“Do consumers want to design unique products on the internet? A ...

When asked the question “Have you found feedback on your <strong>design</strong>s from other
members useful”, 82% of those users that had received feedback said they found it
useful. Respondent n.118 said that they felt “It has helped me become a better
<strong>design</strong>er <strong>to</strong>o, I've learned and picked up styles from those around me.”
The participant observation however found community communication involving the
critiquing and suggesting revisions at every stage of the <strong>design</strong> process from rough
idea <strong>to</strong> submitted <strong>design</strong>. In <strong>to</strong>tal there were 57 specific threads started by <strong>design</strong>ers
about their <strong>design</strong>s. Of these 25 <strong>to</strong>pics were for <strong>design</strong>s still in development and had
<strong>to</strong>pic titles such as “Opinions Before Sub (submission)” and others shown below in
Table 6.
Table 6: Examples of Collaborative Thread Topics
Thread N. Topic Title Date N. of Replies
359 (sic) Villians Submission Preview "6th March" 20
401 Samurai are dead (<strong>design</strong> help?) "6th March" 8
413 The Bird Tree - Feedback Wanted! "3rd March" 12
418 Opinions Before Sub "3rd March" 23
The conversation below shows an example of the type of support and feedback the
community gave <strong>design</strong>ers asking for help. In this instance the <strong>to</strong>pic author had
posted an early draft of one of their <strong>design</strong>s.
Adam Fletcher – Do <strong>consumers</strong> <strong>want</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>design</strong> <strong>unique</strong> product on the internet.
2006
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