April 16, 2012

Would you go to the “design gym” with me?

I’m a sucker for companionship & social pressure. I used to hit the gym several times a week with a friend, and our friendly competition left me strong & feeling great. Then he moved away and I’ve largely turned into a wad of cookie dough.

Lots of apps & services exist to help to help people stay honest & to support one another’s diet & exercise. (Peer pressure can be a wonderful thing.)  Meanwhile I’ve seen years of advice that designers should commit to making something new every day, I haven’t yet seen one that

• pings you with a daily (or weekly, etc.) challenge
• provides assets or a theme to build upon
• lets you see & comment on others’ work
• provides a rewards system (highest rank, possibly prizes, etc.)

So, hypothetically, let’s say Photoshop Touch said “Today’s 5-minute challenge: Create the most interesting thing you can using just these elements…,” let you upload your work, and then vote on others’ creations. Would you do it?  I think you might–but only if the rewards were enticing enough.  It’s like brushing your teeth, doing sit-ups, etc.: you make things part of your routine if they make you stronger, fitter, richer.  Could we help you practice your skills & become those things?

Demo: Faster retouching via Content-Aware Move in CS6

Retoucher Glyn Dewis calls Photoshop CS6 a “game changer.” Here he compares lengthening a neck in CS5 to a new & much faster method enabled by CS6: