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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?

#11

Post by cool-RR »

stephenson wrote: post #8
pieter wrote: post #2

My 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.

One great thing that GitHub allows in this context is editing code files in the browser, and then GitHub stages and commits the file for you.

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#12

Post by lotides »

Why I don't contribute to open-source projects:

I feel like a second-class citizen around developers. And I don't want to venture in to the lions den. After all, I "just make things pretty", right?

I hate politics. Many open-source projects are a power-struggle with entrenched developers guarding against change.

Design is all about visual relationships. Making a change to one small aspect to the design effects everything else. This is very frustrating in an open-source environment, where parts of the design can be changed by the masses compromising the integrity of the whole.

Our industry doesn't appreciate it. Employers don't care what open-source projects we've contributed to. It's all about paying clients.

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#13

Post by replicatorblog »

1. Ask for help - I'm a designer that reads HN everyday and I wouldn't know where to look if I wanted to participate in an open source project. Is there a list? The problem is most OS software aside from GIMP/Inkscape doesn't make its way in front of designers often.

2. Make it discrete - What needs to be designed? The entire UI and workflows? The application icon? The internal navigation glyphs? Redesigning an entire app that has tens or hundreds of contributors can be daunting, but getting someone started with something small can be a gateway.

3. Leave it alone - One of the other commenters mentioned how a designer contributed something and then it was overwritten and ruined. Typically you don't want to have dozens of designers all working on a project unless there are fairly strict guidelines to work from. Have a working group at the beginning that can set the UI tone and create guidelines from that. Also a small review committee to review changes is smart, just as they do for code.

4. Version Control for Dummies - Put together a short explanation of how to use the version control system of choice, assuming no knowledge beyond Photoshop. Or find someone on the technical side who can be an intermediary/GIT trainer. The human part of this is very important.

Do those things and you should see prettier projects in the future. I know I'd love to get involved, but have no idea where to get started!

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#14

Post by perlgeek »

pieter wrote: post #2

My 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,…

That experience sucks indeed. I guess there are two lessons to be learned:

1) try to lift the technical burden from the designer. If the designer sends a file as a mail attachment, just add it to a branch of your repo yourself (with permission, hopefully)

2) when programmers see a small bug in a piece of code, they often fix it. Don't assume you can and should do the same with designs. Talk to the designer.

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#15

Post by stephenson »

cool-RR wrote: post #11
stephenson wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

One great thing that GitHub allows in this context is editing code files in the browser, and then GitHub stages and commits the file for you.

I know, but it stil uses all the technical terms and you needs to know gits workflow.

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#16

Post by jacobolus »

beaumartinez wrote: post #7
pieter wrote: post #2

My 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…

You’re missing the point. If an open-source project treated a programmer with the same lack of respect, I wouldn’t expect any different a response. There’s no “contract” that says I have to volunteer my time to someone who won’t even appreciate the donation.

On the other hand, I’m not sure it’s fair to indict all open-source projects based on one side of a single story. I’d be interested to hear more of the details in this case; sometimes people walk away angry about simple misunderstandings and mixups.

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#17

Post by us »

Charuru wrote: post #10
wccrawford wrote: post #3

Pay 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.

Because developers greatly benefit from participating in open source projects, designers usually don't. That said, developers also make more money than designers do and in a tech centric world, there are more needs for devs than designers. That's why.

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#18

Post by Sirupsen »

us wrote: post #9

Open 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 a…

It's definitely easier for developers to contribute to open source projects, they can just dig into the code and easily contribute patches.

Designing for a project requires a lead to a greater extent to keep the design consistent, whereas programming is more defined and concrete work: "This is wrong, fix it." If the issue no longer occurs after the patch is applied, work is done. Design work is more abstract in that sense.

The designer's benefit would defiantly be in having the project in their portfolio. Additionally I don't think too many projects need an entire design team, for most projects one would be sufficient increasing the portfolio value you are talking about. Most people contribute to projects they use, adding functionality they would like to have themselves. I'm sure that is something that would motivate designers too.

Re: Designers, how do we get you guys to contribute to open source projects?

#20

Post by sp332 »

Charuru wrote: post #10
wccrawford wrote: post #3

Pay 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.

Actually, most kernel hackers (and I'll extrapolate wildly and say most open source programmers!) are paid to hack. PDF, relevant bits are in Tables 6, 9, 10, and 12. http://www.linuxfoundation.org/sites/main/files/publications...
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