The Jocks & The Geeks
My Twitter blew up as everyone piped into the conversation about web celebrities. I’ve worked for one of the top names in the Ruby industry, and now what I would consider one of the top in the design industry. Yet I’m an active advocate against the web celebrity scene.
I’ve futilely fought against what I’ve seen as the pompous circle-jerking side of the web industry since I was in my teens. I was not the cool kid in school – In fact, bullied mercilessly. I got into the web to create, to get away from that bullshit with my like-minded nerds. Then as I moved from my own little circle into the more general on the web I noticed that it was more and more like high school.
As time goes on, the rich get richer. The more well known get more well known. If I compare who I considered popular in 2005, compared to now — there are barely any differences. All of the people I would consider are active bloggers and speakers. Saying that if I look among some of their portfolios you’ll realise most of them don’t practice what they preach, or don’t really practice their craft to a high standard at all.
The truth is 80% of the web celebrities I have met are some of the most decent people I’ve ever met. I have fond memories of the personal kindness I have seen from some of the web celebrities to me.
Though I’ve had many a friend snub me when I speak out against the web celebrity scene (this will be my 4th time on this blog) because I wasn’t deemed popular enough. 20% may not be much, but I feel that it’s an acceptable way of behaving in this industry.
How does one get their thoughts known in the web industry now? You don’t need skill. You need popularity. You need to speak at conferences, or spend your time buttering up to already celebs. The truth is; some people don’t want to talk at conferences. I’m going to be presenting at my local Ruby User Group sometime, but I am not set on big conferences. That means that a lot of the work I’ve done won’t be seen. Think about the last 5 web conferences? It’s always the same people speaking. It has been since I entered this community.
My biggest referrals are always things like YCombinator, Digg, Delicious. Where the average Joe votes. I may get 5,000 here and there from web celebs but the chances are they’re too busy linking among themselves.
I’m hearing the argument that people who aren’t heard on the web aren’t trying hard enough. I call bullshit. I’ve seen some amazing designers and developers get sidelined. Yet, I see the most inane posts get popular because they’ve worked their way up the web celeb’ ladder.
Sour grapes, much? Absolutely. I can’t be any more truthful about how I feel. There is no avoiding this cartel culture if you live and breathe on the web. It’s turned off so many people I know getting into this industry. We’re such a new industry; look at the way our offices work compared to others. Why can’t we have another culture as well?
When Dribbble was introduced, I discovered a bunch of amazing designers I had never heard of before. That never got exposed due to the fact it was previously a closed community. Saying that, those people I see barely get any exposure outside of Dribbble even now. I can’t name anyone who’s gained enough exposure they’re now one of the “cool kids.”
The moral of the story is; fuck everyone else. If you care enough, stick at what you’re doing – The people who matter, will notice.
Update 1: This is in no way affiliated with my employers.
Update 2: Being aggressive and spiteful is not the solution. I really don’t condone that sort of behaviour.
Update 2: There’s been some insults flying around on the web due to people not deserving awards. Truthfully, I don’t think the person deserved it, but they deserved the insults far less. People being mean isn’t going to solve anything – it just makes the person behind the attacks look worse.
I wrote this post so we can enable discussion. THAT’s what I think will get us out of this mess.
I mostly agree with this article. There is a lot of praise that goes around based on past work and not the integrity of the current work. It tends to be the once trend setters who linger but sometimes it can just be a fluke I imagine. Many factors play into becoming a “popular kid”. Sometimes you can bet it’s a “right place at the right time” scenario, but for the most part it’s a mystery. It’s the Kardasian effect implanted in the world of design, maybe. Dribbble is a great resource and has catered to both sides, like you said. However, there are also too many factors to why people get side-lined in the design community. It happens across all industries. I think what it comes down to is just being happy with the work you are doing. Like you said, forget everyone else. We just need to be more passionate about our own work, rather than the work of others. Respect it, don’t worship it.
This is absolutely spot on Zach. I think, for what it’s worth, just because someone’s invited to speak on a stage, about a subject they barely know, they aren’t necessarily “successful”.
How many of these “celebrities” do you think pin down a 6 figure personal income? What _really_ exciting and big projects do they get to work on and how consistently? How known is their work outside of the “geek community”? Do you think they’ll still be “stars” in 3 or 5 years time?
I’ve never tried to pursue stardom within our community, I’ve focused on building up a business that is known for great work and a strong sense of purpose in our work. This has given me a far better personal quality of life than any “fame-chasing” approach could have offered, and I’m far more proud of the work our growing studio is producing.
I was completely pleased to discover that some of the webstar that I met, where wonderful people, that you can talk to. And they would listen and talk to you back without an inch of superiority. It makes me love my job even more. I do things for passion, and I believe a lot in the active sharing in a community. So I am not so bothered like it seems to me that you feel with your post about what is happening.
I agree with you that who is rich it get richer, and who is famous it just stay famous, for me that it is a normal law of nature.
I personally do not care to be famous, I care to learn more, and get better myself, and help the next person next to me. I am just super happy when I can influence even just one only person, in what good web design it really is, or if I can inspire my friends around me. That is the top of happiness for me.
I agree as well with the fact that I want more variety of people giving talks, because even the not famous one, are incredibly inspiring to me. I just want more and more sharing.
Seriously? Through my work at Digital Web I met a *lot* of our industry “faces” and I don’t remember a single one who was in any way a prima donna or not entirely nice, approachable and friendly.
“How does one get their thoughts known in the web industry now? You don’t need skill. You need popularity. You need to speak at conferences, or spend your time buttering up to already celebs.” — I have to agree with what Andy Budd (kind of) said the other day; this kind of statement just smacks of the wrong priorities. The people who achieved some level of fame in the industry in the early days did so not out of a desire to be famous, or even wanting to “get their thoughts known” – they blogged and presented ideas out of a desire to educate and help other designers.
I see too many young designers complaining that their work or ideas don’t get a large enough audience because all they want is adulation. If you work to educate and inform instead of impress, you might find people are more appreciative.
I am glad to see some counter argument. Most people have agreed. It’s good to get a discussion going.
See… I wasn’t meaning people who want to become famous. I mean people who want to get their knowledgable opinion heard — to better the web community.