Okay, so in the wake of our push to get some Inkscape swag going for the project, I've been pushed from multiple angles to start doing some of this myself.
My reasons for considering this part-time, then move to full time if it's successful are as follows:
1. *Ongoing Work* - Since I'm considering new options for work, I want to do something where my day to day work can benefit FOSS projects, and I have all the necessary skills to do this - I'm basically a one-stop shop for graphics and media of any kind, so why not actually BE a shop for FOSS swag?
2. *More Benefit to Projects* - Many of the options available for free online shops fall short in that they present too high a cost for single orders with not enough percentage going towards the project. Becoming the supply chain allows me to save cost on bulk orders and maximise profits to get the most project benefits out of the sales.
3. *Quality Control -* I can ensure the quality of the products produced, because I can select which companies I buy from, vetting for quality. It's shocking how many companies produce total crap (even popular ones, like spreadshirt). Quality and customer satisfaction matter a lot to me. Especially when representing various FOSS projects, the quality of the materials will speak to quality of what's being represented, and all too often I see stickers printed off of home printers using graphics that were more or less tossed together from online clipart. The reason for this is usually that nothing else was available. I want to be a solution to this problem.
4. *Supporting a FOSS-driven Industry* - I really, really don't want to have to go back to using closed source graphics applications. :) And that's probably what will happen if I don't start something myself. I want to continue to be able to use Inkscape, and GIMP, and Krita, etc. in my production work so I can continue to help with bug reports, and UX suggestions. It's a big part of my job satisfaction to be able to help in this way.
5. *Supporting FOSS designers* - I eventually want to be able to employ other designers who use FOSS to build up the industry use of FOSS. We've got a long way to go to catch up, and the more designers using FOSS, the greater our say in what becomes standard for the industry. It's my experience that FOSS benefits both artists and companies that hire design work, as the overhead cost for creating and using FOSS graphic assets is zero, and thus can be used perpetually at no cost to either party.
6. *Brain Tickles -* It tickles something in my mind to think of people using and handing out stickers for FOSS projects. I've designed lots of products over the last 10 years, and I've seen people all around London using them. It's a great feeling, but lacks the satisfaction of seeing people enjoying FOSS and spreading the joy to others, and I find just showing someone tricks in Inkscape gives me a much more lasting thrill. So why not have both? Yes, I want to have my cake and eat it too, and share it as well!
So these are my goals, but I do want to hear your opinions on it too.
Thanks for listening, and for all the support and encouragement I've received from people inside and outside the project. :)
-C