Forrst

Forrst was an online community platform specifically tailored for web designers and developers. It was founded in early 2010 by Kyle Bragger, a developer who identified a need for a dedicated space to share code snippets and design work, which he felt didn't fit well on platforms like Tumblr or Twitter. Bragger was responsible for all initial development and managed the community's growth, which operated on an invite-only basis to maintain a high quality of interaction and content. This exclusivity helped cultivate a passionate user base, growing to 50,000 users and generating five-figure monthly revenues within three years.

The platform functioned as a niche social network where professionals could share their work, ask questions, and provide detailed feedback to one another. Users could post code snippets, and design mockups, and share interesting links, creating a collaborative environment for skill improvement. The business model centered on this community, and it successfully scaled from a small side project into a notable destination for its target audience.

In March 2012, after three years of operation, Forrst was acquired by Colourlovers. This was not the final chapter for the platform, as it was acquired again in January 2013 by ZURB, a product design company. ZURB's intention with the asset-only deal was to foster the community, integrate its own suite of design tools, and enhance the platform's features, including streamlining the interface and implementing responsive design. However, the platform eventually ceased operations.

Keywords: Forrst, Kyle Bragger, designer community, developer community, code sharing, design feedback, web design network, ZURB acquisition, Colourlovers acquisition, online creative community, peer feedback platform, UI/UX feedback, front-end development, graphic design portfolio, invite-only community, tech startup, social network for designers, collaborative design, web development resources, product design community