Functions
- Animated intros
- Complete Flash sites
- Content promotions (ifilm.net)
- Complex and interesting navigation systems.
- Games and puzzles.
- Cartoons
Design
- The Fashion and Cliche of Flash
- Many Flash sites seem "cool" when
we first visit them. Fast paced animations, trendy electronic music,
never seen before effects, etc.. But the problem with "cool"
is that it is temporary and relative. Once users have seen your site
once, or worse, once users they have seen other sites with same "cool"
techiniqes, will yours remain "cool", or will it fade in
to "obnoxious", "excessive" or "a waste of
time"?
- I challenge designesr to make effective use
of Flash beyond the gimmickry.
- 2D - 3D
- Static - Animated
- Minimal - Excessive
- Vector - Bitmap
- Small element - Full Screen
Weaknesses
- Text can not be copied
- Requires a plug-in (although most browsers have
at least Flash 3)
Usability
- Watch many people try your production before releasing
it. See where they get confused, what they miss and ask them what they
liked and did not like.
- Realise that although people like cool animations,
they should have the option to skip them to get to the content faster.
- Use the "over" and "down"
state frames of the button design to let people know what is a button
and what is not.
- Give people clues to where they are.
- Be consistent in your interactive design.
- Give easy navigation controls to access all the
content and allow people to review and also skip unnecessary content.
- For more usability info: www.usableweb.com