A History of
Pixton 2.0
Development
Within two years of Pixton's outset, Clive Goodinson aimed to address limitations and feedback, with the intention of making the platform more user-friendly, versatile, and engaging. He recognized the potential for Pixton to become a compelling digital storytelling platform, but understood that achieving this required a significant evolution. His hopes were anchored in creating a more intuitive, immersive, and collaborative environment for storytellers and artists alike.
With these objectives in mind, Clive began the hard work of:
Enhancing the user experience: This involved redesigning the user interface to be more intuitive, reducing the learning curve for new users while still offering depth for experienced creators.
Expanding creative possibilities: This included adding more diverse character models, expressions, and settings, enabling creators to tell a wider variety of stories with richer detail and emotional depth.
Fostering community and collaboration: Clive believed that a vibrant, engaged community was essential for the platform's growth and vitality, and this involved encouraging users to collaborate on projects, share feedback, and learn from each other.
Improving accessibility and inclusivity: Recognizing the global potential of Pixton, Clive aimed to include language support and diversification in content, ensuring users from different backgrounds could see themselves represented in the stories they created.
User Chekko notes, "A huge moment for the site was the transition from Pixton 1.0 to Pixton 2.0, on New Year's Eve of 2009. Up until this point, Pixton was still fairly basic compared to what it would later become -- the most obvious example being the dot eyes every character had back then."
Indeed, the stick characters began to "fill out," from flesh on their bones and developed facial features to clothing and dynamic new expressions. Users could now customize their characters more fully. This ability allowed users to convey subtler emotional nuances and more complex narratives, making the comics more expressive and engaging. This was crucial for users who used Pixton for educational purposes, therapy, or personal storytelling, as it provided a visual depth that text alone could not achieve.
Outside of characters, Pixton also began to develop and offer a broader array of backgrounds that featured more props with greater detail and thematic variety.
Enter Louis Wiyono. Daina Goodinson had gone looking for new opportunities for comic panel graphics via the internet, when she came across the colorful and charming artwork of Louis Wiyono. Louis, a published children's book illustrator with a wide array of jobs under his belt, was in the midst of leading a design company, Wizmaya, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Beginning with background props, Louis and his "booducks" would supply Pixton with an abundance of digital art assets, effectively providing the company with the colorful and friendly visual style it came to be known for.
Striking a Chord
Capitalizing on the universal language of visuals, Pixton became a canvas for global storytelling, enabling users to tell their stories, share their cultures, and express their ideas in ways that were instantly relatable to others around the world.
Pixton wasn't just a platform for comic creation; it was a vibrant ecosystem where storytelling and artistry intersected, fostering a creative community unlike any other. This era of Pixton was marked by unprecedented creativity, collaboration, and connection, as users from across the globe gathered to share their stories, craft unique art, and form lasting relationships. The platform became a haven for those yearning not just to express themselves, but to find like-minded individuals who shared their passion for storytelling and comic art.
The many types of comics made with Pixton included:
Personal and Autobiographical Comics: Users utilized Pixton to share personal stories and experiences, reflecting real-life events and emotions, as seen in projects that narrated individual life stories or specific events like college experiences.
Narrative and Serial Comics: Longer, narrative-driven series such as "Of Ghosts and People" and other serialized stories explored complex themes and built extensive character developments over time.
Group Comics: Initiatives like "The Compass" showcased collaborative projects where authors with different strengths, such as storytelling or artistic skills, came together to create series that blended diverse talents.
Educational Comics: Some users, especially those interacting with children or in educational settings, created comics that served educational purposes, teaching various subjects or moral lessons in an engaging format.
Art and Design Projects: Pixton was used not only for creating comics, but also for designing props, backgrounds, and entire scenes for various artistic projects, demonstrating its utility beyond traditional comic making.
Comedy and Parody Comics: Many users engaged in creating comedic or parody comics, which often involved satirical takes on popular culture, daily life, or other comic strips, providing humor and entertainment to the community.
Thematic and Special Event Comics: Comics created for specific themes or occasions, like holiday specials or thematic contests, were often designed to engage the community in seasonal or topical content.
Collaborative Community Projects: Comics that involved large-scale collaborations among multiple users, often leading to complex creations that were the result of community-wide efforts, exemplified by series with multiple contributors and crossover events.
Experimental and Artistic Comics: Users also explored more avant-garde or experimental forms of comic art, pushing the boundaries of the medium in terms of narrative style, visual presentation, and thematic depth.
Notably, the site emerged as a significant creative refuge for young people grappling with various life challenges, providing them a platform to express themselves and find community. Marleen Miepje, who joined Pixton on November 27, 2011, was initially attracted to the platform while exploring artistic outlets on Chrome apps. At a time when she was immersing herself in the worlds of anime and online art communities like Tumblr and DeviantArt, Pixton offered a space where she could channel her creativity. Although her early interactions were confined to the Dutch community due to shyness and limited English proficiency, Pixton became a place where she found support during a period of intense loneliness and social isolation at school. This platform not only allowed her to hone her artistic skills, but also helped her forge meaningful connections that bolstered her through tough times.
Similarly, Douglass (Dougefresh07), a military child who faced constant relocations and a lack of audience for his writing, found Pixton to be a transformative outlet. His literary efforts, often overlooked in favor of more popular themes among his peers, gained recognition on Pixton. His series "Of Ghosts and People" not only broke into the top 10 on the platform, but also gave him a sense of achievement and community feedback, which was previously missing. This affirmation inspired him to deepen his storytelling, proving that Pixton could serve as a powerful platform for young creators seeking understanding and validation.
Experiences on the site at this time often evolved from casual browsing to deep community engagement. Many users began by exploring and commenting on comics created by others. Then, inspired by the interactive environment, they would begin creating their own series for the Pixton community. Participation in group projects and collaborative art further integrated them into the community, utilizing features that fostered a feeling of inclusion beyond those of a mere observer.
Group comics provided an excellent introduction to the platform's advanced features, enabling collaboration between those who excelled in storytelling and those who were skilled artists. In 2012, AmericanRivers, iPhoenix, and Georgy Girl began producing a group comic series titled "The Compass." AmericanRivers and Andrew played pivotal roles, similar to TV showrunners, by editing content and occasionally rewriting dialogue. "The Compass" would become a fan-favorite success for 6 years, establishing a large, cohesive universe that invited many well-known authors to contribute to the series.
The thriving community of Pixton 2.0 became a mosaic of stories, art, and relationships, enriched by the diversity of its members and their shared passion for comics. The platform had become more than just a tool for creation; it was a space where individuals found their voice, artists pushed the envelope of Pixton's click-and-drag platform, and stories with the power to move, entertain, and provoke thought were shared freely. It was a period marked by growth, innovation, and, most importantly, a sense of belonging.
Selected Work
Evolution
The lasting success of Pixton depended on the satisfaction of its user base. Therefore, Clive and his team meticulously collected and analyzed input from the community, using it as a compass to guide the platform's evolution. This feedback loop would become instrumental in identifying both the strengths to be amplified and the areas where improvements were necessary.
One notable "learning moment" occurred with the introduction of a new membership model called Pixton+. This membership offered users access to advanced features, which were not available to free users. Alongside this, Pixton introduced a Credits system, which required users to use credits to access certain premium features, such as creating comics, using specific props, or accessing enhanced character customization options.
The introduction of the Credits system was met with significant resistance from the Pixton community. Many users felt that the Credits system restricted their creative freedom—a core value that had attracted them to Pixton initially. The need to manage and spend credits to perform once-basic activities within the platform was seen as a barrier that made the platform less accessible, especially for users who were unable to pay for additional credits.
Users were particularly frustrated with how the Credits system seemed to commercialize their creative process. Prior to this system, Pixton was praised for its accessibility and simplicity, allowing wide participation without financial barriers. The introduction of Credits changed this dynamic, making users feel as if they had to pay to fully express themselves creatively.
Due to the strong pushback from a community who wanted the platform to remain an open and freely accessible tool for storytelling, Pixton phased out the Credits system. Removing the Credits system helped restore the community's trust and reaffirmed Pixton's commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for its comic creators.
This experience was a significant learning moment for Pixton's management. It underscored the importance of aligning platform changes with the community's values and expectations. Pixton learned to engage more actively with its user base before implementing changes that could significantly impact how the platform was used.
A gradual rollout of new features allowed for thorough testing and refinement, ensuring that each new addition was well-integrated and functional. Pixton's approach to marketing and community building moving forward was about more than just attracting new users; it was about fostering a sense of belonging and ownership among existing members. Engaging with users directly, soliciting their feedback, and involving them in the platform's evolution helped cultivate a loyal user base that felt invested in Pixton's success.
As Clive navigated technical changes through the 2.0 era, the platform was experienced a period of rapid growth and innovation that challenged the very foundations upon which it was built. This was a time of expansion, not just in user base, but in the ambitions and capabilities of the platform itself. Clive, at the helm, was tasked with navigating Pixton through these transformative waters, ensuring that the platform could sustain its growth without compromising on the quality and community-centric values that had become its hallmark.
The Work
One of Clive's primary technical endeavors during this period was the comprehensive refactoring of Pixton's codebase. As Pixton's user community grew and its features became more complex, the underlying code that powered the platform needed to be restructured. This process of refactoring was essential to maintaining Pixton's performance and user experience. By reorganizing the code, Clive aimed to enhance the platform's efficiency and readability, making it easier to manage, update, and scale. This was a meticulous and generally unseen aspect of platform management, requiring deep technical knowledge and a strategic approach to ensure that improvements were made without disrupting the platform's operation or the user experience.
Behind the vibrant comics and the engaged community lay an immense workload that encompassed database design, administration, hosting, and maintenance. For Clive, managing this complex infrastructure was not unlike orchestrating a symphony where each note had to be in perfect harmony. This challenge was magnified by the fact that Pixton was, at the time, primarily a two-person operation. Efficiency wasn't just a goal—it was a necessity. Clive had to ensure that the platform's backend infrastructure was robust enough to support its growing user base, while remaining agile enough to adapt to new demands. This included optimizing database operations for speed and reliability, managing server resources to handle increasing traffic, and ensuring that data integrity and security were never compromised.
Editor’s Note
This is approximately where I (Joe; Content Manager) came into the picture. In 2012, I found myself in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, navigating the post-college world. I was working as a production artist for a large-format printing company. It was a stable job, but it left me craving a deeper and more meaningful way to express my creativity. That's when I found Pixton Comics, a platform that uniquely echoed my longing for a visual narrative-based creative outlet.
Pixton's user-friendly interface and sheer potential for storytelling captivated me. I dove in headfirst, creating and sharing my own comic strips. The themes varied, drawing from my own life experiences and creative, often silly, musings. For me, the need to tell stories was a powerful one. It had been an itch I'd tried to scratch through various visual mediums since youth. Worth noting was the response my comics received from the Pixton community. Given the internet's frequently toxic inclination towards most things, I was unsure of what to expect. Fortunately for me, the feedback from those folks was overwhelmingly positive. I quickly felt as if I'd found a happy little niche.
Approximately 2 months into my comic-making, I received a message directly from Clive in my inbox. He had seen my comics and reached out to commend me. Our conversations soon evolved, and before I knew it, Clive offered me an opportunity to join the Pixton team in a part-time production position.
Balancing my job at the printing company with my new role at Pixton was a small challenge I welcomed with open arms. It was, after all, an opportunity to explore the depths of digital comics and contribute to a platform that had given me so much when I needed it most. My involvement with Pixton was not just professional, it was deeply personal.
By early 2014, joining Pixton full-time became a reality, and I embraced it wholeheartedly. This remote position also meant I could relocate to Charleston, South Carolina, to be closer to family, marking another significant change in my life.
Reflecting on my journey from being an avid Pixton user to becoming a member of its team is surreal. It's a testament to the impact that digital platforms can have on individuals, fostering talent and enabling personal and professional growth. My story with Pixton came full circle, from finding inspiration and support within the community to offering the same encouragement to others.
Bigger Picture
During the Pixton 2.0 era, an interesting and transformative shift began to unfold. This change would not only diversify the platform's user base, but also reveal its untapped global potential. Beyond the vibrant "Pixton for Fun" community, a new segment of users started to emerge, gravitating towards Pixton's unique offerings: Business and Education users. This burgeoning interest from professional and educational sectors provided the Pixton team with insightful perspectives on the versatility of Pixton as a tool, demonstrating its utility beyond mere entertainment to become a pivotal educational and business resource.
The engagement of Business and Education users with Pixton introduced a new economic dimension to the platform. Schools, educators, and businesses seeking innovative tools for engagement, learning, and communication saw immense value in Pixton's offerings. Subscriptions from these sectors provided a stable revenue stream, enabling further development and refinement of the platform. The economic contributions of these users supported the introduction of new features tailored to their specific needs, such as specialized content for lessons, enhanced privacy settings for classroom use, and tools designed for storyboarding and marketing.
Word-of-mouth played a crucial role in Pixton's expansion into these new domains. Educators who successfully integrated Pixton into their curriculum became advocates for the platform, sharing their experiences and successes with peers through workshops, conferences, and professional networks. Similarly, businesses that leveraged Pixton for marketing or internal communications highlighted its effectiveness in trade publications. This organic growth fueled by genuine user endorsements helped Pixton reach new audiences, establishing its reputation not just as a creative platform but as a versatile tool for storytelling across various contexts.
The economic contributions and word-of-mouth endorsements from Business and Education users were instrumental in uncovering Pixton's global potential. This realization led to strategic initiatives aimed at global expansion, including the translation of the platform into multiple languages and the creation of culturally diverse content to ensure relevance across different geographies.
Challenges and Opportunities
This period marked a significant chapter in the platform’s history, under the leadership of Clive Goodinson and the strategic oversight of Jared Shaw. Despite the thriving user engagement and the platform's positive atmosphere, Pixton faced a critical challenge familiar to many digital platforms: stagnating profits. Unfortunately, the deep enthusiasm and creativity of the Pixton community at this point had not sufficiently translated into the financial growth necessary to sustain and expand the business.
Pixton for Schools emerged not just as a strategic pivot, but as a visionary expansion of Pixton’s core mission. Clive and Jared recognized that the platform’s unique offering had untapped potential in the educational sector. Pixton for Schools was conceived as a specialized version of the platform, tailored to meet the needs of educators and students. It promised to leverage the engaging power of comics for educational purposes, making learning more interactive, accessible, and fun. This focus on education aligned perfectly with Clive and Jared's belief in the transformative power of storytelling and their desire to make a positive impact on the world.
The development and launch of Pixton for Schools were strategic moves aimed at addressing the platform's financial stagnation. By tapping into the educational market, Pixton could open up new revenue streams through institutional subscriptions, grants, and partnerships with schools and educational organizations. This focus on education also presented opportunities for volume licensing and the development of custom educational content packs, further diversifying Pixton’s income sources.
Beyond the financial imperatives, Clive and Jared were motivated by a profound belief that Pixton for Schools could do the most good in the world. They saw the potential for comics to revolutionize the educational experience, making complex concepts more understandable and engaging for students of all ages. By integrating Pixton into the classroom, educators could foster creativity, improve literacy, and encourage critical thinking among their students. This vision of empowering educators and enriching the learning experience was at the heart of Pixton for School’s mission.
The journey to making Pixton for Schools a reality was filled with challenges and opportunities. Clive and Jared had to navigate the complexities of the educational technology market, understand the needs of educators and students, and ensure that Pixton for Schools met the high standards required for classroom use. They engaged in continuous dialogue with teachers, conducted pilot programs, and iterated on the platform based on feedback. This hands-on approach helped tailor Pixton for Schools to the real-world needs of the educational community, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness.
Pixton for Schools’ launch marked a significant milestone in Pixton’s evolution, reflecting Clive and Jared’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and social impact. As Pixton for Schools gained traction in schools around the world, it not only helped stabilize the business’s financial situation but also expanded the platform’s legacy. Through Pixton for Schools, Clive and Jared realized their aspiration of leveraging the platform to do good, transforming education one comic at a time and ensuring that Pixton’s creative spirit continued to thrive and inspire new generations.
End of Flash
The impending end of Adobe Flash, once the cornerstone of interactive web content, posed a significant challenge for many online platforms, including Pixton Comics. For Clive Goodinson, the founder of Pixton, and Jared Shaw, a key figure in the platform's strategic direction, this technological shift necessitated a reevaluation of Pixton’s future. Rather than viewing the end of Flash as a mere obstacle, they saw it as an opportunity to innovate and adapt, pushing Pixton into a new era. This period of transition became a catalyst for a bold venture into the education market, leading to the conceptualization and development of what would become Pixton 3.0.
The journey through Pixton 2.0 had been rich with lessons in community engagement, platform scalability, and the transformative power of storytelling. Clive and Jared had witnessed firsthand how Pixton could change the way educators teach and students learn, making complex ideas more engaging through comics. This insight into the platform’s potential in educational settings informed their strategy for Pixton 3.0. They understood that by focusing on the education market, Pixton could not only survive the end of Flash but also emerge stronger, offering a product uniquely tailored to the needs of educators and learners.
With the decision to rebuild Pixton for a post-Flash era, Clive and Jared embarked on developing Pixton 3.0, a version of the platform built from the ground up with the latest web technologies. This new product was designed to be more than just a successor to Pixton 2.0; it was envisioned as a tool that could harness the full potential of comics in education. Pixton 3.0 aimed to offer enhanced usability, cross-platform compatibility, and new features specifically designed for classroom use, including improved privacy controls, collaboration tools, and a wider range of content tailored to educational curricula.
Pivoting towards the education market with Pixton 3.0 represented a significant risk. It required not just technological investment but also a deep understanding of the educational ecosystem. Clive and Jared had to ensure that Pixton 3.0 met the stringent requirements of educational technology, providing value to educators and engaging students in meaningful ways. This venture into the education market was a testament to their belief in Pixton’s potential to make a difference in the world of learning.
A Complex Transition
The journey into the development of Pixton 3.0 marked a pivotal moment for Clive Goodinson, his core team, and the newly hired developers. Together, they embarked on an ambitious quest to reimagine and redefine what Pixton could be, building on the successes of Pixton 2.0 while exploring new frontiers in digital storytelling. This venture was not just a technical upgrade; it was a visionary leap into enhancing user experience, expanding creative possibilities, and ensuring the platform's continued relevance in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
As discussions about Pixton 3.0 commenced, all hands were on deck. Clive and his team engaged in extensive brainstorming sessions, where they meticulously sketched out the future potential of the site. Central to these discussions were questions about how Pixton 3.0 could distinguish itself from its predecessor. The team was driven by the ambition to push the platform's most effective features to new heights, enhancing usability, interactivity, and the overall creative experience for users.
One of the critical areas of focus was how to evolve Pixton's user interface and functionality. The team sought to streamline the comic creation process further, making it more intuitive for newcomers while offering depth and flexibility for veteran users. This involved rethinking navigation, improving the drag-and-drop functionality, and introducing more sophisticated tools for comic customization that could inspire users to explore a wider range of storytelling techniques.
Another significant aspect of the transition to Pixton 3.0 was the decision to introduce a new art style. This move was seen as an opportunity to give the site a "fresh coat of paint," revitalizing its visual appeal and opening up new avenues for artistic expression. The introduction of a new art style was approached with careful consideration of maintaining the balance between offering something fresh and retaining the familiar, beloved aesthetic that users had come to associate with Pixton. The chosen direction aimed to enhance the visual richness of the comics created on the platform, making each panel more engaging and dynamic.
Technological innovation was at the heart of Pixton 3.0's development. Clive and his team explored the latest web technologies to ensure that Pixton remained at the cutting edge of digital storytelling platforms. This included adopting responsive design principles to ensure a seamless experience across devices and implementing new backend technologies that could support more complex user interactions and richer multimedia content. The goal was to create a platform that was not only powerful in its storytelling capabilities but also robust, scalable, and future-proof.
Admirably, Clive maintained his 2.0 staff as he proceeded with the development of Pixton 3.0. This decision underscored his commitment to the values that had always underpinned Pixton – collaboration, community, and creativity. By retaining the core team, Clive ensured that the spirit of Pixton, the understanding of the user community's needs, and the collective wisdom garnered over the years were preserved and integrated into the fabric of Pixton 3.0.
The Band-Aid
As Pixton embarked on the journey towards developing its third iteration, Pixton 3.0, Clive Goodinson initiated a bold move by sharing early images and developments with the Pixton For Fun community. This initiative was undertaken with a dual intention: to usher the community into the fold of the upcoming changes and to gauge their reactions and feedback. The revelation was met with a whirlwind of emotions, encapsulating excitement for the future coupled with deep-seated uncertainties.
The unveiling of Pixton 3.0's development sparked a flurry of excitement among many in the community. The prospect of new features, a refreshed interface, and enhanced capabilities promised a rejuvenated platform that could elevate their storytelling and comic creation to new heights. However, this initial excitement was tempered by a cloud of uncertainty and apprehension about the direction the site was taking. Concerns emerged about whether the new version would retain the cherished elements that had made Pixton a beloved creative outlet for so many.
As details of Pixton 3.0 began to surface, serious concerns were voiced by the community. Feedback was encouraged, yet there was a palpable sense of trepidation about how drastically the site might change and what it meant for the future of the Pixton For Fun community. Questions arose about the level of involvement the community would have in shaping the new version and whether their feedback would significantly influence the development process. The community feared losing the essence of what made Pixton unique to them—a platform that balanced ease of use with deep creative potential, all within a vibrant and supportive community.
Despite Clive's intentions to involve the community in the transition, his direct involvement and oversight of Pixton 3.0's development did not facilitate extensive dialogue or commiseration with the community. Clive's personal vision for the future of Pixton, while ambitious and forward-thinking, seemed to create a distance between the developers and the community. This gap was felt keenly by members who were accustomed to a more collaborative relationship with the platform's creators. The community yearned for reassurance that their voices mattered and that the new version of Pixton would still be a place where they could thrive creatively.
Joe Mazzaro, who had transitioned from being a member of the Pixton 2.0 community to a valued member of the Pixton team, found himself in a unique position during this period of transition. The tension between the excitement for Pixton's evolution and the community's apprehensions was a source of regret. He wished for a smoother dialogue between the developers and the community, one that could have alleviated fears and fostered a more inclusive approach to the platform's development.
Uncharted Territory
The transition from Pixton 2.0 to Pixton 3.0 represented a period of profound change and uncertainty for Clive Goodinson and his team. This shift was not just about upgrading technology or adding new features; it was a fundamental reimagining of Pixton's role, particularly as it pivoted more towards the education market. The process of transitioning involved incorporating new developers and investing a significant portion of Pixton's profits into the development of Pixton 3.0. This period was marked by both anticipation for the platform's future and anxiety about the changes it entailed.
The transition was challenging. New developers brought fresh ideas and skills to the table, but integrating them into Pixton's closely-knit team and aligning them with the platform's ethos and goals required effort and time. Furthermore, allocating a substantial amount of Pixton's profits towards this transition was a financial gamble that underscored the seriousness of Clive's commitment to Pixton's evolution. This investment went into not only technological development but also extensive testing with educators and students to ensure that Pixton 3.0 would meet the real-world needs of its new target audience.
The extensive testing phase was a beacon of hope. Educators and students provided valuable feedback that was overwhelmingly positive, indicating that Pixton 3.0 could significantly impact educational storytelling and learning. This feedback was promising and suggested that the investment in Pixton 3.0 could pay off by opening new avenues for growth and impact.
However, this focus on the education market meant that certain aspects of Pixton 2.0, particularly those beloved by the "for Fun" community, would likely not receive the same level of attention.
The disappointment and hostility expressed by some members of this community towards the new direction of Pixton was unfortunate. It was a stark reminder that not all change is universally welcomed, and that focusing on one area of growth can often alienate other users who have different expectations for a platform.
Legacy
Pixton 2.0 was officially retired at the end of 2020. The general sentiment among its members was that of a heavy heart for the loss a platform that had come to mean so much.
For many, this had been a golden era of creativity and connection. It was a platform that not only allowed them to bring their stories to life, but also to be part of a vibrant, supportive institution of fellow creators.
In her public goodbye, member Marleen Miepje echoed many; "I'm extremely sad to see it go, as Pixton has been a special place for me so long, where I could truly be myself and not be judged for it. I will miss the community and the memories I created with so many people here, but eventually all things come to an end, even the most amazing ones."
Looking to the future, the Pixton team envisioned Pixton 2.0 as having laid the groundwork for even greater advancements. They saw its evolution as an ongoing journey, one that would continue to explore new technology, storytelling formats, and community-building opportunities. The potential for Pixton to impact education, professional storytelling, and personal expression was immense, and the developers were eager to navigate this uncharted territory.