Comments about the Windows customization poll
Wednesday, March 17, 2004 by paxx | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
It's nice to have a poll, but I find it better to hear people voice their comments about their answer.
Here are my comments, you are all welcome to voice yours in this thread.
Personnaly, given the way the question was written, I had no choice but vote for #1. Windows customization is indeed getting more popular, there is no denying it. But I could have just as well have answered #3 if originality and quality was concerned. It is my opinion that the days are long gone where skinners were trying to be original, come up with new imaginative ways to have things look and feel. I guess, that's what happens when skinning gets a bit more mainstream (although it's still not really completely so either - read last paragraph): skins become more conservative. Oh, there are still lots of very nice looking skins, but very few daring ones.
Also, while I do agree that more and more people are getting into customization, I'd like to mention that it's still a small niche. I think it's still a very long way before skinning (or customization) come to the masses - if it ever does. Don't forget that most computer users don't even know how to change their friggen resolution, let alone start applying different skins!
My two cents. Here, your turn now. 
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Reply #2 Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:58 PM
I'm with paxx.....there are several skinners churning out 'the same old thang' over and over again.....some of them do them well...but even good boring skins are still boring.
People need to be creative....unique....stupidly original, even.
The slogan for skinning shouldn't be 'have fun'...
but
Be Different
Reply #5 Wednesday, March 17, 2004 11:19 PM
I guess the fact that many people are getting into skinning and are experimenting for the first time inspired by the style of other artist is the reason why we see so many 'repeats' of designs. Hopefully as they learn to skin they'll developed their own unique style
...(hopefully)
Reply #6 Wednesday, March 17, 2004 11:28 PM
Are you talking about me?, You talking about me?
Reply #7 Wednesday, March 17, 2004 11:40 PM
But before I could get to the point where I felt I could really try new things, I had to learn the basics. And the way I've had to learn is by trial and error, tearing apart the work of others and seeing if I could build it again. Consequently, a lot of my 'practice' skins look a great deal like someone else's. Between my regular work, and family, that has taken a while.
So it's only now, after several months, that I'm beginning to feel really confident enough with the mechanics of Skin Studio, Icon Developer, and the various apps to be skinned that I'm finally producing some things I feel are close to being worthy of submission. It isn't that my 'practice runs' aren't of decent quality, in my opinion, I just don't want to submit something that people look at and think... "Hmmm... looks a lot like So-and-so's work."
I've seen several new skinners take a different path than I have chosen, and as A67 mentioned, their first submissions seem inspired by one artist or another. There is nothing wrong with that approach... I just want my submissions to be my style from the beginning.
Reply #9 Thursday, March 18, 2004 9:46 AM
Just remember, that whatever you make, you are unique - just like everyone else (quote source not known)...
Reply #10 Thursday, March 18, 2004 9:51 AM
Reply #11 Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:31 PM
| Be Different |
Coincedentally, thats the motto for my new minimalistic skinsuite...'Mime'
Although, perhaps not quite the same meaning...
EventHorizon winks at cerebro and IPlural...
...Beauty (or 'different-ness') is in the eye of the beholder...
[Message Edited]
Reply #12 Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:35 PM
Maybe you should show them your promo vid?
Reply #13 Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:52 PM
Reply #14 Thursday, March 18, 2004 2:09 PM
But it is the best thing going, I just need to figure out how to force it to do what I want...
Your also speaking of demand and supply...
People like Mac looking skins, they like Blue and they like want they want right now.
So, one has to decide if they are going to be the popular skinner feeding the same old sludge to the masses just because they are used to it and at the point of not having any taste buds anymore or any vision.
Or do you beat your own path through the jungles and deserts of skinning and maybe still be somewhere in between the two on the fringe of both...
Personally, its my cloud and if I like green knickers with pink and yellow pokie dots with the HokyPoky blasting out at 10+ frazzling 500 watt spearks to shreds, well you get the idea...
Reply #15 Thursday, March 18, 2004 2:56 PM
| Don't forget that most computer users don't even know how to change their friggen resolution |
And what resolution should the friggen be set to??
Reply #16 Thursday, March 18, 2004 3:21 PM
Lots of people don't know how to change the resolution, but also willing to bet they also don't even realize they can change the basic Luna theme to two other themes. The average PC user simply wants things to work. They don't care about looks or even organization.
I gag everytime I see someone else's screen and its full of icons on the desktop. To me that is a mess and not very useful. They just haven't been taught how to properly use their pc. Start menus also get very clogged with useless stuff, but again no one taught them now to use it.
I think some might love their pc more if they knew they could customize it. The message isn't getting out there.
Reply #17 Thursday, March 18, 2004 3:30 PM
), artwork has been created that isn't anything really different then what has already been done. there is still a need for the variety and some skinners are realizing this. for that i say customization is still on its way up. a lot more can yet be done. when everyone can log in and find exactly what the want, it will flatten out.Reply #18 Thursday, March 18, 2004 4:45 PM
Reply #19 Thursday, March 18, 2004 4:48 PM
It 'shouldn't' be about supply and demand.....not unless your motivation is to simply be listed in a 'top skinners' table.
The parameters of the design 'brief' should NOT be 'lowest common denominator to give largest possible DL count', but 'I'll make it like this because I want one like it and there aren't any already that suit'.
Being an Architect for 30 years means I understand the difference between 'off the shelf' and 'tailor-made'.
The former is for lemmings...the latter is for actual individuals with the power of personal taste.
Skinners need to get off the freeways and into the backroads of creative thinking.
It is not impossible to still be ground-breaking with originality just because there are already a lot of skins out there....not for anyone with a brain and creativity.
Particularly with Windowblinds....stop rehashing the predictable Luna interface....leave that for the sad sacks who think StyleXP is actually any good....THEY don't have much option.....but YOU....you CAN think outside the square.
Reply #20 Thursday, March 18, 2004 4:51 PM
| It is my opinion that the days are long gone where skinners were trying to be original, come up with new imaginative ways to have things look and feel. |
It is possible that you have seen too many skins Paxx, you have become desensitized, and now you need a pick me up. A skinning version of Viagra that could serve a dual purpose of making desktop customization seem new again, while simultaneously bringing back the thrill of your first time would be just what the doctor order.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:36 PM