Development/Technical

Hi Claire & Ilia,

Just a few thoughts . . .

On the technical front, we will have to have a standard format for users to submit their work. From previous experience, this would have to be a digital reproduction of the artwork with specific resolution and dimensions. If users are confident, (and if our site has a well designed interface!), this could be done completely remotely. If our users are creatively rather than technologically minded, they should be able to send the images to us in whatever form and we will manipulate it on their behalf. No doubt, we should have limitations on this; eg we don't really want them to send us the work itself as this would mean we would require scanners etc.

This is fine for traditional fine art but as we are including things like video, installation and so on - I'm afraid my technical knowledge dwindles!

The Development questions raised in the coursework brief aren't particularly relevant to our product so they will need to be adapted.

• Will new material need to be commissioned, or provided?

Well, provided obviously. It seems logical that, if we are targeting our product at recent graduates, there will be one big surge of new material deposited per year. Perhaps this has financial implications that are worth considering. And is there a way of evening this out over the duration of the year so that, 9 months after graduation we are aren't starving and penniless?!

I suppose this where our exhibitions idea would come into its own - it could be away of reinvigorating interest in the site and generating revenue.

• Will you need an editorial board/advisors?

Claire has already referred to this in her earlier post. But to elaborate, I think that the editorial role would, inevitably, mature and change over time and as we establish a reputation for ourselves. Starting out, we will be keen to get as many people signed up to our site as possible. As time goes by and we become a recognised and respected name in the industry (!), we can afford to be a wee bit more discerning in what we choose to accept. Or is that a bit capitalist and cruel?

• Who will they be, and how will you recruit them?

I think that, if we are going to have any credibility as an authoritative organisation, we are going to need to have someone - or at least be able to seek advice from someone - with an artistic background. A critic perhaps . . .

Or actually, thinking about it, the fact that the works on our site will be judged by other users, perhaps we don't need someone with specialist knowledge. How liberal and egalitarian is that?!

Ok, so the questions on the guidline sheet are actually quite relevant to our product.

Has anyone thought of a name yet? It has been brought to my attention that the Saatchi site has a subsiduary art student site called 'Stuart' - Stu-dent Art - get it? I like the idea in principle . . . sort of. But I think we could do better.

Carly

xxx