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== About the VDG ==
== About the VDG ==
[[File:Konqui_artistic_cropped.png|frameless|right|200px|]]
[[File:Mascot konqi-app-graphics.png|frameless|right|200px|]]
The VDG started out as the Visual Design Group, but has grown into a team dedicated to the whole user experience, including what is often called human interface design. The aim is to help KDE create software that is both beautiful and a pleasure to use.
The VDG started out as the Visual Design Group, but has grown into a team dedicated to the whole user experience, including what is often called human interface design. The aim is to help KDE create software that is both beautiful and a pleasure to use. VDG maintains and updates the [https://hig.kde.org/ KDE Human Interface Guidelines].


VDG is always looking for people with skills in art, visual design, and human-computer interaction--or even just an interest in elegant design! If you have good ideas about how software should look and behave, you are a designer too, and we'd love you to join in.
VDG is always looking for people with skills in art, visual design, and human-computer interaction--or even just an interest in elegant design! If you have good ideas about how software should look and behave, you are a designer too, and we'd love you to join in. Our group regularly interfaces with users, developers, and the Promo team, so flexibility and the ability to communicate with many different kinds of people are a boon.




== Current projects ==
== Current Projects ==
VDG's current projects are listed on the [https://phabricator.kde.org/project/board/89/ Phabricator workboard].
Feel free to have a look at VDG's current projects, which are are listed on the [https://phabricator.kde.org/project/board/89/ Phabricator workboard]. In addition, here are some timeless ways to get involved in ongoing work:
* Learn how to design Breeze icons by reading [https://hig.kde.org/style/icons/index.html the applicable HIG page], and then work on [https://bugs.kde.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=UNCONFIRMED&bug_status=CONFIRMED&bug_status=ASSIGNED&bug_status=REOPENED&component=Icons&list_id=1536878&product=Breeze&query_format=advanced Breeze icon bugs]. Here's [[Guidelines and HOWTOs/Submit an icon | how to submit an icon]].
* Submit patches (using [https://invent.kde.org/websites/hig-kde-org/merge_requests GitLab]) for corrections and improvements to the [http://hig.kde.org Human Interface Guidelines]


== Communication and Workflow ==
First, subscribe to the [https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/visual-design visual-design] mailing list to hear about general news and updates. You'll also want to become a watcher for the [https://phabricator.kde.org/project/profile/89/ VDG project] in Phabricator. Finally, join the [https://webchat.kde.org/#/room/#kde-vdg:kde.org #kde-vdg] channel on [[Matrix]] or the freenode [[Internet Relay Chat | IRC channel]] (which is bridged to the [https://telegram.me/vdgmainroom VDG] Telegram room, if you prefer [[Telegram]]).


== Communication and workflow ==
Most VDG discussions start out informally, in the chat channel. Once there's general agreement in the real-time chat, the discussion moves to a Phabricator task. The goal here is to open the discussion to include developers, and make the proposal more concrete using images and mockups. Mockups can be created using KDE's [[KDE Visual Design Group/HIG/MockupToolkit | Mockup Toolkit]] and should be hosted on [https://phabricator.kde.org/pholio/ Pholio].
First, subscribe to the [https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/visual-design visual-design] mailing list to hear about general news and updates.


Most VDG discussions start out informally, in the [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=kde-vdg #kde-vdg] freenode [[Internet Relay Chat | IRC channel]] (which is bridged to the [https://telegram.me/vdgmainroom VDG] Telegram room, if you prefer [[Telegram]]).
It's important that VDG Phabricator tasks subscribe all the developers who may be affected by the proposed work. Try to honestly and fairly summarize the discussion and initial VDG conclusion when writing the task's initial description. It's important not to lose context or history!


Once there's general agreement in the real-time chat, the discussion moves to a Phabricator task. To be apprised of these, become a watcher for the [https://phabricator.kde.org/project/profile/89/ VDG project] in Phabricator. It's important that VDG Phabricator tasks task include as subscribers all the developers who may be affected by the proposed work. If there's a pre-existing task for the work, use that. If the discussion is proposing new work and there is no pre-existing Phabricator task, create one. Try to honestly and fairly summarize the discussion and initial VDG conclusion when writing the task's initial description. It's important not to lose context or history!
In the Phabricator task, it's common for the details or scope to change based on developer feedback. This is normal! Developers have a better idea of what's technically possible or reasonable to change. Listen to developer feedback and change the design accordingly. At the same time, encourage them to listen to your expertise, and gently stand your ground if a developer tries to dictate design decisions to you.


In the Phabricator task, it's common for the details or scope to change based on developer feedback. This is normal! Developers have a better idea of what's technically possible or reasonable to change. Listen to developer feedback and change the design accordingly, where necessary. At the same time, encourage them to listen to your expertise, and gently stand your ground if a developer tries to dictate design decisions to you.
Once there's general agreement in the Phabricator task, work should begin and folks can start submitting patches!


== Know Yourself ==
In a highly technical field like programming, it's easy to know the limits of your expertise. This is more difficult in subjective fields like art and design, and it's very important to have a firm grasp of your own limitations. If you know you're not very artistically skilled, don't involve yourself heavily in icon design work, for example. If you don't have any skill or background in human/computer interaction, leave those discussions to the pros!


== Know thyself ==
== Lessons learned ==
In a highly technical field like programming, it's easy to know the limits of your expertise. This is more difficult in more subjective fields like art and design, and it's very important to have a firm grasp of your own limitations. If you know you're not very artistically skilled, don't involve yourself heavily in icon design work, for example. If you don't have any skill or background in human/computer interaction, leave those discussions to the pros!
Over the years, certain design conversations and ideas seem to recur. We have collected the result at [[Get Involved/Design/Lessons Learned]].


 
==Old Things==
{{TODO|ask the VDG about mentoring - add a section to [[Mentoring]] and link from here}}
* [[KDE_Visual_Design_Group/Archive | Archive of outdated documents that may still be useful for reference]]
__NOTOC__

Revision as of 02:37, 13 February 2020

About the VDG

The VDG started out as the Visual Design Group, but has grown into a team dedicated to the whole user experience, including what is often called human interface design. The aim is to help KDE create software that is both beautiful and a pleasure to use. VDG maintains and updates the KDE Human Interface Guidelines.

VDG is always looking for people with skills in art, visual design, and human-computer interaction--or even just an interest in elegant design! If you have good ideas about how software should look and behave, you are a designer too, and we'd love you to join in. Our group regularly interfaces with users, developers, and the Promo team, so flexibility and the ability to communicate with many different kinds of people are a boon.


Current Projects

Feel free to have a look at VDG's current projects, which are are listed on the Phabricator workboard. In addition, here are some timeless ways to get involved in ongoing work:

Communication and Workflow

First, subscribe to the visual-design mailing list to hear about general news and updates. You'll also want to become a watcher for the VDG project in Phabricator. Finally, join the #kde-vdg channel on Matrix or the freenode IRC channel (which is bridged to the VDG Telegram room, if you prefer Telegram).

Most VDG discussions start out informally, in the chat channel. Once there's general agreement in the real-time chat, the discussion moves to a Phabricator task. The goal here is to open the discussion to include developers, and make the proposal more concrete using images and mockups. Mockups can be created using KDE's Mockup Toolkit and should be hosted on Pholio.

It's important that VDG Phabricator tasks subscribe all the developers who may be affected by the proposed work. Try to honestly and fairly summarize the discussion and initial VDG conclusion when writing the task's initial description. It's important not to lose context or history!

In the Phabricator task, it's common for the details or scope to change based on developer feedback. This is normal! Developers have a better idea of what's technically possible or reasonable to change. Listen to developer feedback and change the design accordingly. At the same time, encourage them to listen to your expertise, and gently stand your ground if a developer tries to dictate design decisions to you.

Once there's general agreement in the Phabricator task, work should begin and folks can start submitting patches!

Know Yourself

In a highly technical field like programming, it's easy to know the limits of your expertise. This is more difficult in subjective fields like art and design, and it's very important to have a firm grasp of your own limitations. If you know you're not very artistically skilled, don't involve yourself heavily in icon design work, for example. If you don't have any skill or background in human/computer interaction, leave those discussions to the pros!

Lessons learned

Over the years, certain design conversations and ideas seem to recur. We have collected the result at Get Involved/Design/Lessons Learned.

Old Things