I’ve noticed it as well, but in a different way. Our “community” is growing farther and farther apart so that, sometimes, I feel like we’re not even a community at all. Like we’re more just random sites that link each other at times.
I can remember back about five years ago when I first started meeting other designers from different sites. Once I got the hang of it a little more, it felt very community-like. Lots of different friends, lots of socializing, more updates and less “I’ve been busy” posts.
About a year or two ago that started to change. I’m not sure if I’d fully want to blame the fighting that happened a while ago that “split” the community, but I believe it did play a part. Especially since soon after many began to distance themselves to keep themselves out of the fighting, both in terms of closing their site or just becoming more business-like. I’m probably one of the latter as well.
There’s also been talk of different communities when I always percieved us as one whole, not individual communities coexisting. But maybe that’s just me being the oddball non-graphics site (I have more graphics-related content now, but I didn’t for most of SF’s existance).
What happened?
We don’t talk as much anymore. Each site seems more a separate entity than one piece of a grouping. More and more sites are dying off and the new ones popping up aren’t as up to par (and aren’t growing that much).
Personally, I believe that part of why they aren’t growing is because of the lack of community. There isn’t as much support as their used to be. There isn’t as much socializing that kept people interested. Sure, your site is for yourself but part of the fun is sharing that fun with others. And, more important, without all of that there isn’t that group of others to come to with questions, or ideas, or achievements. If you don’t know what you’re doing wrong and/or if you don’t have people to help you grow, how should you be expected to achieve? Sure, you might still if you persevere but it’ll definitely take a lot longer.
A few years ago our community broke apart. I say we fix it.
I’m just one person with one idea. I’m sure all of you will be able to either help me out in making it better or come up with amazing ideas of your own. This post can be an idea “forum” for all of us to pitch in and try and come together again. Are you up to it?
My idea is a more one-on-one approach, so it will need to be helped along with other broader methods. I propose a mentoring project. For designers that are more experienced (at least two or three years, preferably), open yourself up as a mentor. Take on one (or more if you really think you’re up to it) newer designer. Have them apply at your site and pick the ones you think have most potential or need the most help or the ones you would get along with best or whatever. Talk to them, become friends, bounce ideas off of each other, give them advice, help their site grow. And don’t treat it as just a business thing where you’re helping out another site. Look at the person themselves and form a friendship.
Or for those that aren’t as experienced but still want to do something, try and form a partnership with another designer and do the same. Help each other grow and form a friendship at the same time.
If we want ourselves to survive and flourish, we need to rebuild the community. I know this whole post probably sounds like a lot of motivational bull, but I for one am getting lonely. And I don’t want to see this community die.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Mm, well, I’m not too sure I have any ideas. The reason for my lack of communication, as of late, is due to the fact that my work schedule has become almost crazy now as well as trying to juggle so many different websites all on my own. So, I’ve been busy working (because no one at work knows anything about web development, so even though I’m an intern, I’m seriously working full out), finishing off clients and my own personal stuff.
Anyway, I suppose…we could attempt to gather a bunch of designers (through personal invites, public advertising, etc) and do one whole huge collaboration competition/tournament or something…or just do a giant display board. Something to that effect. We can give out prizes or just have everyone who participates agree to plug winners or something for a while or something along those lines too.
I don’t know. I don’t seem to be able to see a whole huge bunch of designers getting together to just sit around idly and chat. I mean, if we’re going to gather, might as well make something out of it too. *shrugs* However, everyone’s busy as is too so perhaps this would have to be a somewhat long-term event.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
As someone who’s been in this community for 6 years, I’m see the shift you’re talking about. When I first entered the community, I was a bit closed off as I wasn’t really getting to know people until later on (I’m sure paranoia played a role as I was still new to the whole webdesign thing) You mention how there’s a lack of community sense but, in some way, I don’t think that’s completely true. There’s a community, but it’s just not as active as it used to be nor did it feel as universal.
I feel that it’s more like groups are keeping to themselves and not really mingling together, so it. The older groups of designers are more prone to stick with the people who have been with them around the same time and the same applies to the newer group of sites. Or at least that’s how I feel. There isn’t as many people that you see with a balance of new and old sites. Newer sites may feel a lack of adequacy being affiliated with an older site (though I have no concrete evidence in saying so, so please correct me if I’m wrong) I’ve just noticed that the newer sites seem to have a tendency to be linked with newer sites. For myself, I feel that I can’t keep up with the new group of people and at some point, simply do not care enough for it because of other commitments, which brings me to another point.
The reality that many of us are around the same age group means that many have shifts to different points of their lives together. We all “moved on” to a certain extent as we don’t have as much time in our hands as we previously did. We find ourselves doing other things and maybe even forgetting about our sites for a period of time. This new generation also seems to consist of many individuals that are falling in the age group that many of the older generation began. So I wonder in a few years from now, will we see the next generation of sites talk about the same issues except we’ll be the ancient ones if we’re still around?
There definitely isn’t as much socializing as there used to be. More often than not, you’re seeing updates consisting of hiatuses, “Oh I was busy” and things of that sort. Finally, I do think your mentoring project would be an interesting project, however, is it something really sustainable? Summer does mean a chance for this to take place, as there is generally more time. However, at the same time, it’s also a great time for people to disappear from the internet and go out too. Time commitment is a huge thing it seems and I just wonder if people are willing to make that kind of commitment. There’s also if the community is ready for this kind of thing. I do look forward in seeing what others think of this project. (Holy crap this was a long comment =_=)
July 12th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Woah. You had me there.
I ended up making a blurb of my own WRT this post; so there’s my reply really.
Let’s just hope something actually gets done in the end.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:15 am
[…] to talk about how the new layout came about, but that’ll be for later.) However I came across Skye’s blurb on FaeDubh and it really got me there, so I’m gonna do a two-cent-chip-in. Knowing me, it’s gonna […]
July 13th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I don’t think it has that much to do with the ‘fight’ a few years ago, but more so the fact that we’re all just getting older. I think most of the people in the community are somewhere between the ages of 17-25 now… and back when we were 15-23 year olds, it was a different world. Now, most of us are either graduating from high school or graduating from college, and the transition is probably a big part of the whole separation. I know I used to have a lot of free time, but now I really don’t. And as much as I’d like to sit down and catch up with people and make some graphics, the fact of the matter is, I’ve gotten older, I have other priorities now (like work… *sigh*) and I’m just more busy. And I think a lot of people in my age group are experiencing the same thing.
I’m not sure mentoring is that great of an idea, because people do have different styles. I’ve been in the community since 2002, and I know a lot of people who are way better than me who’ve spent a lot less time in the community. I don’t think age, or time spent really has that much to do with any of it. I feel a little like we’re going through a cycle. Back in 2002, 2003, there was this kind of simplistic style that if we looked at it now, we’d all balk and think it was ridiculously ugly. But back then, the people who had that style were amazing. And I think we’re just moving back to a new style, with a new generation. And us oldies are kind of confused because it’s not the style we’re used to and we’re not happy with it.
July 13th, 2008 at 1:32 am
To be honest, I’m unsure of what “fight” really is that you’re pertaining to, but this also shows what generation of the community I’m in.
Correct me if I’m wrong in saying this but however much I abhor the new sites joining the community, there are some that really has the mix of the old and new. I myself like to be with the older community, they aren’t as single-minded, if you will. Yet the surge in new members into the community is continuous, we will become the old ones, and the ones that supersede us will be the pillar of the on coming new ones.
On the case of mentoring, it really is a good idea, but the practicality of it, of course it depends on the person, would come off as the newer generation isn’t up to par and that they really need the “mentoring” of the older generation to up themselves up. Letting it be would be nice, if they want to improve, the can and will, there are so much they can learn from articles like these and it’s the same as how we started out - fresh. We looked up tutorials, learned, and so will they. Really, our mentoring has been handed out, they just haven’t the intelligence to pick it up - ignorance and pride, I believe.
It’s also definitely harder to prioritize your web site when the world right now is so competitive and demanding. Unless you’re life is based on the creation of web sites, etc… Sad as it is, I do agree with you Skye, the community isn’t as close, I blame myself also since I’m not a frequent updater, especially compared to when I first started out. But you must concede that there are some that still hang on, if not entirely, at least partially, they do make an update here or there, not often but at least they do. To me, that’s great already. But that’s me and I’m glad you raised up this issue, you’ve been thinking a lot.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:21 am
I have to agree with Mei Zhu. I was one of them who had site closed after the ‘fight’ though, it really had nothing to do with the ‘fight’. I’m just getting old and busy, like what Mei Zhu said. Lol. To me, I just don’t have the time to spend on web designs like I used to have anymore. Especially when I’m a perfectionist who wishes to keep my standard and quality at all times, being a web designer is really time-consuming. And I have to admit that I don’t have the commitment to keep my site updates anymore, that’s probably one of the reason why I closed my site. But honestly, I still love to design. If only time allows, I’ll surely come back to the community again. But I’m NOT going to say “I’m coming back really soon.” and etc anymore, because the “soon” can be days, weeks or months. No, I’m not going to give myself and my friends false hope again. I’m just missing the community we used to have.
Anyway. Everyone started as a newbie didn’t we? But I think the most important thing is, the purpose of having a graphic site. Whether it is your interest, passion? Or you’re just doing it to keep yourself busy, to show-off? It really shows and reflects on the designs, the community and the designer. Whether you have quantity over quality, a few dozens of affiliates which you don’t even know most of them personally, running around to ‘promote’ your site by spamming their shoutbox… I doubt they’ll go farther than those humble but passionate ones. I don’t know if I can call myself an old one here with my 4 years experience only, but I tend to be able to hang around with the older ones, even back to 3 years time when I myself considered as a newbie. To what I believe, it was the same purpose we have that brought us together in one community. So I don’t think we’ll have any problems ‘bonding’ with the new ones if we really share the same purpose. If not, we wouldn’t even bother to try contacting them anyway. That’s what I think. And what Tammy said is very true, there’s a community, it’s just not that active anymore.
Gosh. My longest comment ever. o_o
Nice post anyway.
September 24th, 2008 at 2:20 am
I’m torn between feeling too old, or too n00bish. What was ‘the fight’ incident? Didn’t know such a thing occurred. I’m super curious now (probably not a good thing haha).
I agree the community does seem to be MIA. Most of the time I feel more stalkerish than a part of the community myself, so I can’t say I understand what it felt like when everyone was closer. But I think that feeling of camaraderie is what I’ve been looking for all this time. Exchanging links seems so easy…but no one really stays in contact (or if they do, it almost feels like we’re all acting in a play on repeat mode).
I like the intentions behind the mentorship idea. But I do have to agree with some of the problems mentioned. Who’s to judge the old from the new? How to judge? What criteria? And then there’s the whole political side to it - will people enjoy being called a newbie looking for a mentor? There is no solid answer really. Too many opinions to pick one unanimous solution. However, if such a project ever got organized (and yes, that would be one hell of a headache by itself) I would be happy to participate!