Locked out!
Several people have asked why I haven't uploaded my templates to OpenWebDesign.org again, now that the new site owner has removed the hidden links from the templates. The answer is simple: I am not welcome on OWD anymore. I have been punished with a ban, in the form of a locked door. My user login is no longer functional, so I am not able to login and update my own templates or my user page. I have known this for more than a week, but waited to see if it was just a temporary ban given when the discussions were most active. But a week later, I am still locked out so I can only assume that it is permanent.
Now, don't get me wrong. I actually don't mind that ban, it is great humor. But it makes it impossible for me to support OWD, something I have done all the way from its launch until this point. Starting today, I will put my energy on distributing the templates through my own website and through the new OpenDesigns.org where I have my own user page. I have lots of new material coming out in a few days, and even if my templates would automagically reappear on OWD in the future, you will not find any of my new releases or updated versions there.
I will write more about that in a few days, but with this post I put an end on my part of the "OWD secret links" story, and sadly also on my participation on OpenWebDesign. Thanks to the OWD community for a great year, see you on OpenDesigns from now on!
Edit (December 11th): Ok, this did not end the story after all. Please read the following post as well, which definitely puts an end to the story.
Comments can be only posted for 14 days after the post date. If you have comments about an older post such as this one, feel free to send me an e-mail!
Comment from hcgtv
Time: December 10, 2006, 22:47
Hey, screw em :)
All these design sites are nice, they are a great asset to the community, but they lack one thing, finished templates for specific systems.
Now if you couple the designs with templates for Wordpress, Textpattern, Joomla! or whatever other systems you can get developers on board for, then you're cooking.
Comment from seanrox
Time: December 10, 2006, 23:11
Thanks for your post Andreas.
You have a lot to offer the design community and you know that people really enjoy your work, so keep it up. It will be nice to see your new and improved designs on the new OpenDesigns.org site.
@hcgtv: There are plans for OpenDesigns.org to have a section for WordPress themes and other CMS systems to go along with the other downloads.
Comment from hcgtv
Time: December 11, 2006, 0:22
Sean, that's good news, then your site will set itself apart.
Comment from Ainslie
Time: December 11, 2006, 1:04
Shame to hear you are locked out of OWD although I suppose it is to be expected. Still, don't look back, only the future is important. Your design talent is well respected and people will follow wherever you go.
@hcgtv: Andreas is already well represented with ports to many CMSs :-)
Comment from Wolfgang
Time: December 11, 2006, 2:17
Andreas, sorry to hear about the OWD lockout. This was probably the price you paid for making us all aware of the secret abuses happening at OWD. On the other hand, scores of designers thank you for the courage you showed in revealing what was going on. Never forget, you have lots of friends and design colleagues out here. We can understand how you feel, and we are happy to see you continuing to be around, from now on at OpenDesigns.org. Let us now look forward and invest our combined potentials to make OpenDesigns.org the best webtemplate site there ever was. Andreas, unplug and let your design stream flow! Your designs are ALL welcome at OpenDesigns.org!!
Comment from Wolfgang
Time: December 11, 2006, 2:30
Just checked your templates at OWD, they are all online again (except Andreas01) and they also have visible ad links at the bottom (but no hidden links). Maybe the links are there with your approval this time. … No, I don't to write about this anymore, it only makes me sad … See you over at OpenDesigns.org!!
Comment from Carl Galloway
Time: December 11, 2006, 2:42
Andreas those of us who support you will keep visiting your own site for updates, and OpenDesign is already shaping up to be the main replacement anyway so you seem to have made the right decision - Good Luck!
Comment from NickyD
Time: December 11, 2006, 4:01
Sorry to hear about the ban. You still have many fans out there that are looking forward to seeing your new templates. Let's see them, you have been promising them for months already :)
Comment from Icyone
Time: December 11, 2006, 4:03
Can't wait to see you (with some new designs maybe…) over at OpenDesigns.org.
hope you are feeling alot better also after your toothache ordeal.
those are always worse than breaking bones in my opinion.
Comment from seanrox
Time: December 11, 2006, 10:15
Yes Andreas, like NickyD said and I have before too, stop teasing us… give us your new designs :)
Comment from Actionhjältinnan
Time: December 11, 2006, 10:48
Hello!
I'm just popping in to say thanks as I see that you made the theme that I adated for my blogg. Thank you ever so much! :-)
Comment from Thomas
Time: December 11, 2006, 11:41
It's a shame that OWD has turned sour to be honest. Good luck on OpenDesigns.org.
Comment from Nitro
Time: December 10, 2006, 22:21
That's bad.
Quite honestly I think that's odd. huh.