Preserved Topic: Network of Graphic Designers (NGD)

After spending a few weeks on this forum, and after years of graphic designing and web hopping behind me, I've come to one inescapable conclusion: the graphic design community, as a whole, has no home.

I intend to change all of that.

By September 1st, I will release "The Network of Graphic Designers" hosted by my server (www.th-inknet.com, later to be www.ngd.com). It will be a place of community, not unlike the Asylum, but full spread. I'm going to cover print media, pixel media, skinning, wallpapering, tutorials on all of the above, competitions with some cool prizes (I've contacted Kodak, Hewlett Packard and Kinetix, just to name a few) and, most importantly, job placement.

I want to dwell a little bit more on this idea of job placement. Upon registration (costs nothing) you have the option to upload your resume, 100% anonymous to anyone but me and any other administrators that I pull on to help out. Once there, you'll have put your name in the hat of graphic designers. I've done preliminary talks with some recruitment agencies prone to hiring graphic designers, and I will probably have backing on that. If you're capable of graphic design work, chances are good that I will be able to get you a job. Amonst the job tools themselves will be tutorials on how to write a proper graphic design resume--something that is rarely done properly--as well as hints on landing a job once the interview has been scheduled, etc etc.

As you can imagine, I'm putting a great deal of effort into this for no money. So whats up with my head? Simply put, I want to help out the community that has helped me out in the past. I want to give back something.

So, I put it up to you guys, the cream of the crop when it comes to graphic designing, as to whether or not I should continue the project. It's not going to be easy, and I will need some help from time to time (after all, I already have a job in graphic design) but I believe in this project.

If you're interested in helping, mail me at ngd@th-inknet.com. If you hate the idea, tell me about it. If you have further ideas for development, more ideas as to what should go into this project, tell me about it.

...and I'm not dismissing the gurus network--I feel strongly that you guys are doing some fantastic work, and I don't want to take anything away from you. But I want to be a community center for the graphic designers out there who don't know what's going on anymore.

So anyway, enough of my rambling.

Ummm.....I know you know about it, uh, because you mention it, but....uh......there's this thing we've been working on called The Guru's Network.....uh, kind of somewhat like a "home" for designers. I dunno, just thought I should mention it.

well, as was implyed by the amount of text attributed to it, one of the major parts of this network is going to be the job placement tools... As far as I've heard, gurus network isn't going to be doing anything like that...

yeah, you are right about that, and I hope i didn'nt sound rude (well actually I know I did sound rude.. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/frown.gif"> ) just giving myself a chuckle really -- was meant as a joke.

Your idea sounds great, and it is obviously in a different direction than the gurus network, and I think if you have the motivation for it, by all means go for it <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/biggrin.gif">

I intend to, as long as I get support from the community as a whole... perhaps, though this is down the road a while, the gurus network and ngd could team up to fill the void...Dunno, just a thought.

And don't worry, I don't take personal offense to anything said to me, because I know that I am better than everyone else.

twItch^:
Sounds like a great idea. Id be more then willing to help out, although besides the actual job placement thing, your idea doesn't sound all that different from the Gurus Network. Are you helping out in the GN's? Im sure you'd fit in great and add a lot to the site. Maybe you should talk to the Doc or Pugzly about adding in a graphic section or something.

Jestah
ieJestah@hotmail.com
ICQ - 77252449

Wow how awesome does that Mad Scientist look underneath my name <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif"> Thanks again Doc.

Jestah
ieJestah@hotmail.com
ICQ - 77252449

Jestah, you're right...it is similar to GN, save for the job works...but I guess I need to express a few concerns about that anyway. Of all the hype I've heard about GN, I've, sadly, not seen much come out of them. I recognize that part of the blame can fall on me--I am more than capable of putting forth some effort to see the completion of the site and such, but I've not actually done anything about it. Perhaps that's why I've put together ngd--I'm open for business on the 1st of September, guaranteed, even if I have to put in 10 hours every night after work...

...but you're also right in that I should talk to Doc and Pugzly and see about some sort of corroboration along the lines of ngd and gn. but I hadn't considered it until you really mentioned it.

I'll have to think about it further. But before I go through with combining efforts, I want to be assured that gn will be finished--the community needs a home, and quick. The sooner the better, yes?

I dunno, personally I think the GN is comming along pretty good. We have different sectons up and various tutorials. You hafta remember though, we're all very busy in our own personal lives, and its a lot easier to make a site yourself then with 30 other people.

Jestah
ieJestah@hotmail.com
ICQ - 77252449

Have no fear about the Gurus Network. Yes, it is moving slow, but like jestah said, it's tough to make things happen with 30 peopel spread around the world. More importantly than that, the key word for gn is Quality. Good things take longer to produce <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif">

Feel free to use your superiority to show us all up though <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/biggrin.gif"> <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif"> <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/biggrin.gif">

...I'm having the hardest time trying to decide whether or not you're being sincere in that comment.

On the one hand I have my ego, which says "yes, my superiority will show you up."

On the other hand I have my modesty, which says "nah, you're just saying that to be polite."

But then on one of my feet has the ego again saying "are you starting something?!"

...hmph. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

Twitch..with only one extremity left then, I'd say...be careful that you aren't placing it firmly between your teeth.

This isn't raining on parades here, but Photoshop tutorials, and design "communities" are far from incredibly rare online. I, personally like the idea of Guru's Network, because it has a bit of diversity that I like, and some incredibly skilled craftsmen working on it. Even taking into account my ADD though, I must say I'm not champing at the bit for a "community" to hang out in before September. It all seems like a mad rush of futility to me if it's done like that.

As for a site full of quality resources, tutorials, content, and craftsmen...if you think you can completely launch one before September twitch..more power to you, honestly <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif">

Though I'd think this is hardly the place where you'll find people who have nothing else to do but dedicate all their time to creating quality content for your site in a rush job, while doing so for the GN and their own stuff as well. I'd like to think that you'd be willing to incorporate your skill and resources into a burgeoning Guru's collective, but then I'd like to think that people are advanced enough to create synergy as well. I like to think lots of things that don't happen..~lol~

I wish you luck though <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif"> and I'll refrain from offering ketchup if you should end up swallowing those toes, and I will offer help if I have the time, or the ability.


Peter

~aiming for Better Living Through Biting Commentary...served with a smile~



ICQ:# 10237808

[This message has been edited by DarkGarden (edited 19-08-2000).]

Hmm...and quite an interesting thing you've said.

But swallowing my foot? I don't put it in my mouth.

But I'm glad that you think that I won't be ready by the 1st; I've been working, off and on, for this end for nearly 6 months now. And I do think I can be ready by the first. And if I'm not, who here is going to notice? You're all soooo resistant to the idea of another site out there that is "similar" to your precious GN that you won't give me the time of day.

And I respect that. If there is only one quality left in the human spirit that makes any sense in this, the most capitalistic of countries, it's envy. Envy and greed get you money.

But political motions aside, I wonder about the future of GN; up until almost a week (and that's stretching it) ago, I thought that GN was for "gurus" only, which implies to me that only those seasoned in the field are really welcomed into it. The ambience of the name is only of arrogance; and again, I don't claim that this is a bad quality. Nonetheless, if you're really out there to help people, why is the name of the site so imposing?

Perhaps I'm talking to the wrong people here, but I also wonder why there is a skirmish here; you speak of a community that already exists and yet we are fighting the creation of a new site dedicated to it.

hmmm..

Perhaps I should just scrap it all and turn my attention over to GN. I'd love to be considered a Guru. God knows my ego isn't large enough. Besides, the title certainly would put me into a different category than those silly people who are just *learning* anything to do with graphic design. Phew. I almost thought I was going to have to actually associate myself with them.

Do you understand what I am saying here? GN is a wonderful idea! NGD is a wonderful idea! Work together? Sure! But the people in charge of GN haven't talked to me, and I've not taken any aims to talk to them either! So where's the difficulty?

And why do you assume that the only reason I started this thread was to get people to flock to my banner and help out? One line out of the entire first post here was asking for anyone who wants to be involved. The rest of it was trying to get people interested in the *idea*. I made the idea. The idea is done. I don't need help with my ideas.

---- *sigh* ----

That all said and done, I would now like to formally apologize for everything here. I just had to get it all out. People want to resist what I am trying to put together here, then it's not going to happen, because it's basis is all about user support. You folks don't like it, it won't fly. Like so many other sites created in the world, it will sit and flounder for the rest of the servers existence.

So, consider the idea now dead. If you're looking for help with GN, I've got the next few weeks open. and if you want to use the job tools idea and integrate it into GN, by all means; I'm not doing anything with it anymore.

I'll just go back to creating sites for myself and no one else. I'm not really cut out for community help, I guess. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

twItch^:
Im still dont understand the actual point of your post. First of all you've said how we're taking a long time with this site. We have been working on this site for maybe a month now. You said that you've been working 6 monthes. I think after a month or so our site looks wonderful, who knows how its going to look after 6? I dont understand why you would think anyone would be resistent to the thought of having a site similar to ours. Im sure everyone as well as me welcomes your site with open arms. After all, lets not forget the purpose of these sites ... to educate people. I still just dont understand what "If there is only one quality left in the human spirit that makes any sense in this, the most capitalistic of countries, it's envy. Envy and greed get you money" means. Please explain. Dont forget that we're all from different places around the world. twItch^, the community existed long before the site was ever thought of. A website doesnt make a community of people. Besides that, the website is up. www.gurusnetwork.com. I dont see why the name of our website, "GurusNetwork", would intimidate others or anything. I would never think of not going to a website because the name has guru's in it. Would "Newbies Network" be any more or less user friendly?


Alright Im done ranting. Im going to close this thread, its taking a dive for the worse. Best of luck to your site twItch^. Sorry if my whole entry doesnt make sense. Im on the phone with my girlfriend and shes whinning about her day at work ... thats why Im against working.

Jestah
ieJestah@hotmail.com
ICQ - 77252449