Guide to Mocking

This is what the mocks forum is for.

However, I think your problem is your level of "test picture" and that which people giving feedback on would be of any use are rather different.

If you post a thread in the mocks forum, which is clearly described as a starting point, and that you are playing with ideas, and you want feedback on the ideas, you're going to get more helpful feedback than if you just post what you have been with no description of what you are trying to do.

I would say the key to getting helpful feedback in the Gallery is to be honest , be descriptive and be thick skinned . People are more likely to be generous if the idea is good but let down by it's implementation (or rarely, the other way around), than if it's a rubbish idea, with a few minutes work spent on it and uploaded with no description of what you're actually trying to do.

Finally, even with "test pictures", leave them alone for a day or so before thinking about uploading them. If you think they're crap, don't bother hitting the new thread button, because they'll be panned. Put some time, effort and self-criticism into your work and you'll have a much better time.

Thanks for that. I do want constructive criticism not pure slagging off. I do have some test pictures but in all honesty am rather reluctant to post them.

Well if you're quite reluctant to post them, they most probably won't be very good. Only post things you, yourself are happy with. If you couldn't see your mock working on TV, or at least looking half decent - don't post it.

And another thing... If you make a mock of an imaginary channel, ignore SomeRamdomStuff!

You bring up some interesting points in your long and passioned argument... but i think better advice would be that there is nothing wrong with making a mock of an imaginary channel, but just dont post it on this forum.

99.9% of the Imaginary Channels or Programmes that are mocked on here are not only terrible designs but they are not thought through.

When you do a mock for programme like The One Show or a channel like E4, you have a baseline to begin from. You are designing something new for a pre existing programme or channel, and what you design has to fit in with the content and style of that programme or channel. Whilst this might seem limiting to some, the challenge is to use as much of your creativity as possible whilst remaining anchored to a television property that exists in the real world.

Creating a fictitious programme not only requires you to think of the purpose and content of the programme, where it would air, viewership demographics, production budget... the list goes on, but it diverts you away from the purpose of the mock, which is to create a new design.

I suppose I'm saying that it is far easier to create a mock design for a well known programme, as you don't need to explain what the programme is about, and you can just get down to business and talk about your design.

Nobody on this forum is interested in your idea for a new home makeover show, but we would be very interested in seeing what you would do to the on screen look of Changing Rooms.

When there are thousands of existing channels and programmes that you can create a mock design for, why would anyone want to design for something that doesnt exist.

Keep your imaginary channel and programme ideas to yourself, use them to practise your design skills at home if necessary, or go and pitch them to a production company. Just don't post them on the forum, they're pretty much guaranteed to get 1/5.