YOUR STANDARDS Options

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

This is something that was brought to the design staff's attention:
While the mods are the people who decide which layouts and graphics make it to the site, the members are ultimately the ones who use them and decide which ones are popular amongst users.

It would be greatly appreciated to take some time to fill this out. You can choose to fill out whichever sections you feel comfortable with. Feel free to use examples and express any concerns you have.

CODE

[center][b][size=3]My Standards[/size][/b]
[i][b]Layouts Submissions[/b][/i][/center]
[u]Myspace Layouts:[/u]
[u]Xanga Layouts:[/u]
[u]Blogger Layouts:[/u]
[u]Livejournal Layouts:[/u]
[u]Website Layouts:[/u]
[u]General Comments:[/u]

[center][i][b]Graphics Submissions[/b][/i][/center]
[u]Avatars:[/u]
[u]Banners:[/u]
[u]Photos:[/u]
[u]Backgrounds:[/u]
[u]Wallpapers:[/u]
[u]General Comments:[/u]

Don't mind if I pin this, at least temporarily..
} Azarel

This post has been edited by StanleyThePanda: May 4 2007, 11:45 PM

[`MJ]

are we supposed to show you which ones we think are good and up to standard or the ones that we think aren't?

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

You can fill out each section. For example...

Layout Submissions
Myspace Layouts: I'm not fond of the default layouts. I think some of the designs need to improve.

Xanga Layouts: I really like them. I have no problem with them, but they should be more organized

etc. etc.

This isn't my opinion, just an example.

[*The Markster*]

Oh cool. Wait, do we post a reply here, or do we PM you our opinions?

[freeflow]

^ Reply. Its pretty much like what you want to see and what you don't type ish.

[*The Markster*]

Layouts Submissions

Myspace Layouts: Way too lenient, in my opinion. I think the layouts (especially default layouts) should be just a bit stricter, cause it's ruining CreateBlog's name.

Xanga Layouts: I don't know if this is a big issue or if it's just a common browser problem, but 98% of the Xanga layouts I see on CB are misaligned in Firefox.

Website Layouts: A lot of them look the same.

Graphics Submissions

General Comments: Too many copyrighted images, like mentioned before. And a number of them are too simple or amateurish.

[sole-monkey]

i think they should let us choose wut layouts go on the page

[*StanleyThePanda*]

^ I don't think that would be good, in some cases.
But if you fill out this form, it will help.

[Blaqheartedstar]

let us choose? how many layouts are submitted a day? a vote system sounds lovely but a whole new program would need to be created for that wouldn't it?

anyway on to my opinions

Layouts Submissions:
Myspace Layouts: Majority of the new layouts submitted in my opinion are ugly... and something you normally find in crap sites like ultimatemyspace, skem9, and other user submitted sites that aren't regulated. But then i under stand that the mods who accept the layouts here want to give people a chance, and not drive away users. But there are 1000000000 sites out there they can join. What they should do is study the layouts here, learn whats the style of the moment and make a big intro with their very first layout. Like The Markster

Xanga Layouts: I agree on mark for this one.... every layout i view isn't align and i use netscape. Graphic wise on the layouts posted are lovely and it seems more effort is put into Xanga layouts then the ones being posted in the myspace section.

Website Layouts: Nothing tooo bad is happening with the website layout section except for the view bland layouts, but its not too bad. Although the forum section is a bit dead at times, but enough of that.


Graphics Submissions:
Avatars: it annoys me to no end how people can't tell the difference between a photo and a 100x100, 150x150 and 50x50 icon. some people post regular photos into the avatars section . Its like posting a blogger layout into the Xanga section. a standard should be set for this section where what size images should be allowed.

Layouts and Graphics:
General Comments: People should start crediting the resources they use. I'm sure its happen more then once where users or the site in general are bashed for not crediting free work. Its sad how people don't take into account the time spent to make the layouts, brushes, images and other resources for them to use and they don't credit or end up claiming for them selves.

[flaymzofice]

Myspace layouts
I agree with Mark and Amanda; recently the standard has dropped so much in the acceptance of layouts. Myspace Staff and Official Designers will probably know I use the Myspace forums pretty exclusively and the only reason I kept coming back was because the help offered, but more importantly, the layouts on offer, were of a far superior quality than those available anywhere else on the internet. But recently, I haven't felt any sort of desire to comment on layouts because it would be nothing but a long post of criticism - and I don't want to discourage anyone, but accepting all and everything that gets sent through the submission door is a mistake.

Obviously I don't know what doesn't get accepted but, and I don't mean to be really harsh in naming names here but, layouts like THIS should never have made it past the cutting room so to speak.

Sorry for the long rant; just sitting here waiting for the quality to pick up again because I've seen what some of the designers here can do.

[`MJ]

myspace layouts: i think some of the div overlays aren't that good and they're getting accepted just because they're a div.

graphics: it really annoys me when i go to look at the avatars/icons and there are images in there bigger than 100x100!

[*IVIike*]

Layouts Submissions:

Myspace Layouts: I agree with amanda and mark some of the the newest ones are really ugly, too default, or are not coded well. I actually think that there should be some default layouts becuase a lot of people who come hre don't know html and like a quick easy layout. Although i think there should be some they should be obviously elite and well aligned. As for DIV Overlays i think just becuase they are divs they shouldn't be accepted. I am not saying that all Divs are accepted i just think that some of them the only reason they were accepted is because they were Overlays.
Xanga Layouts: i don't see many problems with the xanga layouts besides cross browser compatibility. I know a lot of people have asked for more default layouts as well so i think createblog should accept some that aren't skins to a point.
Website Layouts: Mark said they all looked the same which is true but there are some really cool ones. I really like the ones that have bee getting accepted so i have no complaints


Graphics Submissions
Avatars: I like when they are very clear and not cluttered. I also like simple avatarsthats are 100X100
Photos: Some of the one that have been getting accepted are just like random pictures from around people's houses. Although some of them are cool others are really just pointless and seem like they just take up space.
Backgrounds: I like when they are very clear. I am just not a fan of the grungy/blurry background some of the ones that are blurry really are just bad quality not a cool effect.
Wallpapers: Some of them don't fit the screen XD.
General Comments: overall I think the mods to a pretty good job. Although i have seen a few things get passed that i don't feel are up to par lately, but really i feel that if they take the advice of the designers in here the submissions will be even better.

[Lanochka]

Myspace Layouts: I agree with everyone that the Myspace layouts have been loosing a sort of quality. I think accepting layouts should be more strict. The voting idea sounds alright, but I don't think designers will want to wait a week for users to vote on their layout whether it will be accepted or not. I also think some of the more basic layouts, the ones at the very end, need to be cleaned out because they're all the same except with like a single color change or something minor like that.

[Blaqheartedstar]

^ well when one submits a layout it says that it may take a week before appearing on the site, although mods are more active so the wait time is much shorter. But yes a clean out of old outdated layouts sounds good

[freeflow]

Am I allowed to say anything? :]

Clean out - We often do cleanouts when we feel its needed. As of yet we havent' discussed layouts being cleaned out. One of the layouts linked above, I agree with you. Also you guys can always point out to any staff member, (Pm is more secretive if you need too) discussing the layouts you feel shouldn't have been accepted. Because our goal is to (well at least some of us currently) is to get stricter on layouts and graphics. You can see the topic in feedback, about it. (Its about graphics, but graphics layouts same thing pretty much) Personally I see a few bad layouts accepted here and there, but I don't see a clean out for layouts needed just yet. (Then again people will disagree). If more people really really think there needs to be one you can bring it up with the staff and we can actually take the time to discuss it. But yea


Members chose the layouts accepted/rejected - I don't really agree with this idea. Not because I'm a power hungry person, but because of favoritism. From reading the posts/critique that many people give on layouts. (Especially for their friends) I feel that the acceptance of layouts by everyone, voting process or not will cause more chaos.

Ok I'm leaving.

[anime-essence]

Myspace Layouts: Like members above have said, the Myspace Layout submissions are beginning to suffer. I am actually not even posting anymore, because the designs that are coming out don't appeal to me anymore and like flaymzofice mentioned -"it would be nothing but a long post of criticism - and I don't want to discourage anyone" from creating designs and submitting them. I am really starting to see more and more designs today that just aren't living up to the requirements. A designer that is worrying me at the moment is O amazing. Even though her ideas and themes seem to change with every design she creates, I still feel this tacky, messy aura coming from her work. I really don't think she is a horrible designer, but the fact that even after so much time of being a designer, her work just doesn't sit well with me. I'm very sorry O amazing; I just can't stand the look of most of your work. I am also sorry to IVIike; I know you try really hard, but it doesn't really show when you produce the same types of layouts over and over with many, having the same themes and colors. I just think you could try and leave this bland stage you're stuck in. Some current designers are on the right path towards success including: themarkster, Lanochka, and OmarGarcia.net, who I believe are doing great at being organized, clean, and fresh when it comes to designs. I think the requirements for the Acception/Rejection policy should be a bit more stricter and harsh. I also believe that many submissions need to be "cleaned out". I'm terribly sorry for this being long, and I didn't mean this as negativity towards anyone; I just wish that many more designers (including myself) would put a little but more thought and effort into their work. Remember everyone, we are representing Createblog.

[YourSuperior]

Members chose the layouts accepted/rejected - I don't really agree with this idea. Not because I'm a power hungry person, but because of favoritism. From reading the posts/critique that many people give on layouts. (Especially for their friends) I feel that the acceptance of layouts by everyone, voting process or not will cause more chaos.

This is so true. I have seen a plethora of cliques and such commenting on eachother's layouts saying that they look good all because they're friends or in the same "clique", which I think is so very stupid.

[Lanochka]

Oh one more thing I forgot to mention.
You guys mentioned the layout from earlier should not have been accepted, and Ricky you mentioned that O Amazing's layouts are a bit tacky. Well I looked through a bunch of those layouts and the design staff needs to take into consideration the amount of favorites on each layout. For instance, the layout mentioned earlier has 21 favorites or so. Maybe it doesn't appeal to regular Createblog users, but the layouts do appeal to a small part of the Myspace users.

[anime-essence]

That was where I knew I would go wrong. Even if I dislike them, people still love them. So I guess I really shouldn't have addressed this.

[Blaqheartedstar]

Am I allowed to say anything? :]

Clean out - We often do cleanouts when we feel its needed. As of yet we havent' discussed layouts being cleaned out. One of the layouts linked above, I agree with you. Also you guys can always point out to any staff member, (Pm is more secretive if you need too) discussing the layouts you feel shouldn't have been accepted. Because our goal is to (well at least some of us currently) is to get stricter on layouts and graphics. You can see the topic in feedback, about it. (Its about graphics, but graphics layouts same thing pretty much) Personally I see a few bad layouts accepted here and there, but I don't see a clean out for layouts needed just yet. (Then again people will disagree). If more people really really think there needs to be one you can bring it up with the staff and we can actually take the time to discuss it. But yea
Members chose the layouts accepted/rejected - I don't really agree with this idea. Not because I'm a power hungry person, but because of favoritism. From reading the posts/critique that many people give on layouts. (Especially for their friends) I feel that the acceptance of layouts by everyone, voting process or not will cause more chaos.

Ok I'm leaving.

i agree that favoritism plays a huge role, but thats where voting comes in, i mean i love the idea of members or that step up from member having a say in what gets accepted to createblog. i love that this site is one of the few that differs alot from all the other sites, and i want it to stay that way... but the layouts accepted now are layouts you find in crap myspace layout sites... its nasty.

what about a post here in the Designers' Café on layouts we think should be removed... with reason, nothing like oh because i think it sucks, or because i don't like it. As a member if you think that a layout should be removed put effort into your reason why. i think that with that it will make things easier for the mods to see what we think and get a feel for the layouts we don't like.

Am I allowed to say anything? :]
lol, why shouldn't you? i would love to hear what mods think instead of keeping them selves away

Oh one more thing I forgot to mention.
You guys mentioned the layout from earlier should not have been accepted, and Ricky you mentioned that O Amazing's layouts are a bit tacky. Well I looked through a bunch of those layouts and the design staff needs to take into consideration the amount of favorites on each layout. For instance, the layout mentioned earlier has 21 favorites or so. Maybe it doesn't appeal to regular Createblog users, but the layouts do appeal to a small part of the Myspace users.

that what gets me mad, that layouts that look to have taken maybe 10 mins to make gets 21 favs and other great layouts get 4...

[Lanochka]

LOL. I like how different Createblog is and stuff.
But the #1 thing I don't like is how members and mods sugar coat their opinions on layouts. >.< I find it annoying.

"omfg that layout is amazing" to every single layout submitted.

I'd love to see some more harsher criticism. Not bashing, but something to help designers. I want designers to want to try harder, and not just make a layout in 10 minutes. But that won't happen if people keep sugar coating their opinions. Sure you may like this and that, but there's always things about layouts people don't like. I think those need to be expressed more often to set example of what people are looking for in layouts and what not.



A little off that subject... I would love to see an option to view the layout thumbnails 50 at a time instead of just 12 at a time.

[flaymzofice]

I didn't think to look at the number of times a layout has been favourited, but it doesn't matter to me because it doesn't change my opinion, which I guess, is the problem. Graphically, layouts are difficult to judge because everyone likes something different - personally, I take a somewhat violent objection to OmarGarcia.net's layouts, but that's me. And then, I really love the wackiness and "messiness" of O Amazing's work. I am certainly surprised that the layout I mentioned has been favourited though.

Secondly, Lanochka is right; sugar coating of opinions really does annoy me too. Hopefully nobody thinks I put things too diplomatically, after all, it's meant to be constructive criticism, but I do also try to deliver on that as much as possible. The problem is, because I'm not a layout maker and have never submitted anything to cB, if I am too critical, my fear is designers will take it the wrong way and be offensive about the fact that, because I haven't submitted anything, I have no merit upon which to judge others. At the same time, I am genuinely keen to offer improvement based on my opinion of a layout so that hopefully the designer can build on it. It's tricky though because you never know how each designer will react.

I've commented a lot on blaqheartedstar, Mike's, Marksters and a few others' layouts, so they're probably used to the way I put my comments, but others may not be so welcoming.

[*StanleyThePanda*]

Thanks, Anna for pinning it. I was contemplating whether or not it should be. haha

I've added the form as a "code" so it will be easier for you guys to reply.
But copy it, and fill it out. Seems easier, yeah? haha

[Blaqheartedstar]

CODE

[center][u][b]Layouts Submissions[/b][/u][/center]
[b]Myspace Layouts:[/b]
[b]Xanga Layouts:[/b]
[b]Blogger Layouts:[/b]
[b]Livejournal Layouts:[/b]
[b]Website Layouts:[/b]
[b]General Comments:[/b]

[center][u][b]Graphics Submissions[/b][/u][/center]
[b]Avatars:[/b]
[b]Banners:[/b]
[b]Photos:[/b]
[b]Backgrounds:[/b]
[b]Wallpapers:[/b]
[b]General Comments:[/b]

this seems a bit easier on the eyes, the my standards thing, is default if u don't have any suggestions on how to help then they don't post.
bold sections makes it easier to see what they're talking about.

just a suggestion...

[radhikaeatsraman]

My Standards
Layouts Submissions

Myspace Layouts: Although the aesthetics of many layouts are great, many of them do not align in IE or Firefox. Many basic things are being overlooked because the layout looks good. Also, some layouts do not have aesthetic focus [1] and many themes are just repeated over and over again. [1], [2]. Please tell me why we need multiple FOB/Pete Wentz layouts? Can we get some originality up in this? Although the MySpace layouts have improved considerably, we still need to work on some things. We need to improve the Abstract category in particular.
Xanga Layouts: Waaay too many FF layouts. Again, originality.
Blogger Layouts: Awesome layouts, but we need more!
Livejournal Layouts: We need more!
Website Layouts: I really don't see why we need this section, to be quite honest. If people want to create an entire website, why do they need a section for layouts here?
General Comments: There have been improvements, but we can get better.

I'll save another post for graphics.

edit: Thank you for catching that, flaymzofice! xD

[flaymzofice]

The first myspace layout you gave as an example there does in fact show up, it just takes like, an extra five more seconds than we're normally used to. But other than that, I agree that aesthetics may be overlooked for coding - and this is coming from someone generally not very educated with specifics.

[Blaqheartedstar]

i agree on the constant FOB/Pete Wentz, Panic at the Disco, and Final Fantasy layouts... but for the website layouts... people use freewebs and other forms of freewebsites for personal reasons, also it seem that sites like quizilla reads website codes and they use it for that

[*IVIike*]

Members chose the layouts accepted/rejected - I don't really agree with this idea. Not because I'm a power hungry person, but because of favoritism. From reading the posts/critique that many people give on layouts. (Especially for their friends) I feel that the acceptance of layouts by everyone, voting process or not will cause more chaos.

I agree just let the mods do it they do a pretty good job

[Blaqheartedstar]

then whats the point of this thread? not that i'm bashing mods, many of them are great and do their job well, but this thread won't exist if the few mods who accept layouts only because they look good, didn't follow the standards that Createblog goes by.

But we can't forced them to start a voting system... so threads like this come up with opinions on the falling standards from members.
Edit: ^ who what a change (forgot to add that)

[clarity]

The point of this thread is to gain feedback on what the members want to see. What standards us mods should go by when we go through the queue.

[*IVIike*]

Amanda- i think that if just any memebers are alowed to vote on ones they want some horrible ones will get through. I have looked through the submissions and there are really bad ones. People will vote for their friends and it will really lower createblogs reputation. Also it will really slow up the submission process if ever layout has to be voted on. I like that the mods can do it. If one gets through that is really low quality it's not like we can't PM them to have it removed.

[Blaqheartedstar]

oh yeah... forgot about the whole popularity for nasty layouts, lol

[1angel3]

One thing I don't like is one of my good layouts got deleted and it is one the best in the website section, I think this section should stay up, I'm more active in this section, I enjoy making website layouts

[*[2]Nekked*]

not to get off topic here, but i remember when i was a mod and people would post topics trying to call me out because i dared reject their skin submissions.

here's a general guideline for submitters:

look at your layout. look at the layouts submitted on cB. if yours looks like crap compared to the others, its not getting accepted.

if yours looks too cookie-cutter-ish (meaning it looks like 70% of the layouts here in terms of theme/style) then it MIGHT not get accepted.

[$$$ soul]

My Standards
Layouts Submissions

Myspace Layouts: They suck to be frank. A lot of the earlier layouts were made in the default format and they still are. Xanga layouts are NEVER accepted like this. Div FTW.
Xanga Layouts: Misalignment is common.
Blogger Layouts: No say.
Livejournal Layouts: There's too little, there needs to be more themes. Anything simple is good.
General Comments: Downgrading..

Graphics Submissions

Avatars: Copyrighted images are used, noob people making shit icons, etc.
Banners: See above.
Photos: They suck the most out of this bunch. I hate amteur photography...pictures that are useless and do nothing.
Backgrounds: Too simplistic.
Wallpapers: This too.
General Comments:

[Chicago]

My Standards
Layouts Submissions

Myspace Layouts: Some layout make me wonder how some of my layouts got rejected.. NOT TELLING WHAT but i recently saw a layout that was horribly coded, bad graphic, and i was just really wondering why it actually got accepted.
Xanga Layouts: Yeah, there good
Blogger Layouts: Good
Livejournal Layouts: Good
Website Layouts: They all kinda' look the same..
General Comments: Nahh

Graphics Submissions

Avatars: They all look the same. All in all, most avatars should be accepted. If it looks like 10 minutes were put into it, it should be accepted.
Banners: Great!
Photos: They shouldn't even be on here, in my prediciton
Backgrounds: There great
Wallpapers: There great!
General Comments:

[OmarGarcia]

LOL I can Feel the love!!
Well i think beauty is on the eye of the beholder
now the are some designer that ones you see the layout you can tell who made it.
this designers have a big plus from me.
Oamazing, IVIike, falsetigerlimbs, The Markster, Blaqheartedstar

know i think there should be a denied category where people (users) can get the layouts if they want to.
Any ways the designer used their personal time to offer a free layout,
some people like me will like to have a layout that is not that popular!