Re: [libreoffice-website] Inviting a new web designer to work with us (was: LibO website dev..)

Hi *,

before answering - wow, the mails are coming in too fast and it surely
gets heated....

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 11:12 AM, Bernhard Dippold
<bernhard@familie-dippold.at> wrote:
> Narayan Aras schrieb:
> > > [... first approach...]
> > Inputs from key stakeholders is essential (including marketing,
> > design, UX team AND  copywriters). After that, he would propose some
> > "seed" designs, so that all members can brainstorm. (Normally
> > designers do that to gauge the mood of their clients.)
>
> Sorry - I don't think that anybody here will be able to provide him with
> all the necessary inputs.

Yes, that's the main problem. I would not have any problem when we
would have a request for a graphic for a special occasion, like
holiday season-banner, etc. I.e. stuff you can create without having
followed the LO-project, where it is easy to summarize the
requirements.

But if it gets from isolated graphics to something that has to work in
the context of other stuff, then you cannot do it without following
the community.

> > Based on the discussion, he would make the final design (HTML code,
> > icons). There may be one or more rounds of this.
>
> Or the team decides to use his work as a basis for *our* final design.

This is exactly what I meant with not being isolated. A graphic
designer might come up with something that looks nice, but doesn't fit
with the community. And then it would end up in wasted efforts - the
designer offered his time creating something that is then not used in
turn. Nobody would gain in this szenario.

> This is an option he *will have to accept*. He is not the only expert in
> this field, but his input is appreciated.

+1 Making suggestions, proposing designs is not wrong, but especially
when it comes to the website, a "hit and run" approach just won't
work.

> > [...]
> > > With Pumbaa [1] there is already a staging site.
> >
> > That page does not load! (connection times out)
>
> Not for me - please ask Christian for help.

Well - I'm not aware of any problems, esp. not time-out ones. Maybe
you forgot the port?
( http://pumbaa.documentfoundation.org:7780 )

> > **** To sum up-
> >
> > If we are clear about our workflow, I can request my colleague to
> > come in and help. I'd like a clarity and consensus on this point,
> > please!
>
> Tell your friend that his input is appreciated - but that the finally
> implemented design might be tweaked/improved by the design team (it might be
> replaced by another proposal too).
> [...]
> But the final result will be the communities web design - not his donation
> (or how he might call it).

Yes. And to keep "friction loss" small, it's necessary to join the
team during the creation phase, have an iterative approach that
involves the community early, before spending days/weeks on details.

> And as this is my personal point of view (but based on years of experience
> in this community), I'd like others to add a short "+1" or "-1" to this
> summary showing if I met their point of prioritizing collaboration over
> single time donation.

Definitely a big +1

ciao
Christian

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