios what about a deck of cards or coasters or something? Please don't delete this thread, who cares what THEY think?

[morea]

remember a while back when we talked about a GDF Monopoly board?

I'd be interested in participating in a collaborative project. Especially something inexpensive that we would all get a copy of.

[Danger_Mouse]

Not familiar with what HOW is in detail... but reading up more on it.

I would be interested in participating for sure.

This wouldn't be copying anyone if done correctly and quite frankly, even if it was a carbon copy of the same thing, if the execution, project management and originality of content etc etc is of higher (or lower) quality will determine the success.
It's just business, you have a pie and I want a slice of your pie. Don't get me wrong, I am for an original idea over the carbon copy, but I wouldn't get feelings of guilt for starting up something very similar to what someone else did. What it does is offer the interested party is a CHOICE now rather than the one spot deal. (like the way fast food companies compete, only less dirty and better for you). The thing is that we wouldn't be doing it for the intent of COMPETING with another forum (well not me anyways) as much as showing through some artistic integrity, talant showcase, and pride taken in GDF.

I am just saying, don't hush the idea for fear of copying reasons. You can copy a concept, without stealing an idea, and do it better than your neighbour.

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

Not a "HOW spy" - but am a longtime member of the HOW forum, a writer for the publication and on the Editorial Advisory Board of the magazine. As mentioned by several in this thread the idea of a group of forum members, or designers/artists for that matter, collaborating on such a project is hardly unique. If GDFers were to take on some kind of effort you would want to put your own unique spin on the project anyway - it's certainly not an issuing of "copying" anyone of "stealing" someone's idea.

The HOW forum has also created a cookbook and members are currently creating a poster. It's all been about taking "interactive" one step beyond the basic online experience.

Love the perception here of the HOW forum and its members...

- J.

[urstwile]

Jeff, have you read some of the threads on the HOW forum? They can get quite uppity and downright mean. Thus the perception.

When I first started subscribing to the magazine, I checked out the forum, and while there were some helpful threads, there was so much "that looks like ass" commentary on there that frankly, I was put off by it. And then I found this place. 'Nuf said. :)

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

I've been a participant on the HOW forum for many years - way before it's current format. I personally think the critique section is complete B.S. - especially those who offer their "expert opinions" anonymously without providing links to examples of their own work as evidence of their expertise - so I choose not to participate in the review section at all. (I feel that way about many of the design forums where individuals hide behind their screen names when providing supposedly constructive criticism) However, the other forum sections provide a great deal of advice, support and many resources to those in the design community at any level of professionalism. Blanket generalizations about the members of any forum are unfair.

One of the unique aspects of the HOW forum is the large number of members who have actually met each other in person. I've probably met 100+ forum participants at the annual HOW Design Conference, other industry gatherings, through speaking engagements at design schools and universities, when I travel to other cities and through forum member gatherings around the country. It was blast when Portland and Seattle forum members got together the summer before last. Other groups have connected around the country. Members from all over the US (and one from Thailand) got together in Seattle last spring - and about 60-70 HOW (and About.com) forum members are planning on doing the same again this May. The personal relationships that have developed, and the personal interactions, do alter the persona of the forum a bit a times. - it's one of the best online design communities I've come across since participating in many since 1998.

Many of the statements made about the HOW forum and its members would problem apply equally to GDF if someone from HOW popped in here. I wonder if everyone would feel welcome and part of the "community" - it takes a bit of effort from both sides to develop a sense of trust and being comfortable when joining any online community.

- J.

[urstwile]

Well, okay, point taken. I will give it a second look. I know there are others on here who frequent it as well. I'm always willing to revise an opinion if I've based it on cursory inspection, which, based on your post, it appears that I have done.

That's cool that you've met so many of the members. I've actually met a few of the members on GDF as well.

[PrintDriver]

Jeff, I've given How two tries. You're right, there are several really great people over there as long as you stay out of the Lounge and the 'critique' section. Between those two areas and the arguments....

There is a really good poster over there on tech stuff (can't remember his screen name) and I would occasionally read the Hardware section to see what's up. But the other areas of the forum aren't well-populated, at least at the times I was active, so it was a waste of my time. It's more a "Designers"Only place like AIGA (another forum I'm done with).

Production people aren't welcomed.

[budafist]

That's one thing I love about GDF is that there are people connected with different aspects of design so that we can pick their brains and vice versa. A designer doesn't always need feedback or help from other designers. Sometimes you need screenprinters, offset or digital printers help too.

[urstwile]

I think that's why I like it here too. Because I'm more production than design, but I have learned so much design stuff from other people's comments on here. And I'd like to think I've contributed a fair amount of stuff production-wise myself. As do so many.

[Danger_Mouse]

That's one thing I love about GDF is that there are people connected with different aspects of design so that we can pick their brains and vice versa. A designer doesn't always need feedback or help from other designers. Sometimes you need screenprinters, offset or digital printers help too.

me too

[WannaBrie]

I agree PD, buda, urst and dm. that is why i feel so comfortable here, i am production as well as design, and I think that everyone is more than welcomed here. Ok, so should we have a poll, or discuss ideas further? I suppose if we decide to do this project, it will require a good deal of (gulp) organization on our parts and some sort of committe type thingy in order to get it all together. I am really excited about this and wanting to do it. So? what next?

[urstwile]

Well, since you started the thread, it seems entirely appropriate to me for you to commandeer the idea. Meaning you decide what we should all collaborate on, and then we jump in like gangbusters.

If you're feeling like that's too much responsibility, perhaps a poll? With you as the final judge, I'm thinking.

[Zantor_12]

Forums are awesome because they allow you to communicate with other people about an issue you are all passionate about. It is a very relaxed environment, and is a great place to learn from the best.

[WannaBrie]

Ok, well, I like to be democratic about things and so, I liked the idea of a book, or zine, but not wanting to tread too closely to how's idea, perhaps like buda suggested a calendar? How about we all give some suggestions on what we'd like then we take a vote?

[urstwile]

How about a deck of cards? Depending on how many want to be involved, that could determine how many cards each person designs? Or you could break it down into suits and then number of face cards in each suit. Like one person could do all the queen cards in in each suit, or all the face cards in a single suit, for example, another could do all the number cards in a single suit.

Hmm, that might be a little hard to figure out though, in terms of divvying up.

[morea]

it would probably be wise to find out how many people are interested first, then go from there. Maybe start a new thread and everybody who wants to participate can "sign up" there?

[Fantômas]

That's one thing I love about GDF is that there are people connected with different aspects of design so that we can pick their brains and vice versa. A designer doesn't always need feedback or help from other designers. Sometimes you need screenprinters, offset or digital printers help too.

Yeah i agree. I know that iI"m a noob here but i'd loooove to participate! :)

[budafist]

I once saw an exhibition with cards done collaboratively by some local artists. Too bad, they didn't produce them to sell though.

I like the idea of cards.

[Crimson]

I like the idea of a deck of cards. I want to do mine with naked ladies. . .

Like some people said, the idea isn't that unique that only HOW people should do it. I am with Jeff that we can't blanket them as all snobs. We here at the GDF have our own prejeduices and prides that scare some people away. I like it here and made my family here. I don't want to spend all my time with all the various types of boards I can be interested in. Just not enough hours in the day. This is the only place I visit regularly because I made a committment to "love the one I am with". Even at that, I feel like the prodical son and can only visit every so often. I feel like you guys are my graphic design brothers and sisters. PD, my Bro, let's go give those HOW people some deserving wedgies. Jeff- tell us who is cool so we don't get someone that doesn't deserve it. Really, can't we all just get a long. I am a designer not a Judge.

[WannaBrie]

Ok, the deck of cards seems to have quite a few votes here, but remember, that each person will have to either have die cut or manually cut out 52 cards from card stock. We have to consider cost and ease here as well, plus, I don't know that we have enough enthusiasm here to do that (I could be wrong, as this is still and idea in its infancy) i liked the idea of a calendar...We'd only need 12 people initially, but we could have alternate pages...that way if we had more than 12, when each person assembles their calendar, they can choose which layout for which month, thereby making each and every calendar absolutely unique...we could post pdfs, jpgs, whatever of what we liked and how we assembled them... Come up with a template and everyone follows those guidelines (i.e., size, bleed, etc...) We just have to make sure we have AT Least 12 participants to cover all the months, then any others are just gravy and add to the variety and uniqueness of the project. Ok, that's my latest ...what do u all think?

[urstwile]

The calendar does seem like the least unwieldy of all the projects. And if more than 12 people wanted to do it, you could just add months at the end. I've seen 15 and 18 month calendars before, there's no rule that it can only be a maximum of 12.

[PrintDriver]

You could do a Week at a Glance. That'll give ya 52 pages.
:D

[budafist]

I've got a week at a glance calendar on my desk. It's awesome.

The mix and match calender sounds cool.

Just say you had an A4 or Letter page each and you have 12 people and anyone else that comes in, well it's just a competition for that month isn't it?

[Schmitty]

I like coasters.

[budafist]

You can have mine. I got heaps of coasters. I don't have a coffee table so I don't use them.

My cousin me cool creepy Jesus loves you ones. I think there are some Jesus is watching ones too.

[WannaBrie]

True Urst, also Buda, I like the cards, but not sure it would work. PD, I'm not sure, 52 pages would be cool, but I don't see that many willing participants at this stage....of course we could always pick a certain # of pages per person, but what if we don't have enough? I like the idea of a 12 month (mix and match, like urst said) calendar,we'd just have to make sure that we have at least one person per month(hopefully more!) then we could pick a size...I have to say my printer won't handle anything bigger than 8.5x14, so I think final cut page size should be smaller, so we could account for bleed and anyone (like myself) who will need to print on smaller inkjets, etc... I did really like the idea of cards or coasters, I just don't think they'd be practical. Too expensive to produce, etc...this way each of us will only have to print out as many pages as there are participants and then one person (or persons) will have to bind them and I think that a cheap binding could be a simple saddle stitch...or perhaps something a bit more unconventional...(perhaps we could each ship our pages to each other and then be responsible for our own binding. I have some funky ideas, like maybe hole punch but with some kind of custom rings through the holes...there's lots of cool stuff to be found in craft stores. (again, another opportunity for EACH calendar to be unique, becuz we could each bind our own calendars!) We would just need to leave enough space to bind any way we wanted (say at least 1/2"?)

[budafist]

You can always just print "fit to page", so it doesn't really matter so much what size it is as long as it's still viewable right?

CD size calendar: If you have one of those CDsize desk calendars, then you can just sit it in one of those CD holders that fold right around. No need for binding...

[Drazan]

I actually have participated in a few forum run things: books, calendars, postcards, even a t-shirt.

I've also had one of those CD calendars that Buda mentions. Mine was from DAZ recieved when I went to the Deviant Art convention. Really cool - fairly cheap for anyone to print. Even the non-print person could use color copy paper and cut to size themselves.

The postcard idea was an interchange of about 20 or so forum members. We each printed off the cards and sent them to each other. Kinda neet getting things around the world.

I can say, I'm interested in another round.
=)
Jade

[PrintDriver]

It does matter what size it is. At least give a page size ratio or some people will have white borders.
Decide on the paper first.

[WannaBrie]

Buda, what is a cd size calendar? enlighten me! I'm thinking like PD, I think we would all need to design to a certain page size, so that it all fits together, bleed, no bleed, etc...I think we need a template, page size first...I think maybe each month (table of days) to be something square or whatever, and then maybe a display page above (if we want, that way each person would essentially be designing 2 pages) and equal size.Does this make any sense? Or maybe each person should just design a table of days of the month...Also I was thinking it would be cool to know the bdays of anyone participating so they can be included in the final project.

[JaCkinbOx]

Or we could do a photomosaic.

Yeah, go ahead and shoot me. I'm having a creative lapse.

[Hub]

At only a few days old - I don't want to count myself in the "WE" category - but I wanted to respond to Jeff's comment about "how welcomed we make new members feel..."

I've been trying to jump in wherever I can - just to get my feet wet - and I have had several of you core members say hola. I appreciate that and already see the "community" of GDF. Thanks!

________
Now my two cents - I really like this idea and think it is super worthwhile to collaborate and create something. I also think the cd calendar idea is a natural - PDF for on line viewing - hell we could make it into into an interactive v-calendar and available to print out and put into a CD case. Format here is simple enough...it's a square - any size, easy to scale.

I agree with the template idea - but only as a base to provide some level of structure for you guys/gals to break the boundaries and get creative. Ever see the Wired Magazine calendars - they have a similar layout, but the simple grid lets the design stay fluid and interesting. Each person chooses there own style, fontes, colors, etc. - square, pdf, on-line, print?

What do ya think - come on - give it a shot!

When the word gets out you'll probably have to assign individual days to each creative. That reminds me - a simple user friendly sign up sheet - each creative signs up for a month - - MAKE IT FOR 2008 - then when it is completed it can be useful.

[Red Kittie Kat]

For what its worth I am always up for a collaborative effort ;)

[budafist]

Buda, what is a cd size calendar? enlighten me!

One of these things:
http://www.spectrumsoftware.com/images/EZCalendar/cdcasemedium.jpg

...Also I was thinking it would be cool to know the bdays of anyone participating so they can be included in the final project.
That's a good idea. I did that once when I made a calendar for me. I never finished that calendar though. :(

[WannaBrie]

Ok, so lets make a template, Buda, what are the specs for a cd calendar? Kittie, Morea can we do a sign up thread? How should we post the specs for the template? I think it would be cool to have a "theme" for the calendar, I mean, each month obviously has its own attributes, but what if we picked a general theme, say fairy tales, or giants or something like that and then each month would incorporate its own theme, plus the main theme? Ideas?

[budafist]

Size: 142mm X 127mm X 9mm*

So if we want to make a CD case calendar, 140mm high and 125mm wide should be ok.

According to:

http://www.calendar-case.com/?gclid=COWKoLXo-okCFQkfYAodVhNVSw

0.95 a case there too. I'm sure it can be found cheaper elsewhere though. Quantity discounts too, but baby steps right?

[morea]

is this something that we will ultimately have printed?

I was thinking that if we put everything together and then posted it on someplace like cafepress (preferably someplace cheaper) any GDFer or friend or family member who wanted a copy could buy one, cheap.

I have to admit, I am not really sure how cafepress works, but I was under the impression that you choose the "profit" you make on works posted there.

So if that IS the case, there are two ways you could go about this... no profit, to keep all around costs down for people who wanted to buy a copy, or small profit and donate the profit to a charity of some sort, if we could manage to agree on one.

To be honest, I would prefer something other than a calendar which is only really good for one year and then gets stuck in a box someplace if you decide to keep it...

[Broacher]

Long-time 'formerly' active HOW member here. I think I joined just shortly after Jeff, way back in the 'old' forum days, when they had a mostly all-text format (which, I still prefer).

I remember the launch of the first HOWiezine well (I modestly admit to proposing the first takeoff theme: 'Imaginary Friends'). To compare this forum with HOW is probably a natural thing to want to do. But I see both forums having both strengths and weaknesses. And believe it or not, there are also many other graphic design forums worth joining. I used to be very active on About.com's GD forums, for example. It probably 'felt' the closest to this one. And Jeff was a regular there too! (As well as just about every other GD forum I've ever visited!)

Personally, I'm not too enamoured with the whole design-zine around a forum tribe idea. Why should we fragment what already is a fractious lot? And that's one of the core differences I see with this forum--it IS a very inclusive crowd. Sometimes that can be frustrating, but most of the time, it's refreshing. It's all about the experience and the attitude gradients that define the character of a forum. Jeff is a great example of a very experienced designer who does NOT come across as an elitist, even though his professional reputation and accomplishments would entitle him to be.

On the other hand, even as a group, we actively practice elitism with our work. It shows you care. At the other end, there are *****s and proctology work orders in both the experienced and the less-experienced camps. But realistically, I would say that most designers are very willing to live up to the sentiment of this quotation: Success is not measured by how high you climb, but by how many people you bring up with you.

So it all comes down to attitude. Jeff's point about the HOW people actually meeting and socializing with each other regularly is no small one. And the annual HOW conference is the center of all this activity.

In all my years on the forums, I've never met a single soul in person. It shouldn't matter, right? But after a few years of the 'HOWies-who-have-met-club" exposure, I could not help but feel peripheral, or at least farther apart from that crowd, which dominates the forum. And in a sense, it's this extra dimension of personal intimacy that helped launch the HOWzine. If we tried to do that here-- I'm hot sure it would really work. I've looked at a few of these myself, and even received a copy or two. They are very unique and personal. Many of the submissions seem to resonate much stronger within that group of 'contactees' than they did with me. There's a real tendency for any clichey group to rely on obscure, or personal experience references and risk alienating outsiders. That said, they were still very creative pieces.

A GDFzine? I think it would disturb the 'force' you have here, a lot. Then we would have the 'ziners' and the non-ziners. Personally, I don't find a lot of problem with just maintaining a healthy professional on-line discussion space. If people have such positive energy to spare, maybe we could 'adopt' a good cause graphic project instead? Surely we all know that there are many of these looking for communication design support? The question is, which would benefit the most from a collective effort?

As for the form of this kind of project, I'd have to ask what would the objective be, before we get into choosing the format. Maybe even there, we could be more innovative. How about a guerilla or viral campaign?

Or something brand new? I've got a few ideas still in the doughy stage that might be fun to explore. Only, I think we need to find a good reason to make it all work. And one that would hopefully preserve the valuable inclusiveness that makes this forum so unique.

[morea]

If people have such positive energy to spare, maybe we could 'adopt' a good cause graphic project instead?

I suggested something like this a while back, I would still be glad to participate, but the particular group I contacted didn't seem to appreciate what I was offering and the whole thing died off before it got started.

Here's the thread:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11642


(I still think it's a good idea.)

[Danger_Mouse]

Success is not measured by how high you climb, but by how many people you bring up with you.

THAT is such a great quote. It is too bad more designers don't think more that way.
I think the good ones do, the ones that earn respect. Add to that ..."avoiding, as much as possible, intentionally stepping on people on the way up.

I like Broachers idea too morea.

[Broacher]

>>I like Broachers idea too morea.<<

Except, as the divine Ms. M has shown, it was really HER idea.

[morea]

not at all what I was saying Broacher. ;)

I was simply indicating that I liked your idea and was offering one possible avenue to explore. I would love to hear more of your ideas, Bob, particularly since mine ended up getting shot down by the group that I thought would benefit from it.

[Danger_Mouse]

Yeah sorry that's what I meant, but was referring to your entire post as well.

I like the idea is what I mean. Just to do something that would make a difference even if just for awareness on some issue we could all agree upon.

[Broacher]

Why don't we find something that reflects our inclusiveness? This forum scores quite high on it's level of international participation, all things considered. We could probably always do more to that end though.

Just a head-topper idea then-- what if we designed a single webpage that promoted that attitude as strong as possible, without getting too 'Polyannish', but effectively broadcasting that the creative world is big one. And full of harmonic thought and people.

I'm thinking of that kid who did the million pixel site. What if we created something like this that would promote the non-commercial awareness of the creative globe? That's just the raw concept. More of an objective I guess. I'm not saying that this is the best form to explore. But by foregoing a printed piece, we automatically get more potentially inclusiveness, by bypassing most of the production costs. Hey, now what if we designed a site that 'good causes' could sign up and pitch their appeals for creative-work donations? And a designer who's registered could view a shot of, I don't know, the globe and wherever there are new (since the viewer's last visit) postings up, the map would highlight and indicate this? I think that there may already be something like this service out there. Still, there's nothing to say we can't attach the GDF sticker to something. Like I said, it's pretty doughy, not even half-baked.

But I really would like to move along these lines as the promotional objective: to vividly proclaim the global inclusiveness of the creative community.

[budafist]

This is getting deep, but I do like the humanitarian path this is going.

[Hub]

I think Broacher makes a few good points:

Avoid the production costs - post it and be more inclusive
Use the power of the format and its members to proclaim global creativity
Make it for a good cause
Greater exposure for all involved

I feel the dough rising! Matbe we can make something out of it!

Thanks Broacher

[Hub]

Not to dis your original post Wanna - after all, you sparked the interest in this topic - but I think the sum of all the participants could yield a creative, collaborative product of substance that can also help someone or some organization out.

I think everybody wins!

[Samakimoto Graphics]

I think I'm going to check out HOW.;)

I agree with Broacher on focusing on what GDF is about - "mutually inclusive diversity", I have to admit when I first joined on here I felt a vibe of my being kinda "peripheral", most newbies will attest to that. The risk of "fragmentation" of an "already fragmented" lot was probably the reason that the GDF monopoly idea sort of got unintentionally "shelved".

Jeff put it very well, it takes both sides to create a feeling of inclusiveness, and it takes time for some. Does "yesthisismyday" ring a bell?

[WannaBrie]

Good points all. I don't feel that my original post was dissed in any way, a collaborative effort would require a great deal of disscussion and all parties will have to reach a consensus in order for it to work. That said, I like the idea of using this as something to promote a higher cause and ascribe to our "global" aspect here. I think Broacher's idea is great. I am up for anything. In fact I would feel the project would mean more to me, to us if it was more than, as Morea said "something which is only really good for one year and then gets stuck in a box someplace if you decide to keep it". I was hoping we'd do something we could print, because I had visions of printing on some cool paper and doing some handwork, using crafty things, etc. But all that is just material. If this project turned out to be something that had a positive effect in some way, especially globally, that would be great.

[urstwile]

Check out this link (http://bridge.thegluenetwork.com/ ). It might be perfect for this collaborative endeavor, and it's for some worthy causes.

[Danger_Mouse]

Awesome Urst. That's pretty sexy. I love where this is going.

[frankster]

Very much like this one I found a year or so ago urst. I wonder how many like this there are. There's one that expands in two dimensions somewhere, but I can't remember where.

http://worm.bluesfear.com/

[urstwile]

That's pretty wild Frank. The nice thing about the gluenetwork is that the more miles that are created, the more dollars are contributed to a variety of worthy causes by the sponsors.

[WannaBrie]

very cool Urst, Were you thinking of doing something LIKE this or of us participating in it as a group or individually? Because I think either way, it is a great thing and I personally would like to be a part of that! I really like the direction this has taken.

[urstwile]

I was thinking we could participate as a group. If it interests you, I could see if they have that as an option. I think that you can choose to have multiple miles, so that way our stuff could be viewed as a block, kind of like a collage of sorts.

[datswhutsup]

add me in whatever you guys choose to do.
=)

[Drazan]

1) We need a cause, and I think there's a little girl that can definitely use our help and who's family is already part of this forum/network.

http://oneana.com/

2) We need to find something that everyone can contribute at any time to help the cause.

I suggest an online store of prints or merchandise said prints can be used for. This can be set up by a team of trusted people. This can be cafepress, or any other third party or self run store (question is who's going to pay forthe up keep of a cafepress store front?). I like the third party idea because it's impartial. Eventhough, I'm sure there are plenty of GDF'rs that can produce said product. Artists give useage rights to publish said image for merchandise only for said project.

3) We need a website to put the images to order. I just so happen to own a small hosting service and can set aside space and domain accordingly on one of the dedicated servers.

4) We need an organizer to procure payment/contracts/print ready images and be the customer service rep. (or team of people)


From experience in forum projects that take more than a few months to produce and achieve results - most people will move on to other interests leaving the "good intentioned" project to whomever feels like managing it.

I am willing to volunteer my efforts and skills at organizing and making sure things are done properly. I've done this a few times before, most prominately for a book that was published a couple years ago. It's available world wide through amazon.com and other online publishers.
"A Clear Horizon" (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781932461060&itm=3)

We still have moneys coming in that I split and send accordingly.

If more credentials are needed, I'm willing to supply sources.

=)
Jade

[urstwile]

Honestly, Drazan, while the cause you espouse is certainly worthy, I think you're overcomplicating the original idea.

I think it's great that you're willing to take on all these administrative tasks, but I think Brie's original intention (and I could be wrong about this) was to do something collaborative and fun. Broacher's posts made people think more in the direction of doing something that would benefit a community, fitting for a forum community such as this.

What you're proposing sounds very much like what would be involved in setting up a foundation of some sort. Which I think strays much too far from the original idea.

[Drazan]

nope - no foundation needed. The wee bit of money gained would be less than required to file on taxes. For all the support and world wide availability of the book reference I posted, less than $500 has been raised in 2+ years. Still that's quite a few books sold from a small press stand point. Everytime I get another $50 I'll send it out to a couple charities.

I'll still raise my hand at any organizational or webspace needed. All for fun or for something more. It's still going to take a little bit of work so that no one feels that they didn't get a chance. Shooting for a deadline like 2008 for a calendar may seem ok, but from experience that timeline is a bit on the long side and a calendar is nice, but very much limits how many can participate.

Another thought. How-a-bout a poster book. Everyone who wants to participate say in a 3 month period can post their inclusion to the "book" which can be organized and set up as a PDF for press and ever perhaps a static web version.

I'm up for just about anything.

Perhaps get a "short" list of ideas and have a poll to see which the majority would like to do. And find out who's actually up to complete a project.

=)
Jade (who loves community things)

[urstwile]

At this point, a poll sounds like a good idea. There are lots of interesting thoughts out there about how to proceed, and I agree Drazan, doing something community based seems like a lot of fun.

Maybe it would be appropriate for Wanna Brie to start a poll, since she was the catalyst for the thought process in the first place.

[WannaBrie]

A poll sounds like a good idea, I like all the ideas so far...I wouldn't want to feel like I was burdening you, Drazan with so much work for an idea I got rolling...I'm not so great in the web area, so I would feel a bit useless with your first idea. I like the idea of a poster book though, we could all pick a cause that means something to us....I also like urst's idea of the gluenetwork thing or franksters idea at bluesfear. So, is that what we should vote on? Any more ideas before we set it up?

[urstwile]

I think you should go ahead and set it up, Brie, and let whatever wins the poll be the deciding factor in what we end up with.

Whatever it is, you can count me in. :)

[Seapony]

Welcome to the Whorede, haha. :p

yeah I guess your right, its just I thought it would be fun and maybe we could do it differently somehow..I tried to get in on their next issue, but it is extremely difficult to get a response there and like I said, I dont feel the as comfortable there as I do here, but I thought about that. Maybe we could come up with something compelety different. Say a book...with lots of chapters...think up many concepts and have it be a year long project or something,,,maybe with each chapter concerning each thread topic?

Really? That's odd. Just PM Pad Thai (she heads the HOWiezine) or open a thread topic in the Lounge, she's more likely to see and respond that way. I'm in it this go around (I haven't got any ideas for this theme yet, I'm afraid) and I've done it before. Setting up/organizing something like this is a LOT of work and Patti (Pad Thai) puts in a lot of hours to put it together. I also suggest you chat with her about it (how she organizes things) she's a very friendly sort and hardly bites, hehe.

Hm, creating a versatile original theme item that isn't a book is a bit of a challenge, although perhaps a variation of it is possible. It sucks because the only other theme that I can think of right now is based off of the Creative Blender, another HOWie type theme (but I guess you're looking to do something more original) and of course, Speak Up's Word section where you illustrate a word. However if you can set up a combination of both based on a theme and specific tools that could work? Or create something (a base design template) and have others "redesign" it using their own means? I dunno...brain is hurting from a combo cold, new glasses and migrane.

:)

Edit: And quite naturally, this triple pain combo made me overlook the fact that this thread is freakin' longer than I thought and I'm totally catching up. Sowwy everyone. :o

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Back a bit:
I like the CD size calendar idea and the illustrated word. We could combine these two!



At this point, a poll sounds like a good idea.

;) Good idea.

[WannaBrie]

Ok, I'm gonna give the poll deal a go...I see at least 7 different ideas from everyone so far, so hopefully we can get something from this... let the chips fall where they may!!

[WannaBrie]

ok here's the thread reference for the poll thread. That sounds redundant. But here it is:

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24040