81 Monday, June 14, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Grads create feedback site Recent University alums host website for users to vote on fashion By BRIENNE PRUSAK Daily StaffReporter Ann Arbor locals in search of spe- cific fashion and style advice before a job interview, first date, or a night out may not have to look further than their own computers. The desire to get feedback about one's appearance and style sparked three recent University graduates to create a new website called DTLOK. com - Does This Look Okay? - which allows people to post pictures and get constructive feedback about their appearance and style. LSA graduate Drew Tevrizian said he originally came up with the idea for the new site, which allows people to leave comments and vote on photos, after growing up with a sister who was interested in fashion and noticing how much people desired feedback for their choices in clothing. Tevrizian said he has no knowledge of fashion, so he enlisted the help of his friend and Business School gradu- ate Michael Eichberg. In need of someone able to code DTLOK.com, Tevrizian said he used Craigslist to hire John Gorman for the position. Tevrizian added that Gorman has been "the backbone of the website," because of his voluntary work on getting the site up and run- ning. After three months of work, the site launched Apr. 1, and it received 8,000 hits on its first day, primarily from around the Ann Arbor area. The website is currently attract- ing about 300 visits per day, partly due to advertising around the Univer- sity campus and peer encouragement, Tevrizian said. The website's traffic, he said, has spread beyond the Ann Arbor area anymore but rather it has spread to other cities, including some from around the world. DTLOK.com relies on Facebook and Twitter for online advertising, but Tevrizian said word-of-mouth advertising has been most effective in drawing hits to the site. Gorman said he believes DTLOK. com has been so successful because of the idea itself and how insecure and vain people can be. The website, he said, offers an outlet for people to receive anonymous feedback about their appearance, like ways in which they could improve their outfits. "It's not meant tobe superficial, it's meant to be a boost of confidence," Eichberg said. For those who are new to a city and don't have anyone to get feedback from, the site acts "like your second friend," Eichberg said. In order to use this website, visi- tors do not need to create an account. Instead they will need to provide an officers arrest him. Beatty was arrested and released Jan. 13 after being pulled over by Ypsi- lanti police with an open container and an unspecified amount of cocaine in his car, according to AnnArbor.com. The arrest was made by Ypsilanti police and members of LAWNET, according to a Jan. 30 article in The Michigan Daily. After being released, Beatty was placed on unpaid administrative leave by the University on Jan. 14, accord- ing to University Department of Public Safety Spokeswoman Diane Brown. Brown said Beatty's employment ended on Feb. 9, but could not com- e-mail address so that comments on their photos can be sent to them. Tevrizian said the lack of user sign- up helps to limit abuse of the site, because only the user who posted the picture can see the comments. He added that he, Gorman and Eichberg try to minimize site abuse with the option to "flag" photos that are inap- propriate because they want the site to be a noncontroversial resource. As well as getting feedback on a photo, people can also browse the site and get style ideas that may allow them to expand their stylistic hori- zons and promote individuality, Eich- berg said. Gorman added that while he expected more women to use the site, the distribution of visitors has been pretty equal among men and women. Though Gorman is no longer involved with the site, Tevrizian said he and Eichberg would like continue to challenge themselves, and they hope to ultimately be able to profit from the website by eventually charg- ing users to post photos. In return, he added that they would make the online community more interactive by having professional fashion con- sultants and designers offer specific fashion advice. ment on the manner in which his employment ended. Brown said Beatty did not return to work between Jan.14 and Feb. 9. ]=For the rest of this story, see R MichiganDaily.com/blogs CORRECTIONS * A June 1 article in The Michigan Daily ("Police inves- tigate death at Packard Street house") misattributed content in the story's subheading. * Please report any error in the Daily to corrections@ michigandaily.com. Over the term break, check MichiganDaily.com Student tuition rates are on the agenda for this Thursday's University Board of Regents meeting. Ashley Bauer discusses how she got involved in golf and her future plans in Kevin Raftery's feature. ........................... Rachel Van Gilder examines her love-hate relationship with the Big House smoking ban. Nicholas Clift exposes the University's use of soap dispensers that may be creating superbugs. Bonarroo ended last night; learn what went down over four dirty days and nights in Tennessee. Drake's debut album, For Never, drops June 15 and promises to be cooler than "Degrassi." Robyn proves to be a true pop artist worthy of mass appeal with Body Talk, Pt.1. Check in online for doily updates First seen on U' officer charged 0 Arrest warrant issued for former University police officer By DEVON THORSBY Daily News Editor Washtenaw County Court has issued an arrest warrant charging for- mer University police officer Charles Beatty III with cocaine possession regarding an arrest that occurred in January in Ypsilanti, an AnnArbor. com article reported. Lieutenant Monica Yesh of the Liv- ingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team told AnnArbor. com that Beatty is being given the opportunity to turn himself in before rP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -7 1 I F REE Smonothie OR Coffee Bla-st No Purchase Necessary I. I 1 Limit One offer per customer with coupon. I 1 Not valid with any other offers. 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