Buhler. Buhler. Buhler...
Something's been bothering me lately as I browse the blogsphere. I've noticed how many comments other blogs receive talking about the most mundane things and how few B L A N K receives trying to delve into things more meaningful. Silence is ok, but sometimes if there's no feedback, but a lot of people sitting around listening, you begin to wonder why. I know from the session reports that we have almost 600 unique visitors a day and around 90 subscribers at any one time, so it's not like we're yapping at ourselves. However, you begin to wonder if you're connecting or even worse if what you're saying is meaningful.
So, for all you "lurkers" out there, give some feedback. What are you thinking about B L A N K? Why do you read these crazy posts about design? Are we spinning our wheels here, or should we continue to try and explore the heart and soul of design? Please do speak up.
So, for all you "lurkers" out there, give some feedback. What are you thinking about B L A N K? Why do you read these crazy posts about design? Are we spinning our wheels here, or should we continue to try and explore the heart and soul of design? Please do speak up.
posted by fivemcclungs at 9:10 AM
15 Comments:
I love your blog.
First off, be sure to thank those of us who do respond to your rants..lol. Also, I think that most of time it's easier for people to respond to less meaningful chatter than to post that require more thought and thinking. Writing about meaningful is a big challenge for most people. But at the same time, if you're getting lots of visitors and subscribers, your efforts are not being wasted. People wouldn't visit if they didn't like what you're saying.
Finally, are you taking the time to respond and give feedback on the blogs of your visitors? That sometimes helps build dialogue across spaces.
Anyway, keep your post coming. As someone who is just starting out in design, I really like your blog and insight.
I love B L A N K.
This is such a great resource for christian designers. To discus things we deal with and how we deal with them being a christian is a huge encouragement to me. Just going to this site and reading things that other people are dealing with and that I'm not alone. For example, the last post on what makes us cringe. I have many christian friends that are not designers, and they wouldn't understand my thoughts, feelings, or passion for design.
But designers understand designers.
ah yeah.
I've noticed the same thing about my blog (for the most part).
Unless it's controversial (sex, abortion, homosexuality, the evils of the church...) my comment range is about 10. But if it's something really controversial or really lame, 20s-30s.
I am so glad I found this blog and appreciate everything you have discussed.
Bakari- Thanks for listening to all the rants! Really, I mean that. You're right about some posts being harder to respond to than others. And I'm hesitant to respond to comments because I want to hear what others have to say (they've heard enough of me I think). But you're right, I need to do a better job encouraging others in their thoughts. Thanks for the insight.
Andrew- Your words are much appreciated.
Anne- That's good to know that I'm not alone in this. I've not done a post on sex and design yet, but there's one brewing. Maybe it's just a sign of our culture that the more mundane the topic, the more feverish the response?
By the way, if anyone ever does have an article/thought/meandering to contribute, please email it to me and I'll post. The idea around BLANK is a community dialogue.
We're here and reading. :)
Can I ask who blank is? I'm can't remember how I found the site, but I've been one of your lurkers for the past few months. Is Blank one person? A group blog?
To answer your question: Yes.
1. It is a group of designers who blog about the heart of design. Anyone who feels like they can and want to contribute to this exploration can. Although most of those who contribute are Christians, we have no corner on the market for exploring the soul of design.
2. I (Frank McClung) started B L A N K after noticing a spiritual stirring in designers to do more than pad the corporate coffers or sell socks. I hoped that the forum would encourage and inspire others to go deeper and explore the power of design to touch the human soul. And for those who have ever started something, you know that you end up doing much of the work for a while. So, that's why you see fivemcclungs posting so much.
With that said, I personally get the most out of what our contributors write. Their depth and breadth of experience provides insight that is refreshing. Graciously they contribute when they have time or have something of value to share.
I hope this helps.
I know this is a cop out, but lurking is safe. It's not that I don't have anything to say, it's that I doubt it would sound as good as you make it, Frank. The business of design keeps biting me in the ass and somewhere between trying to pay the gas bill I'm 2 months behind on and jamming out some side work I already think sucks just two days into it, I am failing to have a passion for much of anything beyond a tub of ice cream and a big spoon. Seriously, some days it's nice to hear I'm not the only one bordering on burn out because what I'm doing is far away from what I'd dreamed of and other days a different perspective is just what I need to hang my soul out on the line yet another day in the hopes that that day will be different and better than the one before it.
So please keep this going, if you can. I won't write much because I don't want to encourage young talent to run away from graphic design in search of a brighter profession. (Man, I should've been a dentist!)
If you really want to get more comments, try ripping on new logo designs. I have been surprised how that brings the lurkers out of the shadows to throw a stone of their own! Seriously though, I think that less than 1/10th of 1% of readers comment, so don't be discouraged...
Jonathan, good to hear from you bro. Didn't know what happened. Thought maybe you'd gone over to the dark side. I'm right in the middle of a website project for a client, and by the time I get to the design portion (after all the research, architecture, strategy and admin), I find myself needing a shot of design passion right in the keister just to come up with the design concepts. But, since my dad was a dentist (and very depressed doing so), I'm sticking with design...for now.
Thanks Adrian. We could start throwing a few stones on the design of this blog as well. I have to ask though, why do you read B L A N K? I mean, BADG (too bad you can't lose the "G" on the end huh? Pardon the pun), teams just finished designing the cover of STEP? What interests you about the perspectives offered on B L A N K? Do share.
Actually I have been over to the dark side - I was working in advertising when we first met several years ago. I'm back now working for an architect firm. Feels more pure, like I am participating in design that matters, ya know? And, they've been keeping me really busy. I am trying to get an environmental graphics studio cranked up and running there. So far, so good. Lots of overtime - yum!
I just read a comment on a DO post where William Drenttel said:
"Design Observer has close to 150,000 site visits a week. We've had 60 impassioned comments in the past week from perhaps 40 readers. There is a huge, and inaccurate, assumption of the part of many folks that comment that they represent the average reader of this site. Comments are welcome. But there is arrogance in the assumption by a few who comment that you, as a reader who comments, represent the primary audience for this site, or any other site. 99% of our readers do not comment.
But to answer your question, Why do I read B L A N K? I don't know if I am a typical reader, but I can speak for the people who subscribe to your feed. I usually read your posts in my RSS reader (Safari). I really have to have something to say to make the extra click to leave my RSS page and enter your site (or any blog for that matter). RSS subscriptions are a different audience. You have already "won" the reader if they have taken the time to subscribe to your feed. You really only have 2 goals with these readers: First, keep your readers interested enough so they don't unsubscribe, and if you are lucky, intrigue them enough to jump over to your site and comment. So far your writing has been interesting enough that I haven't unsubscribed.
"What interests you about the perspectives offered on B L A N K?"
I think it is interesting that you are unapologetic about your Christianity but never confuse design and religion. I cringe when I read niphal.com because their headline is "Christian Graphic Design." In other words, I don't really want to hear you talk about Christian issues, but it is nice to know where you are coming from. I hope that helps...
I read that post too Adrian a few days ago and missed the comment. Makes me feel like we're doing really well to get any comments at all. Good thoughts too on why subscribers don't comment. I have to admit, I read most of my feeds through live bookmarks or going directly to the site, so I didn't forsee the hurdle readers must overcome to comment.
I've been mulling over your last thought on not confusing design and religion. I'm not into religion, but do hope that my beliefs and values drive my passion and somehow it will contribute to design in a meaningful, lasting way. I appreciate your insight there. In the end, I want to discover design that has life in it, and is full of heart and passion.
Yep, yep! That's the heart of it Frank. Absolutely. Religion was not what Jesus was about either. It's what so many people miss-He wasn't willing to go toe to toe with the religious leaders every chance he got for no reason. You just made Jesus shout, "Atta boy, Frankie-yo Pop you just see what Frank did?".
And you just changed my perspective's point of reference, yet again. It's about His life and passion being poured into our passion for doing good design with our creative talent. My hope resevoir (sp?) is full again. Thanks!
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