Web Standards Design + Development

Questions + Answers.

How is it being moderated and how will the quality fare? Will it be the best of the best or will anyone be approved?

Currently LinkedIn does not have any really good tools for moderating groups but I have been told that these things are on there way. So for now it's all skate, all skate. It's also important to keep in mind that this isn't a portfolio review (maybe one day we'll expand but for now lets keep it simple), the purpose of WSD+D is to form a strong network of peers, business contacts, and maybe a mentor or two.

We need another "best of the best club" like we need another eccentric British web designer sporting lamb chops--we already got one of those and he fits that role quiet nicely. Quality of applicants are a reflection of the web: All over the place. The group roster includes all the names most of us in web standards business would recognize immediately and there are many, many people who just haven't made a name for themselves yet or they are perfectly happy lurking in the back row, for now.

I'm sure there are quite a few who have zero business affiliating themselves with such a group as this but I'm not too concerned about that right now. When we start requiring members to wear sport coats with the WSD+D crest then we'll find a way to weed out the posers and groupies (unless they're willing pay an absurd amount of money to hang out in the clubhouse).

Do you have any criteria in mind for who joins the group? I've snooped around groups across different industries, but none have any specific criteria they require. I was curious if I would find one that make people pass a quiz or something.

This isn't high school. We're not going to hold standardized testing, nor am I, or anyone else, going to 'grade' exams. If people join and they clearly don't belong then I guess we'll all have to live in a post 9/11 world wherein some members might not actually know a thing about XHTML or, God forbid, actively use Frontpage 98.

We can all learn from each other and better not only ourselves, but the industry as a whole. It is definitely something I would love to be a part of.

That's what I was thinking.

"I'm curious about what you see as the upside."

I'd like to see us all learn from each other on how to work smarter, faster, and cheaper (see above). We'll see how it goes.

Almost Madison.

As of today, Sunday, June 8th, there are four-thousand WSD+D members. The member roster is made up of a wonderful collection of skills sets and levels of talent. We've got everyone from the big names in the business to students and professionals to amateurs who would love to quit their day job and become a full-time designer or developer.

I'm excited by the quick establishment of this group and the opportunities that might lay ahead. Already there has been a flurry of activity as members are networking with other members and people within LinkedIn.

This is exactly what I was hoping would happen.

Admittedly this is moving a bit faster than anticipated and thus was unprepared for some of the questions that came in via email. Answers to some of the more frequent queries will be answered later this week. Check back here and/or subscribe to the WSD+D news feed.

I do want to answer one concern that a few people had about the purpose of this group. There are already very well established communities for you and I to learn how to advance our vocational skills, talent, and more. There is no need to replicate those endeavors simply for the sake of doing so: divided we fall and all that.

I see this group as a way for us to increase our visibility to the business community (the people who like to trade money for design and development) and become increasingly savvy about how to increase our opportunities.