A Call to All UI Designers: Do Not Play Skype’s Game

Post by paulgb » Mon, Apr 04, 2011, 11:13 PM UTC

olalonde wrote: post #18

raganwald wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Engineering, accounting, and other +regulated+ fields use social engineering to solve the problem of how to be paid handsomely. What they have done is convince society that there should only be a limited number of engineers and accountants, those that are highly trained and have passed rigorous examinations. The imbalance of supply and demand takes care of the rest. In those two fields, you can see that when supply i…

I totally agree with your reasoning although I'd say it only applies to regulated professions (accounting, construction engineering, etc.). Computer/software engineering isn't regulated.

Post by ladon86 » Tue, Apr 05, 2011, 12:23 AM UTC

justinph wrote: post #45

tseabrooks wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was kind of my thinking regarding sites like eLance and 99designs. When I first saw them I thought they were a great way to connect with designers that have more modest salary expectations. Though there are a handful of problems with these services, you just have to decide if the problems are worth the savings. But I've been really disappointed by the huge backlash against these types of sites from the designers…

As a designer, when an org comes to me and says "we have $[laughably small amount] to spend on this website", I point them to WooThemes and tell them to pick one out. I'm happy to sit down with them for a few hours and do some basic work, but put the burden on them. It works great for me, because I get to do a little design education, still get paid, and focus my time on more lucrative projects. It also can pay divid…

Post by kaishin » Tue, Apr 05, 2011, 7:49 AM UTC

metageek wrote: post #66

kaishin wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone seems to be pointing in the article to the Netflix prize, but hey, don't take my phrase word for word. That's actually an exception that confirms the rule... What I meant is that spec work in design is being tolerated by both companies and designers more than any other field...

> don't take my phrase word for word Say what you mean.

Post by prebrov » Tue, Apr 05, 2011, 8:34 PM UTC

ThomPete wrote: post #58

raganwald wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And I hope this actually reinforces the point I made. If it looks to me like this did not take place, it is because I obviously don't understand the forces and constraints upon the solution. Perhaps I don't fully understand the problem they are trying to solve. If they did an excellent job, then they knew something that is not obvious from looking at the design competition, which is why I suggest that being involved…

Well let me give you a pointer on what and for who they are solving problems. I think the numbers are something along the lines of this: 90% of users on Skype don't have much more than 5 contacts in their contact list. 95% of all messages are. "Can I call you?"