# Categorisation, tagging, default appearance

**URL:** <https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21>\
**Category:** Forum feedback\
**Created:** [April 8, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21 "2017-04-08T00:38:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![grahamperrin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/grahamperrin/32/62_2.png) [@grahamperrin](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/grahamperrin)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/1 "2017-04-08T00:38:17Z")

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Briefly

## Categorisation

A comparison, for a moment. In theory I like the default appearance of [https://discourse.mozilla-community.org/](https://discourse.mozilla-community.org/) (at a glance; I’m new there) – a sense of order, and prominence to **Categories**.

Here, at the time of writing, the partial skeleton of categories is loosely based on some of the points at [https://github.com/opensourcedesign/organization/issues/79#issuecomment-291566837](https://github.com/opensourcedesign/organization/issues/79#issuecomment-291566837)

Gut feeling (I need to sleep on this): if categories are introduced too soon – and let’s assume that thoughts on categorisation will shift over time – the effect could be counterproductive, maybe disorienting. Rather than _begin_ with categories, maybe instead:

1. perform (or allow) some seeding of topics, to be the flesh
2. a reasonable length of time to see how things naturally shape up
3. then begin categorising.

Flesh-before-skeleton might be not a norm for starting a forum 🙂 but that’s what’s in my sleepy early-hours head at the moment.

## Tagging

Off by default. I shouldn’t rush to enable it.

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**Author:** ![grahamperrin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/grahamperrin/32/62_2.png) [@grahamperrin](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/grahamperrin)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 11:27am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/2 "2017-04-08T11:27:50Z")

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Confession: I did not read the private **READ ME FIRST: Getting Started** topic – guidance for local staff (administrators and moderators) – until hours _after_ I started.

Ignoring the READ ME was a bad start by me 😳 but not entirely bad; there’s this, which strengthens my gut feeling about not rushing any categorisation:

> … **Don’t create too many initial categories** , as you can overwhelm your audience. You can always add more categories, and easily bulk recategorize topics later. It’s better to figure out the organization as you go rather than assuming you’ll get it all right from the beginning.&nbsp;…

I’m tempted to remove the _Events_, _Meetings_, _Projects_ and _Tools_ categories, all of which are empty. That’s not to say that they’ll never be useful; I simply don’t see them as _immediately_ useful for seed purposes …

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**Author:** ![studiospring](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/studiospring/32/5_2.png) [@studiospring](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/studiospring)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/3 "2017-04-08T12:06:00Z")

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Agreed. We can let the categories grow organically. I’ll remove the temptation for you 🙂. We can always add them back if/when needed.

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**Author:** ![simonv3](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/simonv3/32/15_2.png) [@simonv3](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/simonv3)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/4 "2017-04-11T16:31:44Z")

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@grahamperrin If it’s possible to make the README public, can you please do so?

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**Author:** ![grahamperrin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/grahamperrin/32/62_2.png) [@grahamperrin](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/grahamperrin)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 9:58am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/6 "2017-04-13T09:58:30Z")

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> [@First impressions (preview)](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/first-impressions-preview/37/11):
>
> I think the site simply being open to the public will be explanatory enough.

👍

I’ll hide the empty _Announcements_ category. It was present only for a short while, and only with an assumption that an announcement would be required. We can easily bring it back. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![jdittrich](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jdittrich/32/42_2.png) [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/7 "2017-04-18T17:06:20Z")

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For any Opensourcedesign related topics we only have the category “Events”. The others are “Site feedback” and the lounge, a “An easy-going place for topics that are not directly related to OSD matters.” Thus we currently have no way of actually categorizing content.

Based on what we discussed on github my experiences with other communities I suggest the following initial categories:

- Communicating & Collaborating in design (methods and ideas on communicating design, resolving issues and collaborating across disciplines)
- User Research (User Research for and with free projects)
- Graphic Design (Graphic Design like Logos, Colorschemes, Fonts… for and with free projects)
- UI/Interaction Design (Interaction Design and UI Design for and with free projects)

– I am not an admin, so I can’t add those myself

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**Author:** ![simonv3](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/simonv3/32/15_2.png) [@simonv3](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/simonv3)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/8 "2017-04-18T19:58:03Z")

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@jdittrich what do you think about using tags?

Tags are my preferred way of categorizing things because so often things don’t fit in one category, but I also understand that they’re not quite as straightforward.

It’s my understanding that it is possible to tag things - though I don’t know if anyone can, and in that case it might be interesting to have subjects that are both User Research and Graphic Design.

There are some things that would make sense as categories though “Your Design Feedback”. I see these most as sub-forums.

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**Author:** ![simonv3](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/simonv3/32/15_2.png) [@simonv3](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/simonv3)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/9 "2017-04-18T20:01:52Z")

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On that note, @jan or one of the other admin, can you check whether it’s possible to make the default view one where things are sorted by categories, rather than just a list? That seemed like a sensible request made by @htietze:

> [@First impressions (preview)](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/first-impressions-preview/37/25):
>
> Start page throws all (new?) threads in my face. Way too many information with all the avatars. If we start with categories in h1 and some descriptive text it helps to understand what users are supposed to do here.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jdittrich](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jdittrich/32/42_2.png) [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/10 "2017-04-18T20:19:27Z")

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@simonv3 I am fine with tagging – and I also think some basic categories are useful for guidance, in particular because

- Tagging is non obvious (I could not find out how to do it)
- Categories are the seemingly discourse’s preferred way of organizing (prominent at creating and editing)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![simonv3](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/simonv3/32/15_2.png) [@simonv3](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/simonv3)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/11 "2017-04-18T22:08:16Z")

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Tagging is currently off:

> [@grahamperrin](#):
>
> Tagging
> 
> Off by default. I shouldn’t rush to enable it.

I have no idea what it looks like when it’s enabled.

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**Author:** ![evalica](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/evalica/32/9_2.png) [@evalica](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/evalica)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 9:34am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/12 "2017-04-19T09:34:22Z")

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I’ve changed “Categories” to be the default one. Let me know if this is an improvement.

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**Author:** ![evalica](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/evalica/32/9_2.png) [@evalica](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/evalica)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 9:41am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/13 "2017-04-19T09:41:49Z")

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Regarding Tags vs. Categories: I have no problem with either.

I read somewhere that Tags can be created by people with Lvl 3, while Categories might be for lvl 4. Not sure where to find the configuration for our instance, or if these are standard.

Since there is no conclusion, let’s see what other think. One solution is to have both and see which one gets more traction.

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**Author:** ![evalica](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/evalica/32/9_2.png) [@evalica](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/evalica)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/14 "2017-04-19T13:17:45Z")

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Also I’ve renamed “Public Lounge” to “Lounge”. Reason: see [The Lounge: Or Secret Communications](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/the-lounge-or-secret-communications/40/9?u=evalica) and [The Lounge: Or Secret Communications](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/the-lounge-or-secret-communications/40/25?u=evalica)

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**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jan/32/8_2.png) [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:21pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/15 "2017-04-19T13:21:29Z")

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I’d also say let’s use Categories and keep Tagging off for now. Less complexity. 🙂

What do you think are some good default categories? Maybe:

- Events
- Tools
- Projects
- Help
- what else? 🙂

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**Author:** ![simonv3](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/simonv3/32/15_2.png) [@simonv3](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/simonv3)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/16 "2017-04-19T14:31:36Z")

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What kind of Help is Help for?

Also, do we need an “uncatogorized” category? I’m not sure how that works, but it doesn’t look like things get automatically organized as uncategorized?

Edit: nvm, yes they do!

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**Author:** ![jdittrich](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jdittrich/32/42_2.png) [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 10:49am UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/17 "2017-04-20T10:49:45Z")

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> [@jan](#):
>
> - Events
> - Tools
> - Projects
> - Help  
> what else?

I wonder if those are partly not better suited for tasks that we keep on github: _Events_/Finding a location (a task), collecting tools (should go in our resources). _Projects_ may be like design advice (what [@evalica suggested here](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/exchange-on-experiences-and-methods-best-practices/88/2) ) (but maybe you intended these to be something different, I’m only guessing from their names)

Help and Exchange may be broadly what I assume discourse to be particularly good at. Thus, [my suggestion above](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/7) of having broadly topic oriented channels:

> [@jdittrich](#):
>
> Based on what we discussed on github my experiences with other communities I suggest the following initial categories:
> 
> - Communicating & Collaborating in design (methods and ideas on communicating design, resolving issues and collaborating across disciplines)
> - User Research (User Research for and with free projects)
> - Graphic Design (Graphic Design like Logos, Colorschemes, Fonts… for and with free projects)
> - UI/Interaction Design (Interaction Design and UI Design for and with free projects)

I’d be happy to refine and/or combine 🙂 (e.g.Disciplines + Design Advice + [org-like](https://github.com/opensourcedesign/organization) category)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jdittrich](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jdittrich/32/42_2.png) [@jdittrich](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jdittrich)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/18 "2017-04-20T18:06:35Z")

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Suggestion by @jan B.: Job category with threads for each [Job on our page](http://opensourcedesign.net/jobs/).

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**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jan/32/8_2.png) [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/19 "2017-04-20T18:13:18Z")

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Opened an issue about @jdittrich’s point at [https://github.com/opensourcedesign/jobs/issues/199](https://github.com/opensourcedesign/jobs/issues/199) (Interactivity / comments on the job board)

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**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jan/32/8_2.png) [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/20 "2017-04-20T20:03:09Z")

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Added a whole bunch of categories! Check them out at [https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/) 🙂

One general topic:

- Communication & collab in open source & design

4 discipline topics (same that we would use for the job board categorization: [https://github.com/opensourcedesign/jobs/issues/198](https://github.com/opensourcedesign/jobs/issues/198)):

- Logo design & branding
- Web design
- Interaction design
- Usability review & research

And then also a »Local meetups« category where every city should have one topic. We can create sub-categories in the future when it’s more thriving, but initially one topic per city should do the job. 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.opensourcedesign.net/jan/32/8_2.png) [@jan](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21/21 "2017-04-20T22:36:07Z")

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Also fixed the category ordering to something more nice: [https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/categories](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/categories) 🙂

Let’s fill it with content now! 🙂

[Next page](https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/categorisation-tagging-default-appearance/21.md?page=2)