RedBubble

James Price, 23 days ago

From a purely technical perspective (being a programmer) if you need people to test new features before they’re unleashed on the general populous, for either bugs, or plain old user friendliness, I’m sure there’s plenty of us that can help out there.

I know people are always suggesting fantastic new features for you guys to add… perhaps this could make up a kind of external think-tank on the priority/usefulness of all of thise?

Larry Davis, 23 days ago

Firstly, I will put my hand up to be part of this great idea.
Secondly, I would like to see members take the time to view the new works of a new member, befor making a comment, as most works of a new member are fresh, and haven’t been corrupted. ( images )
It is also a way to break the ice, and get a feel for where the new members are coming from with their artform, as well as make it a bit more personal.
As far as a title goes… What about “The Welcoming Wizard” ???

dreeft, 23 days ago

I’d say a few people in charge of each category would really help to divide up the effort required to promote/organise each. They could also be in charge of organizing events/competitions that are specifically targeted towards those categories. The categories themselves could either be art/clothing/writing or more specific like vector/tshirts/poetry etc.

It would also help if they were separated by location, so people in different time zones have someone to approach with questions or suggestions.

Willing to lend a hand if you’d like :) I know a fair amount about printing, tshirts, vector and digital art in general.

Keep up the good work :D

DavidAmosPhoto..., 23 days ago

Hi Peter, I absolutely love the whole organization of REDBUBBLE, the way we can express our art and show the world is AWESOME!.
I would like to put my hand up as a welcomer. I’m not sure what that involves but I love teaching if that helps at all.. and getting people on the right track of a nice smooth journey here at RB.
Just while I’m here, I would like to suggest something that I have thought about for quite a while now, have you guys thought about having a section for us Bubblers to upload video instructions. Be it developing in the darkroom, photography techniques and camera construction etc. Even photography instruction in the form of how to take better photos with the right composition etc. What do you think?

Thank you Peter, your doing a great job.

P.S. How do I sell?, is there a way to get my photos selling? I have been on RB now for about 6 months and haven’t sold anything at all, or is that normal?

David.

Kathleen Hill, 23 days ago

I think by checking Jo’s community page with new members down the bottom a good way to look at new bubblers and welcome them. I would like to see a link or group of the people who are raising money or helping others somehow, but I guess a lot of that will show up in Compassion.

Pagly2, 23 days ago

Hi People my hand is up…....for whatever I can be useful for….......holding hands….....soothing fevered brows…......Welcoming….....and REALLY GOOD at baking apple pies…........so whatever you need put me down…....for a place…....
Goodluck and thanks for all that you do…...and for those that do not no PAGLY means 2 things…...1/ the one closest to your heart….. and 2/ The Crazy one…???
most take the latter…but what ever rocks your boat…......BE Happy….

mlgkats, 23 days ago

you should make it so you can have the written work where it can be printed out if some one wanted to buy the poems

Bryan Davidson, 23 days ago

I’d say a few people in charge of each category would really help to divide up the effort required to promote/organise each. They could also be in charge of organizing events/competitions that are specifically targeted towards those categories. The categories themselves could either be art/clothing/writing or more specific like vector/tshirts/poetry etc.

Supreme idea. Having categories, and category admins would help to take the reliance off groups for sorting images, and would allow for easier searching of the site. I’d offer assistance as a category moderator or something like that if it got implemented.

Bryan Davidson, 23 days ago

Gah. That was meant to quote dreeft’s idea.

Shelley Heath, 23 days ago

Hi I am also willing to give a hand with anything. I also think everyone can be welcomers… it doesn’t really take a lot and it adds to the sense of community that they are welcomed from a few different people.

With regards to David’s comment above you are not alone in not selling anything… but to me it is not totally a bad thing (though I would like to sell something) as the feedback given by peers can be just as valuable emotionally as money is in the material world.

Jules Campbell, 23 days ago

I am an art history freak and I have an annoying/insane habit of being able to ‘see’ references of famous works in the RB members. It is of course an opinion but it may prove helpful to those that may want to learn more about their work and art history. It could be a fun way of expanding their own ideas and learning about art history perhaps (like the silly facebook application but personalized) “What Artist Are You?”
It’s information that is going to waste in my head-perhaps I could put it to good use here?

Jo O'Brien, 23 days ago

Some ideas for roles

1. Help people with FAQ type questions in the forums
2. Public Relations and Marketing in your local area
3. Blogging about RedBubble new cool stuff to spread the word
4. Adding and editing informative posts to an online learning centre for all things redbubble and all things creative
5. Test running new features and/or products
6. Giving structured and detailed feedback on ideas for new features periodically
7. More involvement and help hosting groups as small teams
8. Industry people providing tips on selling, folio presentation, marketing and promotion
9. Project leaders who will take an idea for a challenge, collaboration or project and run with it
10. people who will help others direct their feedback or questions to the appropriate places so that it is received

shayne2011, 23 days ago

David: your work is good, I’m sorry it hasn’t sold. I don’t know the first thing about schmoozing, but maybe the idea is just to spread yourself like margarine over the forums and comments so that more and more people see your name and have a click on your portfolio just out of curiosity.

Peter: can i be the RB monitor that deletes all the really stupid people from the forums? Please.

MrJoop, 23 days ago

As usual, my suggestion may be out of left-field but, I wonder, on the theme of welcoming, ........

I wonder if some of us who are bi-lingual might be able to serve as guides.

In my case, I know that the Dutch are great at reading and writing in English, but still….
I can tell that when I try to promote Redbubble in forums, blogs, etc., where the participants may be older-or-whatever, they could still do with a place to enter Redbubble,
where there is a brief welcoming text in Dutch and ..say…. a link to me, if they need help.
Selfishly, I suspect that, while I’ve used the promo scripts to promote my Redbubble works, on a lot of Dutch blogs, etc., (mine and others), the English, may be stopping a number of these people from getting into and enjoying Redbubble.
Just a thought.
If I was a passenger, in your bus, I’d probably be lobbying for signage in various languages (Dutch usually misses out).

Jo

Juilee Pryor's..., 23 days ago

I too would like in some way to be more involved. Not sure how though. At the moment its like you have lots of yarn …all the different members from all the different countrys…. and are weaving something special out of it…. but don’t really know what sort of garment will end up come off the loom at the end of it.

I really love the way different people from different places can come together through their art and/or writing….. it seem to be knocking down walls and letting in gentle breezes through established preconceptions about what we habitually think of as ‘others’.

Maybe some sort of focus on budding up between people from other cultures and other countrys…... for example this chap kenny irwin has totally blown my expectation about what Pakistani art is about right through the top of the Universe and back again. So wonderful to have your pre-conceptions blown apart and replaced with something wonderfully new and incredible.

Robert Knapman, 23 days ago

A place to go to debrief, spit the dummy and generally get emotional support – you know…like the psychologist on Big Brother type thing.

People get carried away, distressed, dramatic etc here and there is nowhere to take that stuff and get objective, responsive, calm, intellegent and knowledgeable support. People leave here and I think a debriefing place could be could – completely annonymous of course (for both barties).

chamo, 23 days ago

the mixed media group and other groups have featured artist , this is a good way of promoting other artists and thier works. How ever The mixed media group has taken this a step further by actualy writing articles about thier artists thus giving an in sight to the artists and where they are coming from the links take the reader to the art work but the written word exposes the artist. I have interviewed one artist and wrote it up for the mm group I would be willing to to do something simular for rb. Perhaps it could run along side rb’s feature pages or somewhere else.

Lehane, 23 days ago

can we have a sin bin where we send anyone who uses the word “awesome” for a while?

shayne2011, 23 days ago

what’s “Big Brother”?

Peter Hill, 23 days ago

Awesome capture, oops I mean comment, DBA Lehane

Lehane, 23 days ago

What’s BIg Brother? Ask Winston Smith ;)

kaha, 23 days ago

As it stands I have referred about 8 People to REDBUBBLE so far. I would love to be welcoming committee as well. This site is totally awesome and just keeps getting better.When I first arrived i wasn’t so sure as to what I was supposed to be doing or even where to go to find out but i’m a curious sort so it hasn’t taken to long. redbubble balloons and a redbubble welcome from someone would be a wonderfully warm experience. count me in please.

kaha

Lehane, 23 days ago

please send kaha to the sin bin :)

kaha, 23 days ago

LOL would you prefer Tubular instead of Awesome? cheesy grinning going on here

lettie1957, 23 days ago

I’d be happy to help too in some way –
maybe sending the new member an email…
Welcoming them to the group.
regards Aletta

Brian Beckett, 23 days ago

I have organised two meets so far for the Wales Rich In Beauty group the second of which is taking place this coming Sunday at Kenfig Pool if anyone else wants to come along and join us.

I also plan to organise more meets and I would like to be able to have the same communication controls as the hosts of the groups for obvious reasons, I would like and I have communicated this to you before an events calendar where I can publish planned meets with details and also enter requested meets to get feedback from other members.

These tools would make it so much easier for me to get information on events and meets out to everyone first hand and with relative ease.

Richard Veal, 23 days ago

It would be easier if it was a requirement, that people put in the country & region where they live, when joining RB, then maybe they could be automatically ‘directed’ to groups in the area, where hosts can welcome them.

thetatecreative, 23 days ago

what ever happened to rad or ace?

Jo O'Brien, 23 days ago

1. Interviewers to help promote members
2. Critique in specialized areas
3. Online videos and audio tutorials in specialist areas
4. Creating little hacks and widgets to make RedBubble more quirky and fun
5. Photographing RedBubble products you have purchased to a professional level suitable for advertising or promotion
6. Directing people to info on the “Play Nice” and “Everyone is an Artist” posts when required
7. Generally tucking in the edges with internet etiquette in a polite and friendly way
8. Help advising/enforcing use of tags, not safe for work filter etc.

Devika Fernando, 23 days ago

first off: great idea, being welcome and being helped along the way with the first steps is important in every regard of life.

second: there are redbubblers from all over the world, speaking different languages and not all perfect in english. maybe among the welcome helpers we could try to get in people with different mother tongues like spanish, german, french… that would make it easier for newcomers to find their way among the english technical terms and all that.

Jo O'Brien, 23 days ago

can we have a sin bin where we send anyone who uses the word “awesome” for a while?

That means I won’t be able to comment on anything!

kaha, 23 days ago

no worries Jo apparently i’m already there….lol.. totally tubularly awesome…:))

thetatecreative, 23 days ago

dude

John Robb, 23 days ago

I already do the welcomer role just for the fun of it. Go figure.

susan davies, 23 days ago

As host of wales rich in beauty group, i agree totally with brian becketts comment above, we have had one very successful meet and the second to take place this sunday is to be even bigger and better, an events calender as brian beckett has suggested would be a wonderful idea, these tools would be a wonderful addition

Mark German, 23 days ago

I am constantly (yep, constantly) answering mails about technical equipment, photography in general and other rb-specific stuff. I enjoy it, and am happy to keep on doing it. If you’d like to make it official – that’s fine also :)

webgrrl, 23 days ago

iD LIKE to put my hand up for HELPING OUT too! I think the natural role for me since being in RB for the last year would have to be.. How to make my Profile look pretty and how to utilize widgets and whats out there (social networking, rss, web2.0, etc) and get your name spread out and be SeeN..etc

Id nominate myself for RB’s “Member’s Personal Profile & Promotions Interior Decorator”

hmm..try fitting that role on a business card.. LOL!

k.. u know where to find me ;)

Erin Lyall, 23 days ago

What’s wrong with the word awesome?

I’m happy to help with PR stuff. I’m not experienced enough to totally run it but I’m happy to write some press releases or assist with events or whatever else you’re doing in that area.

On a much smaller scale, if you have posters or fliers you hand out I’m totally on a first name basis with the lady who runs my local cafe so I’m sure she’d let me put something up on their noticeboard.

Ozcloggie, 23 days ago

That makes two of us now, Devika.
Jo (MrJoop)

ozlat, 23 days ago

awesome

kaha, 23 days ago

me eyes are tired ..lol was looking at the bottom of this page and under explore area what i thought it says is pshycodelic juggular art..and texas phonography art..i think i need toothpicks..hehehe.. off to bed, nite folks. my thoughts on awesome is its not a word at all but a feeling..sin bin i’ll neva leave ya..lolol

susan davies, 23 days ago

i agree also with richard veal i already welcome every new member to my group wales rich in beauty and everyone seems to like it, it would be great if new members did put where they were from and perhaps be categorized so that hosts could perhaps see new members from their own particular areas and let them know of groups that are available, also mark german above has written wonderful tips for my candid photography group so would back him also

kaneko, 23 days ago

I can help if needed, but it would be nice to find new members works easily and welcome them in somehow. perhaps mediators in case of member arguements if those happen. A place for tips and tricks would be nice.

Lyra, 23 days ago

thanks for offering! I think a New Member feature page would be a nice introduction for most folks.

Charlistar, 23 days ago

im happy to help with anything!

Dave Pearson, 23 days ago

Jo suggested: Test running new features and/or products

If that means “beta-testing” stuff that’ll be rolling out on the site itself I’d be up for that. On and off I’ve been beta-testing stuff, for kicks, for over 15 years, so I’ve got some experience of bug hunting and reporting.

Susan Epps Oliver, 23 days ago

I would like to see the ” recent upload ” pages transformed from 200 pages ….or whatever….. to a widget….......the popular could also be presented in that way.

Then with all that space saving, I would like to see ALL members able to create themed collections of works, either by artist, style, subject matter or whatever up to a max of say 10 images from their favourites list, thus ensuring a wide selection of art, which could take the place of the searches which often seem to come up with the same images over and over again. These collections would then be the selection place for the home page features which have become a trademark feature of RB.

Guess I’m finding a job for everyone who wants one…....promote the art on RB which appeals to you most and offer it up as a possible home page feature. What’s in it for them ? Their name as the creator of the list.

EOS20, 23 days ago

I’ll be happy to help monitor the welcome forums (I’m always greeting new members anyway).

Jodie Elchah, 23 days ago

Happy to help out with any role as well! Jodie

Reiana, 23 days ago

Hi Peter.
I’d love to help in any way I can.

Finding the redbubble site was mana from heaven. I love art and writing – used to teach creative writing and am impressed with what people put up and am constantly amazed at the diversity.

I would love to meet and hang out with red bubblers/ and or organize group meetings too.

Once you’ve colated ideas etc. maybe then I’ll be able to put my hand up – and in – the red bubble jar

majo, 23 days ago

I’m with mr. Joop and Devika. A bit of help from a person that speaks your language would be helpfull.

Mark German, 23 days ago

Think there’s a shortage of people wanting to help out?

grin

Marilyn Brown, 23 days ago

Can I jump on the band wagon of people requesting a translator service. This would absolutely fantastic.

Barry Thomas, 23 days ago

Like all the above I’m willing to help. I would like to see smilies available so that comments are less likely to be misinterpreted as I’ve seen on some forums. Also a time edit for comments, so that we are able to edit our comments for a while after posting.
I certainly think newbies need a guiding hand and moderators could help a lot.
A great site.

Jacqueline Baker, 23 days ago

Love the Big Red Bubble! Would like to see help for non english speaking bubblers and a place to advise us how to promote our art! In reply to DavidAmosPhotography’s comment re not selling..i haven’t either but from what i can gather it’s best not too rely just on RedBubble. Those artists who have sold work have promoted themselves outside of RB and then directed people back to RB..my problem is i don’t know how or where to promote myself. I am doing a local community fair but other than that i don’t know..i would appreciate some expert advice on ‘how to’! When we don’t sell work it does make you think ‘perhaps i’m not good enough’ when it maybe just a matter of understanding marketing! :0)

Julie Langford, 23 days ago

Count me in – I will help out. Have you thought of a live link up to a helper [hehe – I like the title bubblebuddy], kind of like an instant call for help to someone who can help, where a mini chat could take place to help someone.

I also think that the Event Calander would be a good idea to help with meets and group events.

DuncanW, 23 days ago

1. can we have a sin bin where we send anyone who uses the word “awesome” for a while?

Seconded.

1. What’s wrong with the word awesome?

It is so overused that it has been devalued. Use of ‘awesome’ should be reserved for those moments when the jaw drops and everything goes quiet. Proof would be required, of course ;-)

Erin Lyall, 23 days ago

So it’s not the word, it’s the user?

anaisnais, 23 days ago

Great ideas here, and yes I have noticedd a few regulars already in welcome role who also encourage others to read others work – where they are somewhat quiet for whatever reason….well done to those who already do this, I know it made me feel part of the group straight away! On another note there are many things I would love to learn to do here and know there is hidden expertise out there that could help – problem is who wants to share? Therefore I’m suggesting somewhere we can ask these more technical how can I’s where we might be guided along and all learn at the same time? For example I can’t do t-shirts and would love to get backgrounds for my poetry and a chance to print them on cards or maybe in cards of my own and others; or on t-shirts. Just wondered if others feel the same? Many thanks for the chance to air our views. ;)

ktspinstu, 23 days ago

i love red bubble and anything i could do to help would be great! i’m on here all the time.

MuscularTeeth, 23 days ago

hiya JO, im willing to help out in the area of
“Online videos and audio tutorials in specialist areas ” – as i have the knowledge and equipment for this.

im also happy to help if any newbies need answers or help.
you know me. im a loyal redbubble supporter.

DuncanW, 23 days ago

So it’s not the word, it’s the user?

It’s both, and neither. If someone is in awe of a picture, then it’s awesome, by definition. However, most folk just mean “I really like that”, I suspect, which is not the same as “That just knocked my socks off.” But then again, maybe there are more folk awed by artistic work than some of us would credit! (There is a lot of fine work about.)

ardwork, 23 days ago

One thing i’d like to see is the ability to offer constructive critiques on images offered for critique… It could possibly be as a separate function to the comments or even a comment type identifier… Clearly policing such things is difficult but if the submitter of the image is able to hide/delete comments they feel too negative or off track then it doesn’t detract from the presentation of their image on the site.

The comments are good but i have yet to see any truly insightful comments that constructively point out something that the photographer could also have thought of (in a positive way of course)... I would certainly welcome this on our work and would be happy to provide constructive feedback to others as through sharing different perspectives we can all learn and perfect our chosen genres…

Cheers

Rpnzle, 23 days ago

I will raise my hands with the rest here to offer my help in any way!
I have had members ask “how did you do that?” How about a group that explains the process on different types of effects or editing? I have learned wonderful tricks of the trade here and would love to share what little I can do with others. Just and idea.

thickblackoutline, 23 days ago

i’m not doing enough? ;) jk!
great idea! more should get involved! :)

ericseyes, 23 days ago

As a fairly new member here, I’d like to chime in with a suggestion or two.

One way that could help us all notice the newbies and welcome them is for them to have a special designation under thier user name or some other way to identify them as new to the site, then after they post a minimum amount of photos, comments, journals etc. they would then become “Participants” or some other designation. I think it would give all the new comers a sense of acceptance once they’ve reached a certain goal.

Another thought is maybe there should also be certain folks in each group with special knowledge, training, experience etc. in photography who could make more suggestions, critiques on other’s work. I know for one my work has been praised, and I’m very appreciative of this, but I’m fairly new to the whole photography world and would like some honest criticism or suggestions to better my work, but I think folks are too nice to give their honest opinion or don’t say anything at all as not to offend.

Oh yes and one more thing, I’d be glad to help out in anyway I can, I just don’t know where to throw my hat in!

Cheryl Hall, 23 days ago

I’ve seen so many people ask “How do I make a t-shirt?” Even though the instructions are as easy peasy as can be…so my suggestion would be a 24 hour online help for people who don’t know how to make t-shirts where they can ask questions. I’d put my hand up to help with this. Actually I’d love to do it! I’ve answered questions for this heaps of times already. If not a 24 hr help then links to people who can help with questions. So how about a kwicky-mart for t’s?

Cheryl

Wendy Slee, 23 days ago

I would help in any way if I could. I like Robert Knapmans idea of a separate (even anonymous) place where those who need to can vent and get some advice, some direction, a little soothing to bruised egos, or just an ear to listen to their issues, and perhaps some calming words or guidance …..seems like we all need that some times…...

theyellowfury, 23 days ago

There are probably legions of Antipodean types on RB and tons of Americans but I’ve been wondering how many people there are from my country. I’ve tracked down a few and pinged them and have made one very good friend from that. It might be an idea for some of us to get together in our respective countries, where there are only a few of us and have a public exhibition. They usually make plenty of cash and we’d be ordering loads of prints etc, so revenue for RB there.
However I realise there’s a danger of regionalising the groups within the site and I like the way its a big melting pot with everyone yapping to everyone else all the time. Though we’re far away we’re close-knit.
A lot of people hate speciifc other countries (I’m not one of them) so I wouldn’t like to see any rivalry based on where someone’s from.
So I propose that if this idea is going ahead it should be in an out of the way sort of place in the interface to take importance from it. It should only be a small thing leaving the (excellent) flow of information work away as it does already.
I fkn love RB me.

Cheryl Hall, 23 days ago

I’ve given it more thought while washing the dishes (it’s where I do my best thinking, well that and the loo) to add to my t-shirt kwicky-mart perhaps a moderated chat room where you can ask your questions in real time (a bit like live help for t’s) either one on one for the live help or in a chat room situation where a group can be in there asking questions, giving suggestions and ideas…but I’m thinking a limited number of members at a time so as to not turn into a raging ramble.

Does anyone else think this idea is a good one or am I just indulging myself here?

If you’re listening RedBubble I’d love for this project to be my baby.

Cheryl

Cheryl Hall, 23 days ago

I just scrolled up and read anaisanais’ comment…...she can’t do t-shirts (her words, I say she can do them she just doesn’t know how to yet).....my point exactly.

Cheryl

1stAngel, 23 days ago

You have had some excellent comments already. Just offering my help if ever needed.

Billlee, 23 days ago

I see several comments about constructive critiquing here and agree, is there or can there be some way we can add a comment photo … Ie, the photo being critiqued, having been downloaded and altered (improved?) in PS, then re-loaded to illustrate the alterations???? I am new here so forgive me if I am trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs ;0) Cheers, Bill.

najeroux, 23 days ago

I like to eat apples. has anyone taken that job yet?
I can’t really think of anything else i’d be useful for.

kel*

jenndes, 23 days ago

I agree with theyellowfury. I leave off where I live in my profile for a number of reasons and would likely leave RB if I were forced to put it in. 1. I value my privacy – the Internet is very public and my location is private. 2. Certain nationalities are discriminated against, not by all but by some, even on RB. 3. I enjoy meeting people from around the world and seeing their art and would not want to be limited in any way in doing this. Often art from different countries is quite different than from my own country. This is wonderful!

One suggestion – develop a way that RB members have some say in what works are selected for the RB homepage. Today (4/18 – zebra theme), for example, there are 2 images on the homepage that were previously there just a month or two ago and just a week ago there were 2 images on the homepage from the same artist. I would like to see greater representation from the RB members as a whole (worldwide and with diverse art preferences). This could possibly be done with nominations or voting from RB members for the homepage images selection 1x weekly or something similar.

panda65, 23 days ago

I vote against regionalisation: the international quality of this site is part of its appeal.

I would love to see a way to tag work as “good” without either favouriting or leaving a comment. I think a lot of the “awesomes” come from feeling that you have to say something. Could we have a star rating, or maybe just a tick box for “I liked this”? That might be linked to marketing, eg a Bubbling Up page to track what’s catching the eye.

On the negative side, I think there are WAY too many groups. That may be part of the philosophy, but I still find it bewildering. Some of them are over specific, others duplicate one another. From the marketing and new member points of view, that’s a problem. It would be a good use of editorial time to have a team of folks cut them down (or replace some of them with a controlled list of tags).

Would it also be nice to add a box on the photos upload to prompt people to add tech details of camera, lens etc. (Having never uploaded a photo, I can’t say for sure that there isn’t one already!)

Other than that, I think stuff’s cool: I like the site and the experience. Well done to everyone for running/maintaining it, and for contributing.

Happy Fridays all.

Makeba Kedem-D..., 23 days ago

Since I am now rather addicted to redbubble, it would make sense for me to do something more than checking to see if I have any mail or comments, and browsing for art that I find interesting enough to comment on.

I agree with the bubbler who said that it would be nice to have I like it! or Don’t like it! boxes to let others know what we think of their work. I have way too many favorites, and wouldn’t if there was a way to let other artists know that I like their work without having to favorite or watch list them. I also wouldn’t give the one or two word comment so often. Speaking of the watch list, some times it’s not there.

Let me know how I can help, and I will.

peace…

mingtees, 23 days ago

Someone said something somewhere sometime about an affiliate program in the near futute, and as i have my own website, i would love to have a page or gallery where i could post thumbs and links to other t shirts and artwork that i like. And make the option availiable for people with their own sites to do affiliate sales for a determined comission. People should have the option to check a box or something to opt in or out of an affiliate program though. I have been in communication with Ed about t shirts on here and would love to help out with any t shirt stuff needed.

Ozcloggie, 23 days ago

I worry that my suggestion (MrJoop) may be misinterpreted. What I am suggesting is something along the line of what was done for the Sydney Olympics, in 2000. When people who spoke the languages of visitors to Sydney volunteered to assist in helping them find their way around.
My idea would be that the bi-lingual person would be known to be available, through bubble-mail for help.
I already look after Dutch Touch and there is also already Dutch Connection. The main language is, of course English, with some Dutch thrown in, when appropriate. It all helps to promote Redbubble.

ericseyes, 23 days ago

Hope no one minds if I chime in again but I wanted to say I like the idea of a star or something similar to rate photos, but I wouldn’t want it to replace being able to offer suggestions or critiques of individual’s photos. And not to beat that poor horse again, but I wish for and encourage honest crituqes of my work, I feel, (for me anyway) that its very important.

I hope also that people would favorite my photos because they truly like them and want to preserve a link to them for future viewing and not as a way to give positive feedback and the same goes for watchlists, I watch people whom I have a genuine interest in their work or whom I’m familiar with, I don’t watch them for the sake of positive reinforcement.

Having spewed all that, I’m tryng to say I’m with Panda65, a rating system of some sorts would be a very helpful improvement.

blackjack, 23 days ago

Jules Campbell- I like your suggestion about “What kind of Artist am I?”

Personally, I don’t want “newbie,” attached to my profile, anywhere. I’ve been an artist/photographer for a long time before joining, and it might affect my customers’ point of view. A section on the home page for new Bubblers, where your new profile would remain for two weeks. That would give us all a good chance to give a friendly hello.

Rating System- Maybe a 1-5 anonymous rating ‘check bubble’ system? We will see what is popular with everyone not just base it on the number of comments or what sells. Might also be a good way to select images for the home page based on the ratings.

I send my online and ‘real world’ customers here to RB to purchase finished art. I would like to see this site remain in it’s “Gallery” form, keeping it classy with FINISHED work, ready for sale. I’d be disappointed to see RB had any before/after photos, and the like. I’m unsure about the critique suggestions. We should be confident in our art, and post only our best work.

Maybe once a month, RB could host a “Showing?” Select one ‘group’ and highlight the work in that group? I’d like to see a few of the groups merge, there’s kind of an overwhelming amount of groups.

I love positivity of the site. Red Bubble is great, and it’s an honor having my work displayed in a gallery with great Bubble artists, writers and photographers!

I will gladly help out with anyone’s ideas and suggestions!

Tyler Thomas, 23 days ago

I have an idea for marketing. Have shows that are taking place all over the world on one day. Artists could donate art and the money could be donated to help fight cancer. The media would eat this up, especially if they under stood that the shows are taking place throughout the world and that the proceeds will be donated. The shows would have RED BUBBLE involved with this to promote the site. This would be a great way to get artists seen.

I’m also going to start a group called Tribute to cancer survivors and to the people who have passed on. Getting art from them and posting it so the they will be remembered.

This is an idea that I have been toying with to help promote our art work.

PommieGranite, 23 days ago

I’m a new member and have really enjoyed RB as a way of expressing the artistic side of my nature I haven’t been able to do before. I am very grateful to my RB friends who say that they like my images – BUT – I want to improve. Perhaps there could be an anonymous way that people could rate pictures (scale 1 to 5 for composition, contrast, colour, artistic content etc). I say anonymous to encourage honest reporting rather than nastiness. This wouldn’t suit everyone, so maybe we could nominate those pictures which we wish people to make such comments – that way we will learn why people like our images and how we can improve them. Perhaps this is too crude for those who work at the highest levels, but for newbies like me and those wanting to experiment with different styles it could be helpful.

Jan Piller, 23 days ago

CRITIQUES!!!!! I spend alot of time in the critique forums as does Mark German and Alison Johnston and Dana and Rebecca and .. well I could go on…. but the problem is, there isn’t enough of us cruising those forums. It would be nice if some others could jump on board there as I’m going to have to spend less and less time in there myself. The critique forums need many more people who can give constructive critique in the proper manner. Just a suggestion….. but I don’t know how one would go about nominating people to do that???

William Greenf..., 23 days ago

thier are plenty of places on the ne where youcan critiques from.
I would like redbubble to remian a site for showing finished work.
More chioce if the way that individual pages are liad out would be welcome so that when a custumer looks at a page they can find what they are looking for easier haveing photos avliable in the order they were uploaded is not always the best for showing them off.

Crockpot, 23 days ago

I’d like to see a couple things.

One thing is that there should be more people designated for handling email regarding customer service type issues so it doesn’t take so long for us to get a response (and to lessen the thousands of emails you all get everyday).

The other is that I’d like to see someone (or some people) here to help get the word out about the groups and various events, challenges, contests, etc. within the groups. As host and cohost or a few groups, I see a lot of cool things going on that would likely interest more people if they only knew about them.

Caren Schwartz, 23 days ago

I love the idea of star rating. I’d be willing to help out…..not sure with what exactly. I haven’t sold a thing, I’ve been here since February 08. I’ve suggested this before, but here it is again…..if there’s a way that RB could team up with Etsy.com I think it would greatly help people sell their work.

Mary Aleckson, 23 days ago

FYI, I recently published a two page article promoting redbubble to an organization I belong to. It went to around 700 members throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. They printed a black and white version of my robin on the cover. I don’t know if it generated any new members, but hopefully curious persons wanting to take a look at the redbubble site. I’d be willing to share the article to see if it would work in other avenues. Mary

kathysgallery, 23 days ago

Hi! I’ve been here for about a month now.
I’ve told others about it, but they say that they feel they and their art would just get lost here. Maybe a random artwork or artist featured?

Groups are really confusing. Maybe Instead of 550 individual groups to sort through, you could make each one a sub-group within a broader group. For example: portrait, glamour and landscape could all be under the broader topic of Photography.

Also, I’m not particularly interested in critiques or rating systems. It’s nice to leave a comment and make friends, but I’m here to try and sell stuff, not to try to be all things to all people. My red bubble account is linked to my website for those who would like to buy prints of the work they see there. Love the cool flash widget, BTW.

Well, that’s all the input I have. The site looks great, the individual galleries are easy to use and classy looking. Perfect!
Kathy

AndyReeve, 23 days ago

Retired marketeers and promters to act as free-lance sales people. One per group approaching – ad agencies, picture libraries, media etc etc. Perhaps organising local shows.

kaha, 23 days ago

OOOO…. I Like that one Andy..thats a good idea. whats an international site without international exposure aye? each contact person/person from whatever local area putting up art from around the world. sounds like it could be huge..just my humble opinion. Great ideas coming on here. Didn’t we start with a welcomer page? SMILE

Barry Thomas, 23 days ago

-William Gree…, about 4 hours ago

thier are plenty of places on the ne where youcan critiques from.
I would like redbubble to remian a site for showing finished work.
More chioce if the way that individual pages are liad out would be welcome so that when a custumer looks at a page they can find what they are looking for easier haveing photos avliable in the order they were uploaded is not always the best for showing them off.-

I agree mostly with that. If we have critiques perhaps keep them in a very different section to the display and (hopefully) sell section

Jan Piller, 23 days ago

The critiques are in different sections – on the Community Forums and in the Critique Group (and many of the other individula groups as well)

Gary Crandall, 23 days ago

Perhaps an outreach marketing committee would be useful… people that might have connections to galleries and commercial sales portals… there’s so much fabulous art and photos on Red Bubble, but members are mostly preaching to the choir… great for mutual admiration, but not much on “moving the merchandise”... artists are notorious for empty pockets, so can’t really buy much of their fellow artist’s works… so somehow Red Bubble needs to get promoted to where the money is if anyone wants to generate income from what they love to do…

Cheryl Hall, 23 days ago

It would be interesting to know the ratio of non artists buying from RedBubble to the number of artists selling on RedBubble. Seems there are sooooooooo many artists and not as many buyers. How do you get more buyers to the site? Maybe that’s something to work on. Really, how many artists want to buy other artists work if their own is not selling?

Cheryl

Wayne Hair, 23 days ago

I would like to suggest that we get a comment button for those who have limited time to comment on others works. Things like GREAT JOB, BEAUTIFUL IMAGE, VERY WELL DONE, etc…, etc… I know it could be impersonal to a point but it would also be able to comment on your own.

Wayne Hair, 23 days ago

I would like to suggest that we get a comment button for those who have limited time to comment on others works. Things like GREAT JOB, BEAUTIFUL IMAGE, VERY WELL DONE, etc…, etc… I know it could be impersonal to a point but it would also be able to comment on your own.

Jean Cowan, 23 days ago

It seems to me that the philosophy of insptiring and encouraging each other is then heart of a site such as this, Art making can be lonely,
Selling, I don’t think buyers look here unless directed, however what an opportunity to have work seen by many people.
Looking forward to being of any assistance,
Regards,
Jean

angelandspot, 23 days ago

get rb promoted more so we can actually sale sale sale! It’s hard to sale to just redbubble people. Our works needs advertised elsewhere through redbubble advetisements in magazines, billboards, ect.

christine7, 23 days ago

I like angelandspot`s idea that would be great.Can you make it easyer to do t shirts.Carnt redbubble fix the size for all us computer iliterets out there.They could have a button to press to let you do it for us

Susie Mac, 23 days ago

I would be happy to help with welcoming new bubblers… also i think it would be great to help with marketing RB in the local area… and i agree with angelandspot – get RB promoted through media more… getting companies interested in buying work. Also, the art history idea is great… Jules Campbell suggested seeing references to art history in work…. me too… it would be great to help in this way also….. Susie :)

Gaby Schrott, 23 days ago

The short time I have been a RB member has been an eye-opener to the variety of wonderful art that’s out there and I often find myself wondering how various artists have achieved certain effects, how they work and what materials they use. What I would love to see is a moderated “workshop area” – organised in groups for the various art forms where members can post and answer questions on technique and share hints and tips. An additional option may be “tutorials” for download which could be offered under the same business model as selling art, with a base fee charged by RB and a percentage for the artist/tutor.

Christine Dehn, 23 days ago

I have a question that I would like to ask..have looked around the RB site to see where best to put it and think this one might be it!

I would like to know what ‘artists really want’??
1. Is it a place that creates jobs?
2.A place where artists collaborate, teach, work, sell their work?
3. Do artists just want exposure of their work?
4. Other…......

Anyhow I guess I as an artist am at a stage where this question keeps at me, but cant find the answers….I think I’ve tried all the above and feel there is still something missing, perhaps other RB members can add their feelings about this, maybe they feel the same or perhaps they can add some insight!

sunshinesw8, 22 days ago

Would love to help but not sure where I fit in….very new to Red Bubble….love it!!

I think we should offer postcards as well as cards….but maybe that is because I am a collector?

jadegreenimage, 22 days ago

Generally my only major issue is that the larger RedBubble has become, the more inward looking it has become. The community ethic is a great, but we should use its strenght to promote art and artists, not spending time just having art producers looking at other art producers work which if we are honest is what mostly goes on here.

We need mechanisms, advisory groups, strategies for looking a the fabulous wealth of Art here and using our collective experience and skills to get that art out into the world and maybe help member make some money from it.

There are some existing avenues out in the Interweb for selling art, not enough but some, do all members know about them.

We need physical and virtual showcases for work, out in the real world, where interested people may see them.

That’s what the group mechanisms here should be for. A potential example here could be a group for promoting art to commercial greeting card operations. There are literally thousands of these companies around the world that consume huge volumes of art work. Who and where are they? Look at the wonderful variety of art here of all styles, media and genres, can we as a community not create a focus group where we can store information, addresses, strategies etc for getting our work into those companies?

Look at the back of a greetings card, check out the company who produces them, research get contact information, call or email, ask about possibilities or requirements. I have done it, it is a simple process, it can be daunting, but with the community doing the work, think how much less daunting it could be.

Just thinking out loud.

This is where the community can use its strength, not looking at its own sweet smile all the time. Lets get the talent out there.

Nick

Oh and please do something with the groups – many of them are so overwhelmed with artwork, that the “moderators” are having to come up with increasingly complex and creative methods to whittle down the items in the groups. Often this involves a blanket delete of all items, then requesting that people submit stuff again. Or art items are deleted before a point in time and then a “competition” is run to get approved artworks back in the group. Or you have to vote in the competitions or you get removed from the group. Etc. Etc. Etc. To be honest I can’t be bothered; I run a full time “normal” career, alongside an embyonic “art/photo” business, and who has the time for all that nonsense, do the people in these groups have a life outside of RedBubble?. I love(d) RedBubble’s community ethic, fresh and modern attitude and personality, but I sell nothing here, so my time must be focussed elsewhere, like the dreaded Imagekind. The groups used to be light relief and a wonderful showcase for the community’s art, I don’t think they are anymore; often seeming clique-y and elitist.

Sorry that became a little rant, it wasn’t intended to be. The group mods are generally great people and are trying hard but it is one area of RedBubble I no longer feel able to enjoy.

Damien Woods, 22 days ago

Sounds like a terrific idea. I’d be happy to be a person where new members could ask technical questions about computers – hardware, storage, file types, Photoshop and setting up their Redbubble – to add images and links within their bubble.

Another thing too, is getting our works recognised by people outside. Great work with the SEO for Google – I’ve done a bit of testing with it and it works quite well. I think the only issue is what are people looking for? Are they looking online for art? I’m looking at setting up a Gallery in the not-to-distant future for my work – this is mainly because all the sales I have made are direct to the buyer, rather than them going to my bubble to purchase. What else can be done?

A nice idea would be having the facility for non-bubblers to leave comments (approval required). To see what they think. Or get some top photographers/ artists to comment on our works. Perhaps get some local Galleries involved. I guess it’s really upto us to market our own works. There comes the issues of paying for the prints, going to see a local Gallery to see if they put it on their walls and be an agent for you. Time and Money. If the Gallery could see our works here first, that’d make it a lot easier to get some recognition.

That’s about all I have for now.

Damien.

Juilee Pryor's..., 21 days ago

been thinking about this again…... I have a high degree of visual literacy…. and three degrees….. doctorate coming up soon…well soonish….. I could spend time critiqueing other members work but think I’d be better utilized organizing themed and serious exhibitions of work in pupose designated gallerys…. like in London when it gets going. Whan to go there anyway …. need to do some research in Cambridge….also have a friend with a flat she needs to rent out in London…...thnk about it.

artyrau, 21 days ago

I am too puting forward a small suggestion like others have and it is whether it is possible for you too to have T-shirt templates like some of the other sites which I have seen and to make your site interesting and catchy select some of the best designs week after week and award them something and that way I feel people in this community will not only be happy but satisfied too and may be able to attract more and more visitors and in turn lot of business too. Hope this idea/suggestion makes sense and might work too.

Gregoryno6, 21 days ago

Give Jo O’Brien my phone number, promise me lots of heavy breathing, and I might be interested.

tola, 21 days ago

hey all in bubbleland
excellent forums and diversity in your approach to becoming a visionary of what is to be… the level of art in all forms does not really need monitoring /critiquing or grouping it needs global recognition and interactivity from those who would benifit… ie investors, patrons, ehibitors and representation of the artists at redbubble .
A suggestion which in part is discussed in some of the above comments, shows a direct need for physical representation of works in the real world , a similtaneous exhibition in all related countries with each one catering for a different theme allowing a collection to move from country to country is a logistical nightmare , but with the body of redbubblers available to assist it is practical, it may take a year to put together and then a year for it to travel across the globe, but think of the exposure for the artists and thier works!!!!
the cyber world must also interact with the physical otherwise we are becoming our own illusion and creativity will pay a price in the growth of the human being.
imagine an exhibition comprising of 1000 works held in a warehouse in denmark….and canada and australia and england and france and… and ..Aand…