http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46742&th=9120#msg_46742
We're working on revamping our categories so that public models are easier to find, increasing visibility for all your creative gems. We're trying to solve for a couple key issues:

- Discoverability: making sure people can find what they are looking for, and stumble upon inspiring designs along the way
- Comprehensiveness: ensuring that all products have a "home" (i.e., where do 3d printed glasses go in our current category structure?)
- Clarity: providing you all a clear understanding of how search and browsing work on Shapeways, including the differences between categories and tags

So with that in mind, we've conducted research on best practices, analyzed our data to see where categories need some more love, and have spoken to some of you already to get your input. Below is a working draft of our updated categories, which we'll implement in the next few weeks.

What do you think? Is anything missing? Any questions?

PLEASE NOTE: Categories are the indisputable "what" that defines a product, and they are mutually exclusive or at least have one primary purpose. Tags will still be used to share other attributes, like the occasion (e.g., holidays, gifts), suggested recipient (e.g., for him, for her, for mom), and qualities (e.g., geeky, whimsical). We'll also closely monitor tags, so if lots of you are creating certain types of products and there is no appropriate category, we can add that over time.

Thanks!

1. Gadgets
- Cases
- Accessories
- Keychains & Key Fobs
- Desk Toys
- Robotics
- Music
2. For your home
- Accessories
- Dining
- Lighting
- Furniture
3. Jewelry
- Bracelets
- Cufflinks
- Earrings
- Necklaces
- Pendants
- Rings
4. Fashion
- Glasses
- Belts
- Bags & Purses
- Wallets
- Buttons
5. Miniatures
- Figurines
- Vehicles
- SciFi
- Memorabilia (formerly fan art)
6. Maker / DIY
- Spare Parts
- Mechanical Parts
- Tools
7. Games
- Board Games
- Dice
- Puzzles
- Toys
8. Art
- Mathematical Art
- Sculptures]]> carine 2012-04-10T17:09:29-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46771&th=9120#msg_46771 1:32
1:48
1:87
1:160
1:220

etc.]]> stonysmith 2012-04-10T21:56:54-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46772&th=9120#msg_46772
Recently uploaded (all of the models, like it used to be - great for inspiration on those dry days)

]]> stop4stuff 2012-04-10T22:03:28-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46821&th=9120#msg_46821
I suggest to add wargames & RPG's to the games category.

Also, railroad models should be an extra category for the miniatures. These would include not just the railroad themselves, but also houses, accessories, signals etc.

If you create a scale category, include the standard railroad scale names (Z scale, B scale, TT scale, H0 (H-Zero) scale...)

Greetings
Karl Heinz]]> Dragoman 2012-04-11T19:41:51-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46823&th=9120#msg_46823 Mitchell Jetten 2012-04-11T19:53:16-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46827&th=9120#msg_46827 Mitchell Jetten wrote on Wed, 11 April 2012 19:53
Trains Carine! Trains!

Miniature Vehicles ]]> Youknowwho4eva 2012-04-11T20:04:08-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46828&th=9120#msg_46828
Miniatures
- genre
- genre sublevels

genre to include vehicles, trains, gaming etc
genre sublevels to include scale and diorama setting (railway, street, countryside, warzone, era etc) and allow two choices on sub-genre as there are overlaps



]]> stop4stuff 2012-04-11T20:08:55-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46835&th=9120#msg_46835 Mitchell Jetten wrote on Wed, 11 April 2012 19:53
Trains Carine! Trains!


I didn't want to seem selfish, but since Jettuh started it...


Trains Carine! Trains!
Trains Carine! Trains! ]]> stonysmith 2012-04-11T21:49:08-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46836&th=9120#msg_46836 BillBedford 2012-04-11T22:23:38-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46839&th=9120#msg_46839
So hearing a couple things:
(1) TRAINS!!!!! (or Railways / railroad)
(2) Scale
(3) More genres / category layers
(4) Wargames and other game types

We are still working to finalize, but wanted to share our latest thinking:

Regarding (1), definitely hear you on this one, and after digging into the #s a bit more, it would be hard to ignore the sheer volume of trains and railroad related products on the site. So, we will most likely keep trains (or railways/railroad...naming TBD) a separate category from miniatures.

Regarding the other facets you're hoping to surface, like scale or more specific categories -- these are prime input for tags, scale in particular. If we start to see certain tags emerging in high volume, we'll then consider them to be raised to a category level. So, for example, if airplanes becomes as big as trains in size, that could definitely become it's own category over time.

Our goal is to make sure your products are discoverable, so thanks again for the input, and I'll definitely keep you guys in the loop when we have a final list.]]> carine 2012-04-12T00:33:51-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46842&th=9120#msg_46842
I still think that for the entire category of Miniatures (and any of it's sub categories), it's very important to have a "scale" field that is "recommended" if not manditory.]]> stonysmith 2012-04-12T01:40:13-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46864&th=9120#msg_46864 carine 2012-04-12T15:13:03-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=46874&th=9120#msg_46874 http://feedback.shapeways.com/forums/111989-shapeways-feedba ck/suggestions/2437259-scale-factor-notation-for-miniatures]]> stonysmith 2012-04-12T18:17:09-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=47716&th=9120#msg_47716
TOMORROW we will be modifying the categories. The final list of categories are as follows:

1. Gadgets
- Cases
- Accessories
- Keychains & Key Fobs
- Desk Toys
- Robotics
- Music

2. For your home
- Accessories
- Dining
- Lighting
- Furniture

3. Jewelry
- Bracelets
- Cufflinks
- Earrings
- Necklaces
- Pendants
- Rings

4. Fashion
- Glasses
- Belts
- Bags & Purses
- Wallets
- Buttons

5. Miniatures
- Figurines
- Model Trains
- Vehicles
- SciFi
- Memorabilia

6. Maker / DIY
- Spare Parts
- Mechanical Parts
- Tools

7. Games
- Board Games
- Dice
- Puzzles
- Toys

8. Art
- Mathematical Art
- Sculptures

If you had a model that was in a category that is no longer available, don't fret. We'll make sure it is associated with the most relevant category. Below is a list of the previous categories and the new category they are moving in to. Take a look at our migrations:

Art >> Religious Art --> Art
Art >> Fan Art --> Miniatures >> Memorabilia
Hobby >> Robotics --> Gadgets >> Robotics
Hobby >> Musical Instruments --> Gadgets >> Music
Hobby >> Figurings/Character --> Miniatures >> Figurines
Hobby >> SciFi --> Miniatures >> SciFi
Hobby >> Model Trains --> Miniatures >> Model Trains
Hobby >>Mechanical Parts -- >Maker/DIY >> Mechanical Parts
Home Decor --> For Your Home
Home Decor >> Decorative --> For Your Home >> Accessories
Home Decor >> Table Settings --> For Your Home >> Dining
Home Decor >> Lighting --> For Your Home >> Lighting
Home Decor >> Pictures --> For Your Home
Jewelry >> Braile --> Jewelry
Jewelry >> Buttons --> Fashion >> Buttons
Jewelry >> Pendants/Charms/Beads --> Jewelry >> Pendants

If you had Seasonal selected as a category, please note that those categories have been removed from the category selection. To make sure your models are still easily discovered on Shapeways, please be sure to edit your model and select an appropriate category. Remember, you can still tag your model with an appropriate seasonal tag!
]]> ChristianA 2012-05-01T21:52:36-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=47829&th=9120#msg_47829 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WG7NAeGq4ge
I have also several upcoming designs for keyboards and I see other designers have brought out shakuhachis (Japanese flutes). So a bit of respect please, for a noble art.]]> monxmood 2012-05-03T16:19:50-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=47892&th=9120#msg_47892
I agree that Music should actually be it's own category, but at the moment we do not have enough instruments like yours to warrant a whole category. A lot of the music related objects on shapeways are gadgets and tools related to music and instruments, which is why we placed music there.

While gadgets isn't the future of where music belongs, for now I would suggest using tags (like musical instrument, panpipes, etc) to appropriately distinguish your panpipes from the other items in the music category.

I hope that helps!
Best,
Natalia]]> nataliak 2012-05-04T16:45:34-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=47896&th=9120#msg_47896
]]> stop4stuff 2012-05-04T18:18:58-00:00