How about adding a button for Private Messaging on the toolbar at the top of your website? The more I use Shapeways as a customer the more I find myself needing it and the only way to access it, it seems, is to go to a product page and then PM the designer and then click to the PM site where messages are stored. Sometimes I come onto the site just to check my PMs and that round-about route to find them is a pain. Best if I could just click a link at the top of the homepage. Bryan
Choosing "Forums", where you will find the "Private Messaging" link right on top should be a bit easier than your method unless you do not know the username of the person you want to PM... Not sure if it belongs in the already quite crowded toolbar, but perhaps as an additional option in the avatar menu near the current "Notifications" entry?