Good Day Ribblr Family,
As both the Designers and the Testers have discussions going on ways to improve the Tester Call process, I am starting this topic to bring all the comments, ideas, suggestions, and concerns onto one thread. This will help when the process update truly gets updated.
Please remember, we want to be respectful of everyone’s input. No suggestion is unwanted. The more we hear from everyone’s point of view, the easier it will be to compile the best suggestions to design the process with a win-win mindset.
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I definitely would like to see my status on if ive applied to test anything and if ive been rejected or chosen by a certain point. Also being able to remove myself from the testing application would be nice
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for journals (which I guess isn’t really testing but we use it for testing) I’d love if we could have like a swipe system kind of where you can add multiple pictures in a single journal note. Like in the pattern you can swipe and see more pictures
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I think a combination of the testers discussion as well as the designers discussion would be nice.
Designers portion:
A limit that can grow by gaining Karma and maintaining a good completion rate. A limit of 4 or 5 tests to start and you can gain more after gaining 10-20 karma. This way it’s not a permanent limit, but it helps testers build good testing habits and allows them to explore their limits for how much they can have on their plate at once without going overboard. I think adding in that designers can see how many tests an applicant has when applying to tests (not what they are testing, just a number) would be beneficial in helping designers pick testers that fit their needs best.
Tester side:
I know they wanted overhauls to the application process, but I think testers need a more efficient way to leave an abandoned test without it hurting them than what we have currently. I see a lot of pushback on the designers side of things coming from this one source. Maybe allow testers to back out 1-2 weeks after due date has passed. I’m not sure exactly how this would best work and would love some thoughts on this part. I do agree that this is unfair to testers to just be stuck with a test in their library even though the designer has abandoned the test.
6 Likes
I could imagine an option that everybody is gifted the pattern after like 5 days past due date. Active designers can put the due date on a time convinient for them so that they are able to remove everyone who didn’t finish or close the test before that. But if the designer is inactive for whatever reason the testers aren’t harmed by it
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I like the idea of a testing limit that’s grows with karma.
I disagree about making how many test someone has part of the decision who’s chosen though.
First of all, I don’t think both is necessary. And second I think it could lead to people testing less. Think about it this way: There are every once in a while tester calls where nearly everybody really really wants to test. But you never know when. So when I just decided to help out testing one or two rather simple patterns - that will decrease my chances to get picked for that special test. So I will think twice about helping out with a “normal” test. Same counting for bigger makes or more complicated ones that will “block your testing spots” longer.
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I see the concern about that.
But I also see how everyone treats these “special” tests…and how there are zero complaints about the due date or how short the testing period is or the requirements to be considered for testing.
Testers do not treat all designers fairly…and the designers who do not receive the “special” status like others are left with their tests being put on a back burner in a lot of cases due to a “special” test popping up.
So while I understand your concern for this, I also understand that the “special” ones are likely not even involved in this discussion and are likely not even familiar with anyone in the community…so I doubt they’d pay attention to that feature.
My suggestion is for the benefit of all designers on this platform…specifically tho…for those that don’t get 40-60+ applications to test.
6 Likes
I don’t think it would lead to anyone testing less, but I do think it would lead to people being more mindful of what they are testing and how many they are signing up for.
Right now, it is an actual free for all and people are more than likely using tests as a way to get free patterns/collect patterns.
I do think that it would empower designers to be able to stick to their rules instead of just giving people the pattern despite not having completed all requirements or being excessively late.
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This is a great idea to gather suggestions in one spot!
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As a designer who has hit or miss patterns, I’m getting frustrated with ribblr testing tbh. Designers that are popular can get away with a single week for testing and no one bats an eyelash, they get dozens of applications. But if I were to do that, I would get maybe one. And if that test came out in the middle of mine, I know plenty of people would likely ghost me to finish that one instead or ask for an extension.
Most people here only seem to care about getting a free pattern which was even made obvious by some saying they test constantly so they have plenty of patterns for their market. To me that says they don’t actually pay attention. They’re just making it to make it. The best testers take their time reading everything for errors, sometimes making the item twice even.
I’m nearing the point where I’m debating about having a small group of permanent testers on ribblr, those who I trust are there not just for a free pattern, but are there to help when I need it. I’m also debating about testing solely on IG going forward since I’ve had a much better experience there since the people applying are much more serious about testing.
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i saw someone mention smth about a testing process course, which i think would be really cool! it would be amazing to know that everyone posting a tester call had gone through the course and understands how it works.
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I mostly agree with what you said. Though my ig experince is that no one cares to test my patterns and I don’t feel safe any more giving people pdfs of my patterns cause they’ll probably end up being shared freely or sold by other people.
I’m not sure if ribblr can actually do something about people not being consistent or caring for some patterns more than others, but I think what @marshmalli suggests is a very good idea
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Maybe make it so you can’t test more than 4 patters at the same time
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I agree, would definitely like to be able to add multiple pictures.
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I feel like Ribblr should implement a daily limit for testers applying to tests. As a designer who posts tester calls, it’s frustrating to get a tester application from someone who doesn’t follow tester requirements because they’re just clicking the application link on all of the tester calls they like or the patterns that they want.
I also feel like Ribblr should allow designers to give a reason (if they want) for why they may have rejected/removed/blocked a specific user from a test and this would determine how Karm/completion rate is affected. This information should also be viewable to other designers.
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I don’t think it’s fair to say that someone who tests a lot and goes to markets is a bad tester and just wants the patterns. Maybe you have a specific person in mind for whom that’s true but this can’t be generalised for everyone. Having an experienced tester can have it’s benefits and there are so many free patterns out there that you really don’t have to bother with possibly imperfect instructions when making stuff for a market.
Speaking as someone who doesn’t do markets by the way
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Unpopular opinion maybe but I think you have a point here about designers not sticking to their own rules. If you don’t want to give much time for testing or don’t want to do extensions then don’t. If your pattern is good enough you will still get testers. It’s part of the truth that some tester calls are in a rough shape. Bad or no pictures, missing informations, etc
Also I see all those testing feedbacks just posting a picture and no feedback at all, and when I look at the pattern there are plenty obvious mistakes. And nobody says anything. The one time I did I got hated for it. It’s not (just) Ribblrs job to “train” users, it’s our job to shape a community the way we want it to be.
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I would LOVE being able to remove myself from a testing application as I have accidentally applied a couple times. Oopsie.
How do you accidentally apply when you have to specifically click the picture and answer “ok or cancel”, you might ask? Well, let me tell you.
I forget that clicking the picture will not make it bigger and that it leads to an application. Ok then click cancel, dummy. Yes, yes, that works when I don’t panic and accidentally click ok. User error for sure but it happens nonetheless.
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I forget that it won’t enlarge the pic too
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