Rob Wilson, Founder
Posts:62
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| 09/21/2007 2:25 PM |
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This area is for the jamuse Site Advisory Board members only. Please post your comments and first impressions here. Welcome!
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What was your first impression of jamuse?
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Sean
Posts:20
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| 09/26/2007 2:49 PM |
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| We're getting a lot of feedback. Let's encourage the jamusers to enter some feedback in the public area here. That will allow us to help each other. |
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T. Kyle Gentry
Posts:25
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| 09/27/2007 10:35 AM |
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| It is very impressive, but with just a few thing that need to be fixed. For example, in my portfolio only about half of the thumbnails show up in the top area that scrolls and enlarges them. Is there a way for the member to adjust this? I also went to change a setting in my profile and it still shows up as unchanged when I go to my profile on my page. The other thing I noticed is that my art has been compressed and looks strange in thumbanil form on the main page and in my portfolio page. When enlarged it looks great but it would be nice to have a seperate thumbnail to upload along with the large art so that people/clients can see a clear image and not a pixalated one. Those were the only 3 things that popped out to me. Everything else is great so far. |
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Bruce
Posts:1
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| 09/27/2007 7:52 PM |
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| Excellent comments - this type of feedback from the community will help us refine the entire jamuse experience. Others have commented on the thumbnail presentation so we know it's important. Keep using, and keep sharing your feedback and experiences. We are listening! |
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Allan Burch
Posts:61
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| 09/28/2007 11:26 PM |
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After looking over the site, as an illustrator, I have some initial thoughts and suggestions. My apologies if these features already exist and I've overlooked them.
When I click to the site, I'd like to be able to quickly find out what the site is about. Such as a link from the homepage explaining the jamuse network, what it's mission is, and it's benefit over other portals.
I'd like for it to be more intuitive for an art director to come to the site and initially search for artists by discipline. As far as I can tell, if I want to efficiently search by discipline on the site, I need to click the featured artists link and click the discipline under "Filter Users by Category" (which don't seem to necessarily correlate to featured artists). It seems like it should be clearer and easier to search through the artists. The search box on the home page seems to search by keyword, but I guess I'd like the ability to define the discipline in addition to keywords within my search. As the site grows, I suspect this ability would become more valuable.
I'd like to be able to know what page I'm on at any given moment. The "Home" and "Community" links turn green on mouseover, but all return to gray after clickthrough. Compounded by the fact that the "Home" page and "Community" pages look fairly similar, that's time lost if I have to guess where I am. A potential negative for an art director (I know the Community page is noted as the page title at the very top of one's browser, but I'll bet more attention is focussed on the page itself and an html title would largely go unnoticed).
I'd like to be able to create multiple portfolios or sub-portfolios. It seems like all portfolio images are there at the main level. An art director will want to look for portraits or editorial or advertising or whatever is pertinent to their project. I'd like the ability to group my portfolio images accordingly, so as not to overwhelm them with irrelevant images. (I'm having technical issues with uploading any portfolio images and the tech people know about this, so if the above mentioned feature is already built in, my apologies.)
I'm wondering why not all images show up on the flip through animation window in the artist's portfolio.
I'd like to be able to track statistics for my profile and portfolio like how many people have visited my profile and how many hits my portfolio has received. Deeper statistics would be great, but some degree of tracking would be helpful. That would make it a more valuable tool for the artist in assessing his or her marketing efforts.
I'm really looking forward to the client collaboration tools and think this could be something that sets Jamuse apart from other portals. It would be great to include a calendar system so clients and artists can post and track milestones and deadlines.
The thumbnail issue that's been discussed is also very important. I feel strongly that there should be no compromising the integrity of the work. If the square format is insisted upon, then there should be a disclaimer to artists to format their work appropriately or it will be distorted.
Thanks for the opportunity to help shape this site. I'd like to see Jamuse become a trend-setter and valuable tool in the creative professional's arsenal.
Allan
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T. Kyle Gentry
Posts:25
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| 09/29/2007 10:55 AM |
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The only addition I would make to the last post has , again, to do with the thumbnail issue. *sorry* I don't think it would work for every artist in here to have to create or reformat their artwork for it to match the square thumbnail. The thumbnail is supposed to represent the art and work for it, not the other way around.
Sorry, I should have posted this in the thread about the thumbnail issue. |
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Jess Perna Studio
Posts:10
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| 09/29/2007 7:37 PM |
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| My first impression is that if I were signing up and had to pay I would go to another site such as portfolios.com that shows that work without ruining it. I would never sign up to a site that shows sloppy, squashed thumbnails. |
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Jess Perna Studio
Posts:10
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| 09/29/2007 11:25 PM |
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| I wonder why there are 143 views and 8 comments. |
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Sean
Posts:20
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| 10/01/2007 1:24 AM |
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| FYI - Views are just people reading the discussion. Not as many people leave a comment. |
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T. Kyle Gentry
Posts:25
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| 10/01/2007 2:53 PM |
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| One other major problem I have encountered in the last day or so. When I try to update the "Description" in my profile it says updated but nothing shows up on my page. I've typed it out 10 times now and it still won't load. Nether will it change the catagories which I am listed under whe I change those. |
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Sean
Posts:20
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| 10/01/2007 5:17 PM |
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Kyle,
When you are done entering the new description, do one of two things to save it:
1. Press enter
2. Use you mouse and you will notice two icons appear next to the field to allow for save and cancel. Click the save icon.
Let me know if you receive this.
David |
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Cold Snap
Posts:1
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| 10/01/2007 5:35 PM |
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| I like it. Lots of space, nice layout and professional look. I like the buttons and features I feel the site is very user friendly in general. :) Having trouble uploading but assuming that would be fixed .... |
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T. Kyle Gentry
Posts:25
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| 10/01/2007 6:09 PM |
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| When I do a search it will say that there are 36 image results in a specific search. 1-25 will be shown but when I hit next to see the second page it will say no results found. What happened to the other 11? |
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Sean
Posts:20
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| 10/01/2007 6:24 PM |
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Kyle,
We saw that bug show up and it will be working soon...
David |
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Nathanael Lark
Posts:1
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| 10/01/2007 7:22 PM |
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My first impression of JAMUSE is a very positive one. As I spend additional time with the site I will comment on more specifics but here are a few of the items I'd like to mention first...
What I enjoy most about the site is the fact that it is all inclusive (Portfolios, Community, File Sharing, Client Communication, etc). The term "One Stop Shop" really applies here.
From the perspective of a professional illustrator I will say that the Jam File is one of the most useful and helpful technological developments I have seen in some time. It is an incredible time and money saver. I often work with overseas clients and having the ability to engage a visual discussion via the Jam File saves me oodles on international calling fees alone.
Other general notes...
1. I think the portfolio section is clear and well organized. Adding and viewing files is a breeze. The ability to add multiple files simultaneously is very helpful.
2. I find the site generally intuitive and easy to navigate.
3. The general usefulness of the site for me is extremely high.
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bedesign
Posts:1
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| 10/01/2007 8:36 PM |
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Lots of kinks to work out.
Tedious functionality within the forms. Entering descriptions should automtically clear the type in there. Instead, I'm having to select the type in that form and delete. Should be auto-selected to avoid this.
I haven't been able to view new members beyond just the 1st page of names. When I click on next it shows nothing.
Plus, I've uploaded my new member photo and portfolio work (I assume same as assets) but haven't seen my face pop up as a new member yet.
Check out www.mnartist.org for a similar website concept with better user controls. Users can control the way the page is viewed, change color palette of their page, send postcards to mail lists, etc.
FYI: I'm using Safari 2.0.4 on an Intel Power Mac (OS 10.4.10) |
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Hugh Waller
Posts:29
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| 10/02/2007 4:48 AM |
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Below are a few random thoughts sent to Bruce :
- ‘Jamuse how to set up’ PDF is a good idea, however it does not follow what actually happens on screen in particular when clicking on the Join Free the page/window is different than that illustrated in the PDF. Overall though a great resource.
- Overall appearance/ design of the site is very good.
- The joining process is fairly easy.
Having clicked on Join Free the page that opens has no instruction as to what needs to done, I know that it seems straight forward but I am thinking from the point of view from new users and those that have not joined this type of site before.
Also when entering info in the Manage Your Profile page perhaps there could be some information as to what happens to this information as well as some sort of privacy policy statement. There is also no information about uploading an avatar.
- Once joined I notice that when clicking on My Profile the following information does not appear: country, website and email.
- Perhaps include a copyright policy statement somewhere on the site. Also have info. on JAM file format a little more prominent on the site, it seems a little ‘tucked away’ in Knowledge Base.
- There doesn’t appear to be a quick, easy way to search the site by category i.e. photography, illustration, e.t.c.
- A little more instructional info throughout the site would be useful to new users and visitors.
I should like to add my agreement to the comments of Allan Burch. In addition I am unsure of design/structure of the home page when it comes to projecting the appearance that Jamuse is aimed at the professional, both creative and 'buyer'. At the moment the first impression is that the site could be mistaken for another ' my space' type of site.
I think the potential for Jamuse is huge and am excited about its future. Thank you for the opportunity to play a small part in its development.
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Margarida Girão
Posts:26
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| 10/02/2007 5:03 AM |
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Hello.
My first impression is positive but I think it could be much better.
1. The design is simple, the 1st time I do not think the navigation was intuitive, but now, after I've click and click, I can find thinks.
2. Some SiteMap and a FAQs page could be good.
3. A link about Ja Muse also important. People would like to enter and to understand.
4. I don't like to see the thumbnails distort. This is a site with and for creative people, so this kind of details are important.
5. Where in the main menu I can know that this forum exists?
6. Searching for category
And thank you!! : ) |
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www.margaridagirao.com |
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T. Kyle Gentry
Posts:25
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| 10/02/2007 8:59 AM |
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| That's actually one thing I noticed as well. There needs to be a contact link on the side on my main profile page and not just when you go to the portfolio page. |
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Mungo Studios
Posts:34
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| 10/02/2007 10:20 AM |
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Overall I am pretty pleased with the site, the thumbnail issue has already been pointed out, but other than a few cosmetic things that can be more easily addressed, I like thoe overall concept and will be an active member.
:D |
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David Fritsche, Founder
Posts:239
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| 10/02/2007 10:42 AM |
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Good comments. We will be address each of these one by one. Here's a few things that might help.
1. Clearing text in descriptions is being addressed
2. Paging in the members area was a temporary problem that is working now. Try it again.
3. bedesign - You are on the third page...I do not see any public assets yet. You have to select you assets to be in the showroom and or in your portfolio for them to be public.
4. That link you gave doesn't work
>>> bedesign
Lots of kinks to work out.
Tedious functionality within the forms. Entering descriptions should automtically clear the type in there. Instead, I'm having to select the type in that form and delete. Should be auto-selected to avoid this.
I haven't been able to view new members beyond just the 1st page of names. When I click on next it shows nothing.
Plus, I've uploaded my new member photo and portfolio work (I assume same as assets) but haven't seen my face pop up as a new member yet.
Check out www.mnartist.org for a similar website concept with better user controls. Users can control the way the page is viewed, change color palette of their page, send postcards to mail lists, etc.
FYI: I'm using Safari 2.0.4 on an Intel Power Mac (OS 10.4.10) |
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Hugh Waller
Posts:29
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| 10/03/2007 6:58 AM |
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Having looked at a several folios I can't help but notice that the resolution of some images is quite poor. Perhaps have some info in Museworx that informs people of the best resolution to make images prior to upload.
Also I was thinking that a more extensive and comprehensive search page/engine would be useful for prospective clients, similar to that on Portfolios.com. |
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Margarida Girão
Posts:26
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| 10/05/2007 6:52 AM |
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I've sent you an email telling this, but here it goes agains:
When I do a comment on a post blog, if I do a break line, the text appears with html tags such as
.
Please, how can we delete this? I can't do breaks? :/
Thanks.
P.S. More: How can I edit what I've wrote, here and in comments blog. |
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www.margaridagirao.com |
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David Fritsche, Founder
Posts:239
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| 10/05/2007 11:59 AM |
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Margarida,
Thank you for pointing this out. We will work on this and let you know when its complete.
David
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Scott Ross
Posts:1
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| 10/05/2007 8:18 PM |
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After a rough start it seems to get a little better each day as far as functionality. I'm interested to see how this site is marketed once it's launched and how it will differentiate itself from all the other sites of it's kind. I don't know what the final version of the home page will be when it rolls out to the public, but I hope there is more clear visual presentation as to what the whole thing is about. Thanks for the opportunity to add my two cents to your project and good luck with it.
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