We're creating a development roadmap for FreeAgent, with hopefully a bit of a late-50s/early-60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon vibe. I've been in Illustrator for the past week creating the basic backdrop: making the objects, picking colours and trying to get the perspectives right. Next we're building the proof-of-concept static page before adding texture to all of the elements.
First off: this is gorgeous and I almost want to not post the next bit because I want to see the whole thing.
Second: A public dev roadmap is arguably one of the worst ideas you can do from a marketing perspective IMO. I think [Chris](http://ozmm.org/posts/managing_expectations.html) explained it fairly well — from my own experience I've only gotten negative feedback from promising features to people in public.
Rich: Cheers, illustration isn't exactly my speciality so it took a while!
Jonathan: How about we draw everyone in the company and pick a driver at random on refresh? ;)
Kyle: Thanks for the feedback. We've thought long and hard about publishing a roadmap because we've learned hard lessons from over-promising before. For one thing, it's not going to be called a Roadmap, and we're being very specific about it's scope. We'll be blogging about it as we go, so stay tuned.
Steven: You and me both! Started building it yesterday and somehow it's actually working! Exporting 2000px wide circles and throwing them into a browser is strange, but fun.
Love it - this is a bit late, but I've got a couple of things that might help tie it together...
you have light and dark shades for the 3D objects - but no shadows.
Your building, trees and most noticeably flagpole don't amount to much at the point where they touch the ground - could be worth adding something at the join - a bit of grass or something to transition it better.
Adding shadows and grass edges are both things we've discussed. The app driving it is being built this week, so once that's done we can look again at the feasibility of adding more :)
20 Responses
Pro
Robbie Manson
We're creating a development roadmap for FreeAgent, with hopefully a bit of a late-50s/early-60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon vibe. I've been in Illustrator for the past week creating the basic backdrop: making the objects, picking colours and trying to get the perspectives right. Next we're building the proof-of-concept static page before adding texture to all of the elements.
almost 2 years ago
Pro
Sam Brown
Looks superb Robbie, great great work!
almost 2 years ago
Very nice.
almost 2 years ago
Pro
Cole Henley
lovely work Robbie. i want your job :(
almost 2 years ago
Thats brilliant! Job well done.
almost 2 years ago
Pro
Robbie Manson
Cheers guys!
almost 2 years ago
This looks fantastic! I love the arrows!
almost 2 years ago
design looks great...really important feature too. Does it show itself on the roadmap!?
almost 2 years ago
Pro
Robbie Manson
Colin: I'm a little confused, does what show itself?
...and Roan explained. What can I say? I'm slow. The roadmap will indeed appear on the roadmap. Internally :P
almost 2 years ago
Love the cloud.
almost 2 years ago
Pro
Robbie Manson
Krista: Cheers! Thinking I might skew the arrowheads on them a little bit, so each one is slightly different.
Dan: Me too! Keen to work as much of that older style in as I can.
almost 2 years ago
Angle on truck is terrific... awesome job.
almost 2 years ago
Pro
Kyle Neath
First off: this is gorgeous and I almost want to not post the next bit because I want to see the whole thing.
Second: A public dev roadmap is arguably one of the worst ideas you can do from a marketing perspective IMO. I think [Chris](http://ozmm.org/posts/managing_expectations.html) explained it fairly well — from my own experience I've only gotten negative feedback from promising features to people in public.
almost 2 years ago
So, so excited about the direction this is going in. There's going to be a fight to see who ends up driving the truck.
Given the manic, barely controlled driving style evident, I think I'm the leading candidate.
#yogiismycopilot
almost 2 years ago
Fantastic work as per usual. Very keen to see this in a browser!
almost 2 years ago
Pro
Robbie Manson
Rich: Cheers, illustration isn't exactly my speciality so it took a while!
Jonathan: How about we draw everyone in the company and pick a driver at random on refresh? ;)
Kyle: Thanks for the feedback. We've thought long and hard about publishing a roadmap because we've learned hard lessons from over-promising before. For one thing, it's not going to be called a Roadmap, and we're being very specific about it's scope. We'll be blogging about it as we go, so stay tuned.
Steven: You and me both! Started building it yesterday and somehow it's actually working! Exporting 2000px wide circles and throwing them into a browser is strange, but fun.
almost 2 years ago
This looks awesome, can't wait to see the full version.
almost 2 years ago
Love it - this is a bit late, but I've got a couple of things that might help tie it together...
you have light and dark shades for the 3D objects - but no shadows.
Your building, trees and most noticeably flagpole don't amount to much at the point where they touch the ground - could be worth adding something at the join - a bit of grass or something to transition it better.
otherwise - like it!
over 1 year ago
Pro
Robbie Manson
Adding shadows and grass edges are both things we've discussed. The app driving it is being built this week, so once that's done we can look again at the feasibility of adding more :)
over 1 year ago
Pro
Robbie Manson
The Depot is now live! You can check it out at http://depot.freeagentcentral.com :)
over 1 year ago