Where do you find images and graphics designers for your softwares ?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Where can one find free software icons / images?

Hi,

As a programmer, I'm sure some of you already experienced the same problem:

You create a good software (free, open-source, or for friend-only diffusion, whatever) relying on good code and good ideas but since you're a programmer and not an image designer, your program looks just bad.

While it seems pretty easy to find motivated developpers to join for free an open-source project, it seems quite hard to find a single free graphic designer.

What free and good resources do you usually use for your programs/websites ? Do you have any cool tip that you're willing to share ? Do you know any place where to find people involved into graphic design willing to participate to open-source projects ?

Answer 1

I am not an artist by any means, but I can cobble together icons and images for some things. To make the task easier, I use IcoFX for icons, Adobe Photoshop for images (though Gimp is viable, I find PS easier), and Adobe Freehand for vector art.

Online free image sources tend to be questionable on their rights and licensing, though sometimes a simple Google or Bing image search will get you some decent starting points. A site I like for icons (as well as great widescreen wallpaper) is InterfaceLift. You may want to read the licensing terms carefully, as some seem to be free but only for non-commercial use.

Finally if I really need a professional touch, a suite of artwork or icons that fit and are custom, I consult the local print and graphic designers. More often than not, their rates for icon design aren't bad and they can generate a lot of designs for you to choose from.

Answer 2

Also, making the app easily skinnable/themable helps attract people to create different looks for the application. Eventually you get a library of quality themes for your app, and can set a nice one as the default.

Answer 3

The fundamental problem with getting people to sign on to help with an open source or otherwise free application is that they need to get something out of it themselves.

Developers have several motivations for joining these types of projects. It can be anything from getting their name out there or having something to put on a resume on up to knowing that at the end of the day they'll be able to use the product themselves.

In order to get a designer on board you'll want to give them something as well. Unfortunately, it's a bit more difficult. Most designers will already have a portfolio, and if it's a project that isn't online, well, it would be harder to show off their work. Finally, due to the nature of what developers do, the final look might not even represent their design.

Most applications simply need a good skin and / or images for icons. Both of which are extremely cheap and plentiful. So, from a designers perspective what would they get out of giving those things for free to you? The value just isn't there.

Answer 4

Good UI design is not just about Art, it's about getting into the mind of your users. If you manage to enrol very talented artists that create fantastic icons and splash screens, you can still have an application that looks awful (probably, even more that the mocked up version with just labels, because it will look more pretentious and maybe even kitsch)

So first, take care about usability, to not confuse your users, make everything as familiar to them as you can, lay the different options logically and in a practical way, etc. and then you can start looking in places like:

• http://www.openclipart.org/
• http://art.gnome.org/
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

but I cannot beg you enough to please take care about usability first than fanciness!

• http://library.gnome.org/devel/hig-book/stable/
• http://developer.kde.org/documentation/design/ui/
• http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/XHIGIntro/XHIGIntro.html

about finding people, the first three links have nice communities behind, so I think it's quite possible to find people supportive with your project if it looks promising, after all most of the artists want some recognition and spread of their work; and a very used application is a nice showcase.