Judging Judging Judging

from Stardock Forums
Ah the good old days. In 2002, the date of the last GUI Olympics, skinning was not nearly as mainstream at it is today. Though at the time, we thought it was really mainstream.

What does that have to do with judging? Well, for one thing, so many of the skins are of such high quality that the judges are having to look very very closely at them. Having icons to boot makes things much tougher.

The skins of the 2002 GUI Olympics were first rate. There were some very creative skins and in some ways one might argue that creativity has lost a bit to science. For one of the things the judges are noticing is that many of the entries are so good that skinning is more science -- it's as if the evolution of skinning has moved to the point where designers have a pretty firm idea of exactly what people want in a skin which makes judging skin A and B much tougher.

Consider this list of the 2002 entries in order of most downloaded from 2002. Speaking as a non-judge of that contest, I definitely have some favorites (besides the obvious ones):
 Z
 LOS

These are just some that really stood out from the time (and is just a sampling).  But in many ways, this time around, the quality of the skins is just so fine. Those who look fondly back at the "good old days" should look carefully at the link I provide above and judge for yourself how things are going this time versus last time. The art of skinning, which was outstanding in 2002, seems to keep progressing forward.

Which brings us back to the topic at hand: The judges are really struggling with judging the skins. In 2002 it was pretty obvious often which skin should win a given event. I remember in 2002 judges saying "It's pretty obvious Mindless Puppet is going to win event X and Grayhaze event Y and Treetog event Z" and so forth.  Whereas this time it's been very close.  So stay tuned, the judges are looking very close at these skins.

For those people who disagree with the judges -- beware of making your decisions based on screenshots. The judges are using these skins over periods of days at a time. The quality is just that high that it's taking a lot more effort. Congratulations really to all the skinners. Again check out the 2002 skins and tell us what you think.

1,157 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree, the skinning is more science, but now the skins are more usable too. About base desigions in screenshots, I ever try to make complex previews of my skins cause it's like the cover package of the work and atract users to get the skin but you need to use the skin to see how the thing work's.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I must say that skinning now is a lot different than back then, but then I look at LOS by Alexandrie and see how much more of an art it was then too. That skin in my mind is one of the best ever, it is just so much more artistic, more of a trophy car than a usable car, but none the less amazing. Today's skins are more based on usability and capability, but back then a lot of them were more like a nice ferrari and you used it more as an elegance and look than usability and comfort. Today's skins are more like that small family sedan and back then, it was more like the 6 figure sports car. Now you like to use them, back then you liked to have them. ___________ InvIncIble
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
by Citizen Invincible0 - 5/23/2004 11:01:19 AM Today's skins are more like that small family sedan and back then, it was more like the 6 figure sports car. Now you like to use them, back then you liked to have them. Excellently put. I have to say, however, you don't see the intricate detail and obvious time put into skins today as you do in those like SETI Green. Today it's all about gradients and shiny reflections (and I definately do not speak for every skin out there - plenty of them break this cliche). I'm more than impressed with the skins coming out for this 2004 GUIO, but I think I would have liked to see more originality.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think some people should look at my skin Legacy, Gabe's skin G-Pod and those done by DanilloOc. there are several more, but you if you zoom in on most of the graphics in these skins using psp or photoshop. you're actually see the detail we put into them. I know for a fact on my skin how detailed it is, and the above statements pissed me off.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Since skins have gone mainstream, the usability factor, has gone to the top of the list. Do people want to sell thier skins to people that have to download a set of instructions on how to use it? Of course not. Remember the good old days, when someone could ask for a skin in the morning and someone would have it for them by lunch. It's just not that way any more. A good, quality skin, can take up to 2 weeks to a month. Alot of the new people like the flash in the pan when they start out, but after the new car smell goes away, they tend to go for the usability factor. We're so accustomed to being inside the box, it's hard to break out of it.;)
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Not sure if it's just me, but the change in skinning over the years (I've been skinning for almost 10 years now in one form of another),is that it has been maturing and is continuing to mature. You may not think they are as creative (which I strongly disagree with) but I would rather use, for example, Vector Cell or Kewk-Hoe now than any of the other winners skins from 2002. Not because I feel those winners wearnt good skins then, but in comparison the bar has just been raised in the past 2 years. Septimus
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
...and don't forget, people just like to change their skins regularly. Use them for a few weeks, then use a different one. The fact that the newer skins add functionality or are more useable is possibly secondary to the 'new look' factor. Skins are foremost a visual thing.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'd love to see someone update SETI Green with WB4 features. That'd rock.