Hey everyone. As most of the long time users and supporters of Open Designs know, I've been trying to leave as a site admin for a good 6-8 months now. I've set some deadlines to step down and for one reason or another I'm still here as an admin.
The time has come for me to put my foot down and rain or shine, actually step down as an admin. My last day as a site admin for Open Designs will be Saturday January 31, 2009. That will give me enough time to tie up some loose ends and make sure someone else is in place to take over my place.
I will still be somewhat active around the forums and help when I can but I've got other projects that need my attention and are a lot less stressful for me and actually make me happy.
A few people have already expressed an interest in being an admin for OD. I will be contacting a few select people to see if they want to take over my position come February 2009. I'm personally going to select the person who takes over my spot. Why? Because I want it to be someone who I trust and will do their best to try and help OD continue on.
A few of the core design authors around OD are aware that I've been working on another design submission site and have been part of a private beta to get things running smooth. Once I step down from OD, I will make a public announcement on the OD forums about the new site, who I'm working with, etc that way for the others who would like to submit designs to the new project can. The more exposure the designers can get, the better which is a main reason for Open Designs and the other design sites to be on the web.
If you are part of the private beta, do not disclose the URL or site yet. Please wait for me to make the public announcement.
Before people get all upset and in a rage that I started a new project, I want to make it very clear that no design submissions or user data has been moved from OD to this new project. Unlike when OSWD split and OWD started, everything on the new site was submitted by people who want to be apart of a new project and get exposure for their designs.
I also want to make it very clear that my new design project isn't intended to be a replacement for OD... it's just another method to help support the wonderful designers who provide free design templates for people to use. The site will be free to use and will not cost design authors or users anything to be part of the site. You don't even need an account to download designs, only to submit designs.
Also, the designers who are currently a part of the private beta were invited and had the choice to submit designs or not. The same will go for anyone else when the site is made public. If you want to submit designs or download designs, it will be done by your own free will and choice. No pressure. Some people will like the site and some will not. That's life.
I'm tired of trying to please everyone. Since my days on OSWD dating back to 2002, then OWD and of course OD, I'm burnt out. The new project is a breath of fresh air for me and some of the designers.
The new design site does not - and will not - have a forum, only design submissions, design downloads and a blog to keep people up to date on things. Nice, simple and straight to the point.
Ok, I am done with this giant post. In the coming days, I'll be contacting a few people who I feel would make a good admin. Once I hear back from them, and if they are interested, I will post a list of people and maybe we can have a vote to get some community involvement but again, the list of possible replacements is going to be hand picked by me.