Nice point.

threadless has been pretty big for awhile, and voting has never entirely determined what is and isn't printed. at least half the shirts printed haven't received top scores, its the threadless teams discression as to whether a design is printed or not.

Also a good point.

thank you

Yes.

It's a good point, but as pointed out, Threadless is not entirely democratic - in fact I would say that voting acts as more as a gimmick to pull people in than anything else.

What does being an artist or designer have to do with voting on whether you would wear a shirt? Threadless isn't here to propogate art, they are here to make money. Designers aren't the only ones buying this stuff. And, if you think the only people who deserve to score shirts are fellow artists, then you shouldn't critique a film or album if you are not involved in those industries. And, you shouldn't recommend a restaurant to friends if you aren't a chef. I could go on, but you're probably not reading any more anyway, and if you are, you get my point, although you will not admit to it, I'm sure.

Thanks.

tammy,

i'm pretty sure i saw the phrase 't-shirts for designers' or something to that effect on the site somewhere...

and that's fine, i'm sure they are here to make money, no one is arguing that. i'm simply raising the concern that touting creative innovation through democracy is an empty promise, and it will take the unseen hand of a legistlative body if you will, to keep up pretenses.

Actually, that is a good point. Threadless is for the people. The artists are like performing apes throwing feces at the poeple and hoping it sticks.

oops, spelled people wrong the second time. At least I spelled feces right.

Robocop, Is that your new slogan, "Touting creative innovation through democracy is an empty promise, and it will take the unseen hand of a legislative body if you will, to keep up pretenses."

It doesn't really roll off the tongue. Big words strung together aren't the recipe for intelligence.

You don't want them to "keep up pretenses." You want them to abolish the pretense (false claim) that they are t-shirts for designers (which by the way, I can't find anywhere on this site) by ruling that you have to be a designer to vote.

However, where will this end? I could submit a piece of crap t-shirt today, thus proving that I am a designer - a bad designer, but a designer nonetheless. Would that make me then eligible, by your standards, to vote on your designs (which by the way, I do like)? Or, will there be the design gestapo that decides who is a good enough designer to vote on your designs? It's an endless, vicious cycle that will result in no one wanting to buy these shirts, because the Threadless community is seen as a bunch of snobs.

Conceptually I agree with you Roboshobo, mostly because I want to see new, different ideas and well-designed shirts. But, Threadless is Threadless specifically because of the vote. Shirts by and for the people. Is it depressing that it may simply become a facsimile of corporate cool? Yes. But it is what it is. If that happens another site will pop-up and we'll all move to that.

If you're going to rig the vote, why have a vote at all? Why have joe everyman submit designs? Why not just be like every other Tshirt manufacturer and hire designers to create the style that you dictate?

Tammy, of course it doesn't roll off the tounge; that's why I punctuated my opinion with commas.

Notice I posted a blog entry consisting of observations and ideas about the implications of 'democratic,' or public art facilitated by consumer choice. Where does one draw the line? Conversation starters really... something to chat up over cocktails this weekend.

Why did you call me Robocop? to hurt my feelings? what did I do to you?

Mr Domino, thank you for being polite. I will raise one disagreement with you. Namely that its for the people by the people.
According to the vendor info on the site, the shirts are for:

"Demographics
The average Threadless customer is a 16-30 year old male. Most customers are interested in both the quality and uniqueness of the designs found at Threadless. Due to the fact that the designs printed are chosen and submitted by Threadless members, customers who purchase Threadless tees will usually feel a sense of community involvement through their purchase. Many customers will participate themselves by scoring designs and submitting designs of their own. "

Roboshobo, I thought "Robocop" was a funny play on your name since you seem to be trying to patrol the policies of Threadless and the people who vote. No, I did not intend to hurt your feelings, just as I'm sure you do not intend to hurt my feelings. It's just conversation, remember :)

By the way, my post was referring to tammyleino's point, not Robo's. He snuck in before me.

we sort of inferred that, daddy.

Interesting points on both sides.
What do people think about nepotism and how it operates on Threadless?

As I said before I think it's cheating, but beyond being policed. Aside from the forum where I post WIPs of my work I try not to tell anyone that I know directly about my submissions. For me that wouldn't be earning it. And again, there are any number of scouts for other companies that browse Threadless and I'd like to think that at least they see good design if it doesn't get the due credit here.

What I don't get is why more voters equates to more mediocrity. Does the average joe not have a clue about what they like and are willing to buy? Because I'm "average," my opinion doesn't count? You don't need to answer that...

Who's to say that the general make-up of this site's audience has changed at all? They don't take any info on sign-up, so my guess is not even threadless has much of a clue who visits and votes. Sure, they track clicks, IP addresses and the like, but not much will tell how many of us are designers.I'd make a leap that it's likely this site has been visited by mostly "averge" folks all along...

This was never a democracy touting anything. Threadless wants us to work hard creating a product for them to profit from. How many illustrators or designers out there would work on a design for the CHANCE of getting paid? And yet, here we are...

Nepotism? Who knows? It's possible, I suppose, but I doubt it swings any votes. Comments are probably put up by friends and family wanting to prop the designer, but that's it. You can tell the designs chosen deserve it, and the number of "I'd buy"s help that decision.

Threadless is just a prime example of something that got too popular too fast. Just like your favorite pub. New crowds scared off all the regulars, the jukebox got replaced with a flat screen tv, they started serving non-fat yogurt shakes...
my point being, threadless is a business that is GOING to change and evolve. It's prime motive for it's existence is to make money.

So the only thing the "regulars" or senior members can do is find a new place to do their business like old times (but in time, the new place will change too) OR try and evolve to deal wit the changes.

Personally, I would like to see a higher emphasis on originality in design. (no more "trendy" designs AKA skulls, drips.)

(Ithen again, maybe i'm just another one of the new kids, destroying the awesomeness that threadless once was, and I have no right to speak from the point of view i've taken....)