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Thank you for your role in creating such an amazing community. Things definitely began to decline post '07 and I eventually retired my dA accounts back in '12..

by kakarot 10y ago

Thank you for your role in creating such an amazing community. Things definitely began to decline post '07 and I eventually retired my dA accounts back in '12... But you're right, the experience it offered was completely unique and will be a subject of my nostalgia for the rest of my life. I met so many great friends through common interests, and would never have continued my interest in writing without it. And I almost certainly wouldn't be working as a web developer today. I am currently drafting what I think could be this generation's dA, improving upon some of its shortcomings and offering new collaboration tools. If you have the time and think you could provide some insight, I would love to email you some questions about your experiences building that kind of community, because it is exactly the kind of community I wish to serve.

pmlnr 10y ago
> this generation's dA That's Tumblr. Build for the ones after.
neom 10y ago
Well... that's the first time I've ever been thanked. So, you're welcome. I think DeviantART worked pretty well because of the team that was charged with looking after it. We screened community leaders pretty heavily for being genuinely kind and good humans who, in very many cases, cared more about the community than the art. I think everyone who worked on community building really appreciated and loved art and (selfishly) realized that the way we could see the best art was to attract the best artist, and the best artists would only come to a safe place they could learn and grow without fear. Scott Jarkoff, Angelo Sotira and Eric Kolb are seriously some of the most gentle and loving people I've come across online. Happy to talk more - je@h4x.club
- namenotrequired 10y ago
  Is it true that in the beginning, staff members would comment on every piece of art that was uploaded?
  - neom 10y ago
    I think every gallery was different, but every gallery director was super attentive, people took the task of gallery directing super seriously as it was a pretty huge honour. For the years that I did it, I didn't have a life outside of IRC/deviantART period except to go to high school, and even then I would bring my laptop to the library at lunch + breaks and find an RJ45. I also slept for about 3 hours a night during those years as I was in the UK and much of the community was in the US.
  - ukyrgf 10y ago
    It wasn't a policy, but it was definitely just part of the atmosphere. Wow, that's odd to think about now, isn't it? The internet seems so interactive now, but back then a user submitting something to a website was absolutely a new thing.

by kakarot 10y ago

pmlnr 10y ago

> this generation's dA That's Tumblr. Build for the ones after.

neom 10y ago

Well... that's the first time I've ever been thanked. So, you're welcome. I think DeviantART worked pretty well because of the team that was charged with looking after it. We screened community leaders pretty heavily for being genuinely kind and good humans who, in very many cases, cared more about the community than the art. I think everyone who worked on community building really appreciated and loved art and (selfishly) realized that the way we could see the best art was to attract the best artist, and the best artists would only come to a safe place they could learn and grow without fear. Scott Jarkoff, Angelo Sotira and Eric Kolb are seriously some of the most gentle and loving people I've come across online. Happy to talk more - je@h4x.club

namenotrequired 10y ago
Is it true that in the beginning, staff members would comment on every piece of art that was uploaded?
- neom 10y ago
  I think every gallery was different, but every gallery director was super attentive, people took the task of gallery directing super seriously as it was a pretty huge honour. For the years that I did it, I didn't have a life outside of IRC/deviantART period except to go to high school, and even then I would bring my laptop to the library at lunch + breaks and find an RJ45. I also slept for about 3 hours a night during those years as I was in the UK and much of the community was in the US.
- ukyrgf 10y ago
  It wasn't a policy, but it was definitely just part of the atmosphere. Wow, that's odd to think about now, isn't it? The internet seems so interactive now, but back then a user submitting something to a website was absolutely a new thing.