Open source means open end. Famous in software creation, the open-source way of creating products has been witnessed in other areas as well, such as windsurfing. The definition of open source usually builds on a share-alike licensing arrangement, which has been adopted for Shufflesome as well.

Open source can generally be understood as product creation by users for users.

I adopted this method for Shufflesome, and in fact, it guides my perspective for doing anything. I had been observing compositions for iPod shuffle sticker outfits since around January 2005. I was baffled to see the SAA community grow - grow as a purely visual pool of ideas for sticker designs. Baffled, because how could you find satisfaction in just seeing the designs on screen?

Designs for the iPod shuffle are so interesting to me, because, worn as a necklace, the imagery adds symbolic power to the iPod shuffle. A necklace for the mp3 generation it is. Other mp3 players in contrast do not really have this characteristic, do they?

You could find several do-it-yourself instructions on the net to put your own design on sticker paper. I surely would not be satisfied with that. The time you have to invest to research materials, find/create a template that fits well, is all costly. So, why not share the learning experience, and bundle design orders to achieve better quality and lower costs for everybody?

Shufflesome advocates user-driven product creation in a setting, that also encourages contributions from professional graphic designers. With a licensing arrangement in place that conforms to the open-source model and a design template that can´t be beat* in precision and completeness, you are free to make your design more than a virtual artefact.

Do it yourself is cool. Co-creation is better.

* prove me wrong if you will.

Tags: shufflesome open source co-creation iPod shuffle shuffle DIY