Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
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Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#2My girlfriend tried to design an icon for an open-source app she uses, but the experience hasn't been really great. I think the way developers in open-source projects communicate doesn't really work with designers.
She sent the photoshop source file and a png to the mailing list, but was told to send in a patch instead, which meant she had to learn how to use git to check out the repository, add the icon to the repo, and then generate a git patch. Only after that, she was told that they couldn't use the photoshop source file because they didn't have photoshop. Finally, one of the developers imported the file into the GIMP, changed some stuff on the icon without discussion, botched the output and then added that to the project. That was enough for her to not try doing something like this again.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#3Pay them.
Don't -ever- expect anyone to contribute for free. When they do, treat them special instead of taking them for granted.
That seems like common sense, but that's what I see all the time when it comes to programming projects, open source or not.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#4Make something beautiful that we all believe in. Then people will support that idea.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#5My girlfriend tried to design an icon for an open-source app she uses, but the experience hasn't been really great. I think the way developers in open-source projects communicate doesn't really work with designers. She sent the photoshop source file and a png to the mailing list, but was told to send in a patch instead, which meant she had to learn how to use git to check out the repository, add the icon to the repo,…
This seems like one in a million. I don't think webdev's are all like that but I see your point.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#6My girlfriend tried to design an icon for an open-source app she uses, but the experience hasn't been really great. I think the way developers in open-source projects communicate doesn't really work with designers. She sent the photoshop source file and a png to the mailing list, but was told to send in a patch instead, which meant she had to learn how to use git to check out the repository, add the icon to the repo,…
Yes, version control definitely seems like one of the biggest gaps. The communication between developers and designers have to improve, and the developers will have to realize they can't ask every designer for commits, but they can probably ask them for .zip files.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#7My girlfriend tried to design an icon for an open-source app she uses, but the experience hasn't been really great. I think the way developers in open-source projects communicate doesn't really work with designers. She sent the photoshop source file and a png to the mailing list, but was told to send in a patch instead, which meant she had to learn how to use git to check out the repository, add the icon to the repo,…
> Finally, one of the developers imported the file into the GIMP, changed some stuff on the icon without discussion, botched the output and then added that to the project.
Isn't that part of the "contract" of FOSS? You relinquish copyright of your contributions to the project as a whole. (I can see how this can bite designers who don't know much about the FOSS movement.) I suppose in this situation it's a good thing they use a version control system for designer contributions.
It certainly is bad practice to change something major with no discussion, but when you contribute something, expect it to be changed.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#8My girlfriend tried to design an icon for an open-source app she uses, but the experience hasn't been really great. I think the way developers in open-source projects communicate doesn't really work with designers. She sent the photoshop source file and a png to the mailing list, but was told to send in a patch instead, which meant she had to learn how to use git to check out the repository, add the icon to the repo,…
I agree, developers and designers must learn to communicate and work together. I dont think this problem only applies to open source, i think a lot of companys have the same problem internal.
It would be great to have some type of easy non tech integration to git (github?) for designers to use.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#9Open source works great for developers for many reasons. On the flipside, rarely does it benefit a designer (although not always true).
1. It exposes a programmer's code work for all to see. If it's bad, you get more than just critique. Others can point out what is wrong with the code but even better, they can correct the code or help you see what is wrong. If it's good or great, it makes for an amazing addition to any developers resume for hiring purposes.
The same can not be said of designers. Sure they can get feedback and people can often point out what's wrong, but these feedback are often more vague. Rarely do they get a walk through tutorial of how to do things better, actually having someone go in and show them how to fix their design flaw (something that happens a lot on the coding side). Pointing something out and having someone help you solve your design problem are not the same thing.
2. I don't know about others but to me, a designer benefits more from having their own portfolio rather than something that they may have contribute bits and pieces together for a project. As a designer, I don't see the value over my own portfolio which I can get enough critiques on without having to contribute to an open source project. As a developer, I see a need but think in terms of what designers benefit out of this. Open source designs are not the same as open source software in all cases. As an entrepreneur, I hire designers base on independent skill sets which is extremely hard to measure when people are co-designing small projects.
3. Just a comment but it would seem this is geared towards a developer who can't design and want open source designs but where is the benefit the designer is getting out of this. Surely there is a better argument. For the record, I'm not arguing that designers can't benefit at all. I just don't see it outweighing the benefits a developer would get in the same scenario.
Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?
#10Pay them. Don't -ever- expect anyone to contribute for free. When they do, treat them special instead of taking them for granted. That seems like common sense, but that's what I see all the time when it comes to programming projects, open source or not.
Sounds unfair, developers don't get paid, why do designers do.