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January 11, 2009
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A new plan for dA's front page (please read)

Journal Entry: Sun Jan 11, 2009, 6:03 PM



Front Page v. Channels


There are only two options on the current front page: to view "most popular" art and "recently uploaded" art. These two options do nothing for art navigation in the true community spirit of deviantArt. Instead, they promote the same two gigantic complaints so many deviants have been voicing.

The first is that dA is much too focused on popularity and that it squelches new deviations from being seen. The second is that so many furry-anime-fanart-porn shots are uploaded. These two options are not good impressions for first time deviants and they are completely useless to deviants who use the site on a day to day basis.

I propose three steps towards a more useful front page.

1. Rename "Channels"
The term "channels" is out of date. With the addition of deviant film it's confusing to use the term "channels". I understand that we want to have our own edge, but I'm sure this term adds confusion. Instead, these should be called exactly what they are "Gallery Feeds". This is simple, and most people understand the term.

2. Make the front page editable using the new Gallery Feeds.
This will mean that new deviants will once again see new deviations every day in the form of the featured Daily Deviations. They will also be able to modify the art they want to see. This will increase comments on unknown deviants' artworks and be better for the community.

3. Keep "browse" as "browse".
What's so great about this plan is that it actually de-clutters the link bar! You have to admit, that's a lot of links! Removing the "channels" and making it the front page makes the website simpler and easier to navigate!  

To conclude:

WHY THE CURRENT FRONT PAGE DOES NOT WORK:

1. The "newest" tab can give the wrong impression as to what sort of site we are because newly uploaded deviations may be against deviantArt's rules. (Such as copyrighted material or pornography.) This will mean that even more new deviants will believe it is okay to upload the same material on to the website.

2. The "popular" tab just gives deviants with 100,000,000 pageviews more comments and more exposure. While we are proud of their beautiful work, our aim is to always focus on the community. There is more out there to be discovered. The popular section is anti-community and contributes to comment overloads like "cool" and "awesome" to popular deviant's inboxes.

3. It's not customizable, which means that it does not fit our needs. This website strives to give us creativity and self-expression through customizable journals and profile pages. Yet, our home page doesn't meet our browsing needs as a community oriented website.

Also, please vote on this poll: [link]

PLEASE COMMENT IN THIS JOURNAL AND IN THE FORUM THREAD [CLICK] SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS ISSUE.



Get Involved: Today in my Inbox Project




I am inviting you all to please participate in the new Today in my Inbox Project. The project is simple. Just put the thumb into your journal. Then create a section in your journal to feature new deviations that pop up in your inbox. You can also note your features to me and I will feature them in the Today in my Inbox news articles.

News Articles thus far: (Please +fav them.) Volume I Volume II Volume III



rock out with your cock out



:thumb81676026:

:thumb99162761: :thumb66677735:



Thank you everyone who has been so lovely. And remember, you can just type "LOVELOVELOVE" in my comments and it would make my day.

:whisper: Pssst... have something you want pimped? Note me.

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  • Watching: A Time to Kill
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Add a Comment:
 
:icondistortedsmile:
^DistortedSmile Jan 12, 2009  Hobbyist Photographer
Yeah I quite liked the channels. Interesting point
Reply
:iconslacksack:
I agree. I never use my front page any more because all I see is the most popular deviations of all time over and over again. If I want to look at stuff I use the browsing option, not the front page.

I would definitely like the old front page back.
Reply
:iconjohohanna:
I support your ideas :#1:
Reply
:iconbewarecalamity:
~bewarecalamity Jan 11, 2009  Student General Artist
Thanks :/ of course everyone in the damn suggestions forum are the most argumentative people EVER.
Reply
:iconthespook:
I would have warned you! :lol:

For some reason, anything that gets suggested is a stupid idea to the regulars. It's like they get their kicks from playing devils advocate, to the point where they've long forgotten why they were doing it, and now they're just being asses.

They also assume that anyone making a suggestion is a noob and an idiot, which makes it harder to get anywhere constructive.
Reply
:iconjohohanna:
True. Plus hardly anyone goes in there, and well some good ideas are popular but others are not. The cleverest ideas are obviously only suggested by one person and so don't get much attention over time. We should suggest they instigate polls in the suggestions forum :bucktooth:
Reply
:iconbewarecalamity:
~bewarecalamity Jan 11, 2009  Student General Artist
I like this idea! :evillaugh:. I've suggested some really good ideas (like integrating twitter on to dA) However, most people who post in suggestions would rather argue and be hostile because they're completely against change. I think I've gotten some rather negative people on a lot of my suggestions that have later been implemented, who don't ever give advice or positive thinking. :(
Reply
:iconjohohanna:
Hmm I took a peek at your current thread in Suggestions, and then ran away. I might return and write like 7 words or something. (I am too lazy and not community-minded enough to ever bother arguing for suggestions.) You get the people who seem all defeatist, like "oh it won't help the majority of people because the majority of people are idiots and therefore we shouldn't bother with it." And mm people do tend to point out the holes in ones suggestions without trying to solve them.
Reply
:iconbewarecalamity:
~bewarecalamity Jan 11, 2009  Student General Artist
Yes, unfortunately, I'm the only one arguing for my point of view LOL
Reply
:iconjohohanna:
Hmm, `nokari says default for guests and new members is Popular, but when I opened my IE and logged out of dA (from my other account which is basically "new" and I have never changed the first page), it was on Newest. So I'm confused :faint:
Reply
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