DesignDesk

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Introducing DesignDesk, The Project Design Platform for Everyone

DesignDesk is a new concept we are working to release which helps people take their ideas and concepts and turn them into working, organized projects.
click HERE for a full-size screenshot

To sum it up in single sentence, DesignDesk is a project repository, design toolkit and collaborative platform for just about anyone. Isn’t it irritating having to open so many apps, navigate to so many files and waste loads of valuable time when you’re trying to finish a project? Wouldn’t it be nice if there were an application out there that gathered all your project files in one repository, allowed you to work on them with a bunch of included design tools and then packaged everything into one neatly organized archive?

DesignDesk has been created to fill such a void in the software world. The concept is simple - choose your tools, gather your files and allow all of your tools to access those files. Finished with the project? No problem, just click a button and your files then get packaged for you. Working collaboratively? Awesome, just package up your project and push it to one of many different cloud services.

click HERE for a full-size screenshot

For Consumers

For the consumer, DesignDesk is a software platform which allows the design, development, documentation and organization of projects and project files, the editing of audio, video and document files on the fly and the ability to package bits and pieces of project content, as well as entire projects and workspaces to create a unique platform for project collaboration. DesignDesk is essentially a complete project design platform, extendable with add-on modules, tutorials and other loadable content.

For Developers

For 3rd-party developers, DesignDesk represents an easily accessible outlet for their creations - with cross-platform SDK packages in Java, C++, C# and Delphi, creating DesignDesk add-on modules (free/commercial) will allow small developers to build tools and utilities without a huge amount of development overhead.

For DNR

For DNR Collaborative, DesignDesk is a comprehensive and extendable software platform and product release system, allowing us to create a more unified product line for both Mac and PC, 32 and 64-bit systems. This platform not only enables us to reach a wider audience, but it also allows us to attract 3rd-party developers to release modules for DesignDesk, thus creating sustainable revenue for the future.

Modules
		Modules are essentially task-specific tools which can be added to a workspace and used to edit, organize and package content within your project. Modules can be anything from a granular audio editor to an icon builder to a mind-mapping tool for building concepts and data flow diagrams. Free add-on modules, as well as commercial add-ons will be available periodically to extend the functionality of DesignDesk.

Workspaces
		When you open DesignDesk, it presents you with a blank canvas, per se. This canvas is called a workspace, and it is where you will drop each one of your modules/tools for use within your project. Once you’ve built up a workspace that fits your workflow, you can then save the workspace for later use. Essentially, workspaces are pre-defined module layouts used to either A) start projects (see below) or B) quickly load a set of tools for non-project related editing.

Projects
		Projects are simply a workspace (module collecton) with all of your project related content (project files, settings, etc) stored in either a local database, or a file/folder structure. The storage preferences are collected and saved within the storage management section of the dashboard system. Projects can be packaged and shared via e-mail, cloud storage accounts (Box, Dropbox, etc) or FTP.

Storage
		Projects can be stored in one of 3 ways - either by local database, file/folder system or reference-only (destructive). Management of databases and file/folder systems is done through the use of a storage management dashboard, which allows you to create as many profiles as you’d like, which can then be assigned to projects upon creation.

Dashboards
		DesignDesk is equipped with a number of different dashboards to help you keep your work organized. Each dashboard (application, project, module and storage) displays pertinent information and resources to assist you in managing, compiling and editing your content.

DesignDesk holds some unique concepts up it’s sleeves, which are particularly useful to just about any type of multimedia designer who commonly creates and releases commercial products such as icon library designers or soundware developers.

File Management and Release Capturing

The file management and project capturing abilities are at the heart of DesignDesk, allowing the user to effectively browse, edit, backup and package any files within a project and even upload them to your destination of choice. The “project” tab on the dashboard contains a 3-panel display - the first allows the user to browse and preview project files. The second collects all files captured from the first, acts as a media library for all active modules, and re-captures any edits made by the modules automatically. The third is what packages all the files you’ve edited/altered and packages them up into a neat file/folder system, ready for release.

Project-Based File Sharing

DesignDesk comes included with the ability to set FTP and cloud access on a per-project basis, which allows you to save your connection details within the project and then move all your files to the specified location with the click of a button. FTP/cloud storage can be configured to a particular folder on your FTP or on one of many cloud services which will be integrated into DesignDesk.

Module Communications

Each module in DesignDesk has the ability to pass files to and from each other, providing that they deal with an applicable file type. For example, an audio editor module would simply accept any audio files passed to it by another module. This allows great efficiency in creating or editing content that you have gathered for your project. As an example, let’s compare the process (with and without DesignDesk) that a web designer would typically go through if he/she needed to create some icons, edit some code and publish the content to a remote server:

Without DesignDesk:

Step 1: Open graphic editing application
Step 2: Locate icons to edit
Step 3: Edit icons
Step 4: Save edited icons
Step 5: Open IDE to edit code
Step 6: Located files to edit
Step 7: Edit code
Step 8: Save edited files
Step 9: Open FTP client
Step 10: Navigate to folder
Step 11: Transfer files
Step 12: Test in browser

With DesignDesk:

Step 1: Open DesignDesk
Step 2: Open applicable project
Step 3: Select files to edit
Step 4: Edit files via each module
Step 5: Press ‘Save and Upload’
Step 6: Test in browser

Module List

We have a broad range of modules that we are working on providing for the initial release, but we are also welcoming suggestions! If there is a module that you would like to see us include, either as an initial release or an add-on module, please leave it in the comments towards the bottom of the page so we can keep track of all suggestions.

Audio Modules:

Audio Editor - Basic audio editing for MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV files. Reverse, cut crop, mirror, pitch-shift, resample, etc.
Granular Editor - Apply various granular effects and processes to audio files and automatically save them to your project.
Loop Builder - Build seamless loops with both samples and VST/AU instruments and effects for easy library creation.
Multisampler - An SF2/SFZ mapping utility; use project files or sample in real-time with VST/AU instruments or even hardware.
Spectral Editor - Apply various spectral editing techniques to your project files for cool new sounds, or use as a surgical editing tool.
Wave Designer - Create unheard of single-cycle waveforms that can be used in a variety of synthesizers.
Wave Blender - Morph through various single-cycle waveforms in succession using crossfades and duration controls for seamless loops.
Time Shifter - Creative time-stretching and morphing for creative FX of for slight modifications.
Sample Stacker - Using layers and filters like a graphics application, mix and merge samples to create brand new sounds.
Spectral Editor - Apply various spectral editing techniques to your project files for cool new sounds, or use as a surgical editing tool.

Graphic Modules:

Image Editor - Basic image editing for a variety of graphics formats. Layer-based editing, similar to GIMP and Photoshop.
Icon Editor - A set of tools to allow designers to create pixel-perfect icons for their own collections, or for release.
Image Resizer - A simple image resizing tool for creating thumbnails and batch processing.
Photo FX Lab - A single/batch processing utility with enhancement/editing capabilities specifically for photos.
Vector Tools - A tool for creating, editing and affecting vector images in a variety of formats.
Album Builder - Create unique photo albums and export them as web-based projects for inserting into websites.

Project Modules:

Concept Builder - Collect images, thoughts, videos, links and other content onto a whiteboard style system for concept building.
Project Designer - A useful module for keeping all release docs, demos, videos, audio, links and marketing campaigns together for releasing digital projects.
Simple CRM - A very simple CRM module for collecting project related contacts. Can import/export from various sources.
Task Organizer - Tasks and to-do lists for your projects. Add attachments, share them in the cloud and invite others to contribute, even without DesignDesk.

DesignDesk can be used for a multitude of purposes, but just in case the explanation of features above doesn’t click, let’s go through some real-world examples of how DesignDesk can be used in various applications.

Sound Designers
As a sound designer, you have many different applications you usually need to do in order to get just the content created and edited, nevermind the file organization, packaging, releasing and promoting. All of the tools you need to organize, create, release and promote your new sound library will be included in DesignDesk. For instance, to create a general sound design workspace template, you could add media browser, loop builder, wave designer, audio converter, audio editor, project builder and demo creator modules and then recall the workspace whenever you need to do general sound design tasks.

Developers
Developers can use DesignDesk to collect their code libraries, documentation, notes and other project-related materials all in one place for easy retrieval. For example, a developer may want to build a workspace with code editor, icon builder, documentation, code snippet manager, project builder and repository modules included. There is also the necessity to share these types of projects with other developers, organizations or members of a development team, and DesignDesk can help facilitate that as well with the built in packaging and sharing functions.

Product Designers
Product designers can take advantage of DesignDesk’s organizational abilities to take an idea and flesh it out to a viable concept, and then go even further with the concept by creating a workspace with mockup, documentation, graphic editor, icon builder, storyboard and project builder modules.

The DesignDesk platform will also include support for 3rd-party module add-ons, both free and commercial, through the use of a cross-platform SDK system, which will be available for free. The SDK will be (tentatively) available in C++, C#, Delphi and Java programming languages in order to support a broad range of developers.

Releasing Add-Ons

Commercial 3rd-party module add-ons will be only released through our webshop in order to reduce support costs stemming from issues with the add-ons, and to ensure that users are able to download and apply updates to their modules without having to go all over the place looking for them. Free 3rd-party add-ons will not be required to release through our webshop, but developers will be required to inform customers clearly that the add-on is not supported by DNR and that use of the add-on is “as-is” and any support for the add-ons will be at the developer’s expense.

Developer Community

All developers who request the SDK and register with us as developers will get instant access to a private developer-only forum where they can discuss techniques, suggest SDK enhancements, discuss bugs and other issues. If you are interested in developing add-ons for DesignDesk, please use the form below to add your name and we’ll contact you within 24 hours with more information.

When you pledge an amount, you will be added to our list of contributors, and an account will be created for you on our account system. Please be aware that DesignDesk is still in development and you will receive notifications as we proceed about A) alpha/beta versions available if you wish to test them out, B) inclusion to our private development forum when it is ready for all contributors to have a say in the development, C) changes to the software roadmap (if any) and D) release of the full v1.0 version of DesignDesk. This is a funding campaign like you would see on KickStarter, not a regular purchase.

Funding Usage

All funds collected through the use of any crowdfunding platform will go directly to the development of DesignDesk. The more we can generate, the more additional modules and tools we can add to the package. On this platform, even if we don’t reach our goal, we can still push every penny into the project development costs accrued. We will be matching 100% of each dollar that comes in, which will allow us to develop faster, and you get a better value in the end.

Call To Action

DesignDesk is a one of a kind project with a huge amount of potential to be a big success if we can do it properly. We need absolutely everyone who is interested in, or contributing towards DesignDesk to please share the link using one of the different social networking buttons

There are no downloads at this time.

Why are you doing this crowdfunding method instead of just paying for development yourself?

For the same reason that other organizations are attempting the same type of thing on Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, and other crowdfunding websites - because we’re a very small company with limited resources and a great idea that we’d like to bring to the market sometime before the year 2058

What do I get out of the deal?

If you look to the right-hand sidebar, you’ll see that there are “pledge amounts” set up. These pledge amounts will explain exactly what you will get, and how much it will cost to contribute.

What is the estimated timeframe for the initial release of DesignDesk

Well, depending on the outcome of the fundraising campaign, DesignDesk could be released as early as this may, but we need every bit of support that we can get in order to make things happen in a timely fashion.

What happened to Wave Designer, and what do I get if I already own it?

Wave Designer will be completely discontinued upon the release of DesignDesk, as development of an OSX version was essentially impossible because of the use of many 3rd-party code libraries that could not be converted to the OSX platform. DesignDesk is 100% our own code and will be created from the start for both Windows and Mac OSX platforms.

All Wave Designer customers will receive a free license for a standalone Wave Designer module that will be released PRIOR to the initial release of DesignDesk. All Wave Designer customers also have the option of purchasing an upgrade to the full version of DesignDesk by using the $25.00 pledge amount on the right-hand sidebar (Wave Designer customers only). We tried to make sure that all who supported Wave Designer’s development initially get A) a free Wave Designer replacement, and B) a cheaper route to upgrading to the full version of DesignDesk.

Can’t I just purchase a copy of the standalone Wave Designer version and bypass DesignDesk?

No, the standalone Wave Designer version will only be available for people who already own the current version of Wave Designer, and those who have purchased DesignDesk. We have no plans to release it individually.

How much will DesignDesk cost once it’s fully available?

DesignDesk will cost around $100 USD, and add-on modules will range in price from free to $50 USD.

What will I receive when I contribute a pledge?

You’ll get an e-mail from us with your pledge information, and an account will be setup for you automatically on our servers. You will be notified of the first beta versions once they become available. The purpose behind the crowdfunding method is to be able to finish the development of the framework, SDK packages and initial module list.

What platforms will DesignDesk support?

DesignDesk will be available for both x86 and x64 versions of Windows and Mac OSX (10.6+)

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Support Now

DesignDesk is an extendable project design, management and release toolkit for Windows and Mac OSX…

Pledge Level 1: $5.00

For a $5.00 donation, you’ll get a mention on the project page, along with $10 in store credits.

Pledge Level 2: $15.00

For a $15.00 donation, you’ll get a mention on the project page, along with $30 in store credits.

Pledge Level 3: $25.00

THIS PLEDGE IS FOR WAVE DESIGNER CUSTOMERS ONLY! For any Wave Designer customer who wished to get the entire product instead of the WD Only version, choose this pledge. It will also entitle you to unlimited upgrades to future versions, as well as ONE free soundset or sample library product from our catalog (Sound Repository excluded)