Bandstocks is a service that allows fans to invest in artists' musical projects.
My architecture is simple, 3 pools, you vote, you invest and you buy the finished product. The architecture reflects the original business plan.
Dillema
If you open up a conversation to everyone you eventually get a lot of noise, however if empowered [voting] crowds will surface beauty. The dillema is simple: accept everyone or make it a more exclusive place. There is an initial filter but ultimately it's in Bandstocks interest to get as many acts into the voting pool: acts bring an audience with them. In the end Bandstocks needs to balance Artist expectations and Investors expectations, what we don't want is to go through the voting pool and not find any interesting projects.
Visual design
Re visual design...It was a very bumpy ride getting to where it is now. My first design iteration was more machine like, iTunes, corporate like and therefore less prone to criticism on the visual front. The visual design layer was then given to a couple of designers and finally, in its third iteration settled into this very visually assertive solution.
Underneath the hood
A little bit of insider info ;-) The legal work required to get where Bandstocks is worth hundred of thousands of the queen's currency. I have to admit I am still surprised as to the amount of work it involved. Bandstocks is a true investment site, unlike other illegal ventures out there... It does not ask for believers, it asks for investors in very transparent terms.
If by any chance you are an artist and bother to look at the contract it offers artists, you will see it's unparalleled in the music industry.
Moving on
The system is being fine-tuned as it reacts to usage. There are some new features rolling out that will give the investor more value for money and proeminence. Overall usability is being improved upon, the homepage is changing radically. If you think of web apps as creatures, this one is begining to breathe. Stay tuned.