GFX Forums
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Layout and Access
I think you’ve captured quite well, areas of discussion regarding graphic design. You have the usual areas of a graphics design forum as well as web-design. I think it is a nice change to see web-design as part of the forum, as many people would consider it a part of graphic design, and buttons, emoticons, markers and icons would also be part of it as well. However, I am disappointed to see an area of discussion of traditional art, and a great focus on signatures. I think art isn’t simply in signatures but also in banners, large compositions and avatars.
For this I propose suggest the removal of area such as smudging and abstract, or their making into sub-forums, but in the end, they are showcase. The category of Graphic Design is pretty much showcase, with the inclusion of discussion and requests. I would suggest something along the lines of.
Showcase- signatures and avatars
- traditional art (hand drawn and digital painting)
- large piece (photomanipulation and wallpapers)
Discussion- user galleries (users create a gallery for themselves and their work is discussed as a whole)
- critiques (designers submit themselves for a critique to see if they have improved, they are ranked according to a ladder)
- support (ask for help)
This makes things more clear as to what they are. It separates graphics and discussion accordingly and is more organised.
Other than this, as I’ve seen done at a design forum at which I was a Global Mod, you can add Design Articles. This would tie in nicely with your new blog. Every week you would interview a member or discuss a design style. Much like the large design blogs, you would look around at the changing design world, and leave your comments, find things you may like and show them to others. Teach others about what things are done and how they benefit the design. It’s something fun. An example of this was the article author attempting to replicate and teach others a new design style he had seen.
Another problem I find to the layout, is in the Resource area. At the moment I cannot tell the difference between normal tutorials and GIMP tutorials. I think the normal tutorials section should be renamed for Adobe Based tutorials or as follows:
Tutorials- General Tutorials
- Photoshop Tutorials
- GIMP Tutorials
Furthermore, I think resources should also be subdivided to allow for easy access. This area would also then include a section for resource packs. For those members that wish to release a pack of resources rather than a one off.
I like the various competitions, battles and tournaments. I find them fun, but it may be an idea to have group battles, and this would be based around graphic clubs. It’s just a way for members to make friends and be taught by others in the group. Competitions between these clubs would then involve either ones in which members would each have to be strong in one aspect of graphic design, but at the same time, each have a strength in a separate area. This would mean, while you may get a lot of signature designers, to win you may also need good web-designers, iconographers (a term I like to give people that make icons), and artists in other areas. These would then all teach each other and help each other out.
Lastly, I do not see the reason for the inclusion of themes. Sure, they bring members to the forum sometimes, but I do not see how themes being a resource has anything to do with a graphics design forum. That’s just my opinion, but I have seen it done before.
Forum Design
The second aspect I am looking at is design. At times graphics design forums are known for their fancy themes with great designed banners. Here I see nothing more than a premade theme which isn’t very well designed. I like the fact the design is a bit lighter, which is a change to the dead dark designs other graphics forums choose to adopt. I guess other than that there’s nothing more to comment on design wise.
Management and Order
The forum seems to be running nicely and users are well mannered. I think at times however, some users consider themselves elite compared to others and adopt a know-it-all approach when giving feedback. This is a problem with many design forums. Members need to know how to criticise, but not seem to be putting the other person down. This involves not only telling them the weakness of their design, but a way to improve it - and always reassuring them, and supporting them to design more.
Moderation and Administration seems to be good. The staff is very heavily involved in the forum and are a great part of the discussion. They know what they are talking about and are very friendly. It’s nice to see such a forum.
Overall
The forum looks great. It seems to be a nice graphics design forum. Yes, the downside is the layout and the look, but that doesn’t seem to have deterred members so far. Keep supporting members and encouraging new designers. It’s great so far.