Art: One of the most powerful of all versions of expression. Kinda like smell...it's either a great turn on, a somewhat "heh...that's ok", or it bloody well stinks to high heavens!!
Not at all very lenient, few categories to define it.
Constructive criticism is not defined by someone saying "it SHOULD be like this, or I would have done it THAT way". Sorry to say, that leaving comments on how YOU would have done it, is a moot point, and pompous to be direct. It's not your skin to say what the outcome should be. This goes for oil paintings, wallpapers, graphic design...etc, etc.
My view on constructive criticism, is HOW the skin reacts with the desktop environment. Some have noted that they download the theme, apply it...and see how well it responds to use. I seemed to see that the Control Panel issue runs rampant among starter skins, all the way up to the levels of JJ Ying, or VStyler... simple things, yet people get bashed for it with the words "needs to be fixed". Comments like "needs rollover buttons or I'm not going to use it"... WHAT!?!?! The skin is as it is. Use it, Like it....or not. No one's bending your arm over your head and up your anal region to get you to like it.
If you plan on offering true criticism, there are lots of ways to do this...so that the person creating the theme sees it thru YOUR eyes. Get that person to stand in front of that same mirror you're looking into so they can see what you do. I think more and more nowadays, people use things like "the start menu fonts look like shit" as an effort to compile constructive criticism, when, (like I've had to endure) it can boil down to an issue with a desktop setting, or worse, it didn't install correctly.
I've seen themes here get great attention....but in a real world, they are almost useless to use on a daily basis. Why? The artistry going into them is fantastic, but then you apply the theme to see that the window border size is GIGANTIC taking up valuable screen real estate. Or the bottom window frame is so small, that the typical program text that would otherwise show up at the bottom, isn't there anymore. As someone already pointed out, the DELETE button is there and it takes a millionth of a second to click, vs typing a long speech on how you disliked the theme and offer it as criticism.
In my little world, I appreciate the artistry of the themes I've seen over the years. It's come a long way... however, what makes a usable theme to me, isn't easy to find.
I'm not sure if anyone really noticed the full effect of the last GUI Championships...but in my opinion, a winning theme (not for the purpose of a prize) is a usable theme. Themes that tend to have nothing to them, or those that try and stuff ten pounds of crap in a five pound bag...well, it's like Hell, great place to visit, don't want to live there.
Remember, true criticism allows another to see things thru another's eyes...let the artist make the fixes if that is the proper course. Using your power as a "master" creator to thrust your opinions to reflect changes you want in a theme...(not reflecting on a master level user here, just those that have been around the block)...well, that's what you have Skin Studio for. Ask permission, and change it yourself to use.
