Who Builds a View?

Building a view is a lot like putting on a rock concert. Aside from the performers that you see on stage there is a complex ecosystem of producers, writers, record executives, stage hands, technicians, equipment, and venue operators that make the concert possible.

So who are the players behind a view?

The Rock Star

Let’s be honest, rock stars can be divas. Usually when working with a rock star we stand back and let them do their thing. We’ll engage them with a fuzzy idea and let them rock out. Giving them specific requirements is a waste of talent. Their expertise and uniqueness is what makes them a rock star, so who are we to stand in the way?

You wouldn’t tell Bono how to sing With or Without You would you?

The Subject Matter Expert

At it’s core, Viewzi is about connecting you to an expert source with the answer that you are looking for. That means looking outside the designer/developer community to find an authority on a particular topic or niche.

Sometimes we fantasize about Merlin Mann leading the way on a productivity/GTD resource finder, or how Alton Brown would change how we find recipes.

The Studio Musician

Sometimes when building a view we simply just need someone to execute it, that’s where the studio musician comes in. Studio musicians are the unsung heroes in the music industry. They do all the work making the record, but don’t get to be in the video with the rock star.

Our studio musicians come in the form of developers (flash, javascript), html/css gurus, and visual designers who put a premium on craftsmanship. We pair studio musicians with subject matter experts (or patrons—more on that in a second) who don’t have the design or programming skills to actually execute a view design.

The Patron

Good ideas can come from anyone with a passion. It doesn’t have to be a subject matter expert or a rock star idea. In some cases the originator of the idea becomes the patron. For the most part the patron is hands off, only getting involved to ensure that the translation of the idea is accurate.

The Viewzi Platform

Last, but not least is the Viewzi Platform. We’re like the stagehands. The show couldn’t go on without us. It’s the shell that you see on the screen that Chris has designed to support both HTML and Flash views, the killer API that view developers use to tap into data sources, and the secret sauce that matches up a search with a view.

Every view is different. Sometimes the rock star, the studio musician, and the patron are the same person, while more complicated views have a team of people and APIs behind them, each contributing a small piece. As Viewzi matures we’ll open up the platform and allow the community to contribute views and expertise. However during this important formative stage we want to “seed” the Viewzi Platform with the highest quality views possible to set the bar high on quality, experience, and craftsmanship.