As I wonder how Ribblr can possibly fix the issue most designers have, I am almost stumped. Many solutions have been made. But I have seen nothing to suggest this point.
What if, what if there was a limit on how many tests you can apply for at one time? Maybe the patterns could be “graded” somehow for the time it would take to make the project.
So you could only apply to 1 large project, and nothing else until that is completed. If not completed, maybe still not allow another test until the time frame is up.
Medium size project and 1 small project could be applied for at the same time.
Small projects, maybe 3 at a time.
The issue I see is that people apply for everything hoping to get something. Then when they do, they don’t do them all.
Another issue is getting a small test that would take 3 hours, and not starting it for 3 weeks (because they can). Most designers would post immediately, if not for the one straggler.
If the time to apply for more patterns doubles if ghosted, it might help that too.
Like, let’s say a large pattern is given 14 days. No more applications until accepted or denied is completed. (yes, there would need to be something so the designer is held accountable also, but that’s another idea.) If denied, applications can commence again. If accepted, nothing more for 14 days or until karma is given, example, one day later. It would encourage completion.
Now let’s say the initial message does not even get a response (ghosted). Make them wait not the initial 14 days, but 28 days to apply for another test. It would encourage communication. If something comes up so you cannot test, sorry. But then you also have time to wait to apply for more and maybe you will be ready by then.
I think I understood and I like the idea of having testers wait to apply to a test if they’re ghosting, etc
The only problem is I’ve had designers ghost me so their pattern still remains in my testing tab since they haven’t completed and removed or they took extremely long times to respond about it and I imagine it could be the same for other testers with this issue. As despite already being done we wouldn’t be able to apply to another test since a completed test is still in our pattern tab
Perhaps instead of a limit to how many you apply for, designers can mark certain things about a tester (no response, didn’t finish, etc) and have it reviewed by Ribblr with proof and then have the penalties affect them?
Perhaps a review system? Kind of like the thumbs up or down in the journal for a pattern,
Was this tester able to finish by the due date?
Was this tester responsive in the tester group chat?
Etc
I do think having penalties will encourage testers that apply to test to actually finish
Edit: perhaps a review system by the testers for the designer can also be in place and like a journal + thumbs up or down can write some things like
They didn’t finish by due date but was responsive and asked for extension(s) etc or they were very informative, etc with the same for the designer written by testers?
Designers would be able to see those “journal notes + ” when testers apply for a test not sure how it would be for testers to see designers though
Perhaps some penalties for designers would be they won’t be able to post a tester call for x days, etc?
Makes sense, but I personally don’t agree.
I’ve had too many designers completely ghost me or just not respond for months for these ideas to work properly.
I don’t think we need to limit the amount of tests, but we do need to find a way to hold both the designers and the testers accountable.
As for this,
I feel like this can be solved by putting something in your tester call that is along the lines of: Must start by (date). If I do not have communication and proof you have started by then, you will be removed from testing
It does suck to have to remove them though ://
This also wouldn’t really work. I had a designer gift me karma over 5 months after I finished testing. The reasoning I was given was “I didn’t feel like reading through your message, so I forgot”
I’ve only had 3 designers give me karma within two days of me finishing; two were friends.
If there was a way to hold both sides accountable I think it would fix a lot of problems
I won’t say who, or on what website, but I have been ghosted by the designer and then kicked for not being responsive, despite how I was the one waiting for a response.
So I would say if there would be a “review system”, the designer and the tester can have input (such as selecting a pre-made message, like “didn’t finish”, “wasn’t responding”). In my case, where I was kicked from the test, I would be able to say that I was waiting for a response.
As for applying to tests, maybe have it be once every 5 or so minutes, so “apply to everything right now” will be less likely.
I did think of maybe having a system where you can set it so only people with x amount of karma can apply, but that might be really difficult to code.
Maybe there could be a thing where if you want to start applying as a tester, you have to do a generic pattern (set by Ribblr), and then you have to finish it in x time? Basically, select what generic pattern you will test for (crochet granny square, very basic knit washcloth), given a week, and then have to submit a photo for it in that time frame.
It could then be reviewed, and if you finish in that time frame you will be allowed to test for patterns by users.
I don’t know how much that will help, but it might filter out the ones who just “get pattern and ghost”.
honestly, I don’t really agree with this, for it wouldn’t work for me
I (tho I’m quite new) only apply to tests I’m actually interested in. Also the thing is, I also apply to a bunch of tests, but I set aside 7-11 hours on Saturday to do “creative stuff” — which includes testing. If a test is due soon or if it’s a big project, I’ll set aside about 2-3 hours on the regular week day too. (I’ll always complete by the due date, and if you would want me to complete it sooner I’d gladly do that)
Then there’s also the issue of designers ghosting people (again, I’m quite new, and haven’t had that happen to me — YET). That obviously would be an issue if people wouldn’t be able apply for more tests just because the designer I guess didn’t want to put effort into their own pattern (honestly I don’t know why designers would do this)
I like the idea of the review system that people above have already made an idea of?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! We have an upcoming feature drop with lots of new improvement for our safe testing tools. If you want to be the first to test it but haven’t yet applied, check this out: https://meet.ribblr.com/g/RibblrTesters
I’m half and half on this. I think there should be a limit, but just a larger more general limit. I’m thinking this because you could apply and get into like 3 small pattern tests, and then finish them all, but you couldn’t do anymore pattern tests because groups of pattern designers seem to send them out in waves, and then it’s a bit before the next wave of patterns, but you could apply to them all because there’s a limit of the amount of pattern tests you can apply and get into. Do you get what I mean? I’m kind of confusing myself as I write this
Anyways that’s just my opinion so it doesn’t matter that much
I went in to look for my last tester call. Found it. Will share below. It was pretty specific. I got a couple of my usual great testers, but still got one that just didn’t do it. Didn’t ghost, but didn’t finish. Screenshot of their message at the end, blacked out to not show who it was. It was on December 23rd …
This is it… Old, and obviously closed, but you see how it takes the fun out of designing and needing to find testers. Posted on November 23rd.
After some back and forth comments, this was one month later, and 22 days late …
I mean, i dont fully support the limit idea, cause i can finish tests quickly and be fine. I am more on the side of reviwing testers, because it would be a great way for the designers to communicate and choose better testers. I do feel bad tho, because im gonna be honest, i have aborted from a few tests, either because i finished and the designer was unresponsive, or i couldnt finish, told them, and they didnt remove me.
In my opinion, testers and designers alike should try their best to make the testing experience great. Designers, communicate well and check in, and testers, apply for what you know you can finish in time, dont apply for hundreds of tests, and please communicate!
I don’t really like the limit cuz I finish tests as quickly as I can, but I do like the idea of something like a review. I think it’ll help people choose testers, but a down side could be that someone gets a bad review and then they don’t get chosen again. Still like it though.
we could do something where a tester can only have a certain number of patterns they get removed from before they can’t test for a month or a few months or a year if they continue to drop tests, so essentially what you said
That’s a really good idea. It sounds relatively simple to implement, and hopefully the people that are ghosting would then be more incentivized to actually complete what they’ve committed to.
i like this idea and concept but i think it would fair better if there werent limits, I think its unfair as i apply a lot as i have a lot of free time at my job, so i enjoy having a few things to pattern test at a time.
I think what might work better is if there is a rating system, Like ribblr asks at the end of a pattern test,
Did the tester complete the pattern test
then also make it so that there are due dates set on the test so the ribblr pattern person can put a limit and then when that limit is up the Pattern maker MUST answer the question for each person they chose as a tester BEFORE they can post that pattern for sale or up for free.
That way both sides are held accountable and there are more strict limits, they can always add the feature to offer extentions and if the pattern maker doesnt respond to the questions within a 3-5 days or something then ribblr can just auto say that all testers completed the pattern and give them karma.
that way people dont get karma if they dont deserve it. And if the pattern maker says no they didnt complete it maybe they can get negative karma.
” when testers apply for a test not sure how it would be for testers to see designers though
