.

I'm a faceup artist, but not so crazily active with commissions that a lot of people own my work, so the impact there isn't big

However, I did write an extensive FAQ for the community and spent a lot of time in the past years to help out newcomers by answering their questions. So I guess that's my impact there

 

I'm not sure what you mean by impact...?

Teddy

 

I'm a crafty person so I focus more on the customization aspect of the hobby. I have a post or two of some things I've done or am currently working on. I love seeing what people are making for their dolls, and it can help inspire your own creativity too!

 

Just a thought, but you might get less resistance to this question if you ask it the other way around... "Which other DOA members have made an impact on your experience of the hobby and what was it?"

People may be reluctant to discuss (or even not realize) the impact they've had, while celebrating others makes everyone feel good.

(@Ara's FAQs are great!)

 

Similar to @Ara I was a commission artist for some years, and it is nice to see your artwork shared/enjoyed by other people. Although, it's hard to think of it as 'impact'... since it was transactional lol.

I think when I was younger in age/and in experience within the hobby, there was a lot of focus on being popular/recognizable on this forum and elsewhere, and having your dolls reach this level of popularity among other hobbyists. Now that I'm older, I see that trying to have this type of impact was often detrimental to oneself and their own enjoyment of the hobby. I'm not saying being popular in itself is bad, but if that's what you're striving for, it comes at a cost of your own enjoyment/interests within the hobby. You're doing more for other people than for yourself.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, rather than trying to have an impact/recognition among a lot of strangers, I'd rather have impact on people I developed close friendships/relationships with. Some of the people I've met and introduced to the hobby are now amazing creators, some of the users I would pay random compliments to are now some of my closest friends, and some of the work I've done for clients still gets shared online and makes me happy. Not everyone needs to know who I am for me to feel I've made some impact.

 

It's hard to know what impact one has had on the hobby. That is probably better seen from the outside.
I do my best to answer questions when I have the time and know the answer. I try to be encouraging when apropriate and pragmatic when that is the better rout. But what difference it actually makes? Who knows.
Sometimes someone mentiones I've done something to inspire them or have said some thing that helped, but I don't exactly keep a log book for it, so I have no idea to what extent.

I have made a fair number of dolls and doll related things as gifts for friends, for swaps and to sell at cons, so I know there is plenty of things I've made floating around out there, but how meaningful those items have been to the individual owner I have no idea. They may be treasured, they may be forgotten. It's not for me to know.

 

Hm... I wonder if you mean impact like we are reading it or something else? But at any rate -- I fully agree with others that it's never possible to know how other people see you, especially in the broad sense. You would have to have an omniscience I also think that celebrity culture is bad for all of us in the end, even the celebrities. And I think this idea comes across as trying to plan how you can gain broad personal recognition.
Anyway, there are some things you can do that do create an impact which is positive and I think positive impacts are always worth striving for, with or without recognition:
Be friendly and welcoming in comments online.
Take time to encourage people who are just joining the hobby or who are brave enough to try learning new things and showing off the process -- not only if they are already skilled. You'll notice that talented and popular people get droves of praise but those on the learning curve or not as socially popular get crickets and that's not very nice. Everyone deserves encouragement!
Be invested in the success and happiness of others because there is no competition in happiness. Celebrate victories with people!
Take joy in doing something nice for someone if you have the means. This looks like all of the above but other things are organizing social events, giving little gifts, writing personal private exchanges (developing friendships), helping others creatively by listening or helping them brainstorm, or maybe just pricing your used goods so that it gives someone an opportunity they might not have had otherwise.
These are the behaviors that make people remember other people fondly and spreading safety, encouragement, and good cheer is very worthwhile!
Another thing is passion... People will certainly remember those who are passionate vs. Those who are more apathetic but it can go either way on whether it makes a positive or negative impact. I don't want to say "be authentic" because I truly think 9/10 people don't want authenticity, they want a canned motivational version of authenticity. But if you can share your passion positively, it encourages others to feel passionately too.
This is so long I truly hate myself
The people I remember in the hobby who impacted me are both positive and negative, unfortunately. But the positive impacts came from long term friendships where we got to express our fondness mutually, people I didn't know personally who made work I thought was very striking especially if they seemed genuine, kind, and passionate. I remember those who were there to offer kind words and encouragement, those who had something new to teach me and those who gave me gifts (because that's a huge thing to do for anyone)

 

I reply to most topics in general Discussions, and often in Newbieland, and I've had people tell me they like seeing me so active or that I've helped them a lot, but I don't think much of that is really an attempt to make a big impact, it's more that I just really enjoy interacting and really appreciate it when others help me, so I'm glad to do the same! I also sometimes organize and host doll meets. Other than those things, I'm really not popular in the hobby and don't have that many Instagram followers. I'm perfectly ok with that!

I have been impacted by others in the hobby! People who have gifted me things just to be kind. People who helped me learn to do faceups, to pattern clothing, to restring, to craft props. People who invited me to roleplay my doll characters and taught me how. People who welcomed me into the community and dollmeets and helped with all my dumb newbie questions that should have had obvious answers. People whose skills have inspired me to work on my own. There are a lot of really talented and helpful people in this hobby!

 

As a newcomer I had no impact so far.
One of my best friends inspired me to finally buy a BJD from 2nd hand market and I enjoy everything about it so much that I finally ordered my Holy Grail. I dreamt of a Popovy doll for so long.
Sharing that passion with my friend makes me feel less weird.
I still feel a bit embarassed being a 40 year old woman having fun with dolls.
On the other hand my dad is into modelling RC helicopters&cars for decades and actually he enjoys helping me with crafting props, furniture and clothes.

 

Awww! That thoughtful comment just melted my heart!
I haven´t seen it from that perspective yet.