Complications en route to new forum release.

I passed by http://4design.tv early in my search and unfortunately I don't think their portfolio matches my ideas and long-term goals at this time. As someone mentioned above, I am not looking for a vBulletin designer, I am looking for a designer who does not limit his creative know-how and/or ability to a particular application, yet "nails it" every single time.

Originally Posted by Fez No that's not even an argument right now. The answer to that is pretty obvious. What we are disagreeing with is the fact that you cannot call the people at Talkfreelance unprofessional. STOP ASSUMING! You are basing your assumptions on other assumptions, come on, seriously you are going to piss off the entire community!

Firstly, if the answer is that obvious then people shouldn't take offense to it if we use it as a reason to ask a designer from elsewhere. Again, no where did I say that we won't take any community concepts. Quite the opposite. If people want to be called professional when they're not that's fine. Not by me though.

You are completely misreading what I am saying Fez. I am not belittling, putting down, or making assumptions based on assumptions. I am telling the truth. There are people out there who produce far better quality designs than people here day in, day out. I am not saying that people here don't have the potential to, just that 9 out of 10 times they won't better the "other/professional" work right now, based on the current produce in the forums.

As for a few examples of peoples' work we are talking about, go to dribbble and view some of the more followed designers.

I am not basing assumptions on assumptions.

Originally Posted by Fez Gaz, stop assuming the skill level of the members on TFL or even this thread is not on a professional level. It is pathetic to see an administrator justifying the stupidity of a super moderator on this board. Really I would have taken it as more of an insult considering both of your positions but after reading the manner in which you pass judgement and baseless assumptions; I couldn't care less.

I tell the truth as I see it. I can't honestly say that the quality of peoples' work here on the whole isn't even as good as it was a few years ago, let alone the work of the people on dribbble, for example. Sorry. If this touches a raw nerve with people then so be it. I am prepared to be proven wrong, but this is how I feel.

I stand fully behind Chris. He said nothing stupid at all.

PS. Remember we are talking about EXCEPTIONAL themes. Not good. Not great. EXCEPTIONAL.

NOBODY IS WRITING ANYONE OFF, but everyone has a place for their view. After all, we all have different perspectives of what's beautiful and what's not.

As I mentioned above, all concepts/recommendations/suggestions are welcome and would highly be appreciated. I would be the happiest person, and I am sure Gaz will be too, if someone were to deliver a killer design who is a member here at TF! I have been trying to find and work with the people here for the past few weeks, and would love to give it another shot.

Everyone, please re-read this post:
http://www.talkfreelance.com/showpos...7&postcount=40

THANK YOU for skipping over 4design. They're work is very outdated in terms of what they still produce today. Sorry triadink but your own forum's design is testament to that.. but I know you prefer styles that were more suited for say 2003-5 versus what is produced in 2010.

That being said: I honestly don't like anything from emblematiq.com at all. I looked over the portfolio and it just had nothing that I'd want to see right now. It just seems to be another designer who hasn't branched himself off to what people want to see these days. I see icky, stiff gradients; 6pt verdana on his own site?! Granted it's used in images but that is ridiculous. I see no real attention (or care) for right type for heading and content. Sure arial, verdana and tahoma are nice but a variety would set things apart and really give it more depth. His work looks so flat.

Frankly, I'd rather use the default vB4 skin and just toss up userstyles to change 100% and whatnot.

Honestly, why not take a gander over on Dribbble? The work produced there is almost fantastic and.. I would love to see TFL go the route of what some of them produce!


http://girlgamer.com
http://neowin.net/forum/
http://dribbble.com/shots/15227-WebApp-Interface
http://dribbble.com/search?q=forum&x=0&y=0
http://dribbble.com/shots/9784-Goplan2-Redesign
http://dribbble.com/shots/4071-Backoffice-dashboard
http://dribbble.com/shots/14313-Glowista
http://dribbble.com/shots/21249-Did-you-know-
http://dribbble.com/shots/16125-New-CMS-colors
http://dribbble.com/shots/21476-CPL-Nav-Tweaks

(Those aren't recommendations of people to go with--more just enjoy in terms of style or color scheme.) Although.. If I had to recommend anyone, I'd say Matt because I've always loved the work he pumps out and he's got a keen eye for color schemes and patterns

Can the staff please put their dummies back in? If you must get all emotional, which quite frankly is not necessary at all, then at least channel that into helping Artashes rather than... whatever it is that has happened with this thread (I can't call it a discussion).

P.S. I'd report the crap but, really, don't want my post-count to be so artificially inflated!

Artashes, do you have plans of the big picture that you might like to share with the community? We keep getting glimpses here and there (like, wanting a designer who doesn't specialise in vB; your previous "future of TF" style threads). Are you spending as much time and effort searching for programmers, or the plethora of other jobs that will need to be done? From an outsider's perspective it looks like might be looking to the heavens (in the sense of a narrow, high gaze) rather than taking a more pragmatic approach to revamping this place. But I guess this thread isn't the place for that discussion (reminder: it's about searching for designers, or whether to wait for that brightly shining star).

Sorry Art, I'll sit back in my chair!

@Jordan, I don't really think it's up to us who Art picks. It's his website, so he's going to go with the designer that uses his preferred style. The emblematique guy definitely does good work, but it's nothing amazing in my opinion. There's nothing wrong with gradients, fonts, or sizes. It just depends on how it's used.

There are no rules or guidelines to follow when it comes to design. That's a phrase I wish more designers would consider. Ever since I can remember, most of the work shown on TF has been the same thing over and over. Now we're at the stage of over-sized featured images, buttons, and text. Just because you have shiny buttons does not mean your style is labeled as "Web 2.0"!!!

After looking at all the designs you posted in your previous post, I myself dislike all of them. There's nothing on them that can't be found on any other design...they just don't stand out in my opinion. The forum designs look like any other forum, just with different colors.

Also, just curious here, but when the heck did designers start calling themselves "U.I. Designers"? I was under the impression that a U.I. Designer was someone who developed skins for desktop or mobile applications.

Regarding the original topic of this thread, I'd personally like to see what http://www.fullyillustrated.com would do with the TF design project.

Originally Posted by Jordan THANK YOU for skipping over 4design. They're work is very outdated in terms of what they still produce today. Sorry triadink but your own forum's design is testament to that.. but I know you prefer styles that were more suited for say 2003-5 versus what is produced in 2010.

If you read a few posts up jordan you will see that artashes already ruled out 4design. Why do you continue to stir up trouble and bring drama to this?

Can we just stop arguing? I don't want to close this thread we need VALUABLE opinions from our members.

Please move on, and get back onto topic.

Originally Posted by Apple @Jordan, I don't really think it's up to us who Art picks. It's his website, so he's going to go with the designer that uses his preferred style. The emblematique guy definitely does good work, but it's nothing amazing in my opinion. There's nothing wrong with gradients, fonts, or sizes. It just depends on how it's used.

Yes, there are lots of things wrong with gradients, fonts and sizes. More specifically the examples from the emblamatic portfolio. Sorry but that style of design is more or less ancient.

Yes, it's his website and yes he CAN go the method of his preferred style. But this isn't just Art's personal website. This is a community orientated website. If you develop your product that can potentially ostracize new and old visitors, I'd say that's not a route one would want to take. Yes, it's his as he owns it.. but he isn't the only part of this community.

After looking at all the designs you posted in your previous post, I myself dislike all of them. There's nothing on them that can't be found on any other design...they just don't stand out in my opinion. The forum designs look like any other forum, just with different colors.

That's nice that you dislike them. You're free to do so. Even if there was a quick snippet you did like and decided to dislike on principal to troll--that's your prerogative. I didn't say what I enjoy is what everyone enjoys.

I didn't say: "Go with this style!" I was merely giving off some examples of work from Dribbble. Thanks.

Also, just curious here, but when the heck did designers start calling themselves "U.I. Designers"? I was under the impression that a U.I. Designer was someone who developed skins for desktop or mobile applications.

User Interface. I don't see how that's limited to desktop or mobile. Web apps are essentially a big market and all of them have a user interface. If there are designers that are specifically working on just user interfaces, I think it's logical to consider them to be a UI Designer.

Yes, there are lots of things wrong with gradients, fonts and sizes. More specifically the examples from the emblamatic portfolio. Sorry but that style of design is more or less ancient. Yes, it's his website and yes he CAN go the method of his preferred style. But this isn't just Art's personal website. This is a community orientated website. If you develop your product that can potentially ostracize new and old visitors, I'd say that's not a route one would want to take. Yes, it's his as he owns it.. but he isn't the only part of this community.

I'll have to disagree about the gradients, fonts and sizes. Care to give me an example of this "ancient" and "modern" you speak of?

You're right about this website being community oriented, but if the original designer he chose had never delayed the project, we'd all be presented with a new design and would had never even known it was being developed.

That's nice that you dislike them. You're free to do so. Even if there was a quick snippet you did like and decided to dislike on principal to troll--that's your prerogative. I didn't say what I enjoy is what everyone enjoys. I didn't say: "Go with this style!" I was merely giving off some examples of work from Dribbble. Thanks.

Thanks. I don't understand why you chose the "Matt" designer to recommend (if you were to recommend him anyways). No offense, but I think the first thing he needs to take a class on are his color schemes. It took me a good minute to find his portfolio link at the top, which is hardly visible.

User Interface. I don't see how that's limited to desktop or mobile. Web apps are essentially a big market and all of them have a user interface. If there are designers that are specifically working on just user interfaces, I think it's logical to consider them to be a UI Designer.

I wasn't directing that towards you, but since you responded, what exactly would you claim as a User Interface on the web? I'm talking about the designers whom have a portfolio of website designs and logotypes, and that claim to be a "UI Designer" instead of "Graphic Designer". I was just curious.

Hmm what's that? I thought you said it's not up to us to decide but rather Art?

He asked for us to list any designers we might find suitable for the job.