Tips for Creating a Unique Website in Flash - Part 1: Design
Balind on 15 Jun 2007 | Tips & Advice
In my attempts to come up with something fresh and exciting that’s tailored to each client I’ve fashioned a few guidelines that allow me to funnel my creativity toward the details, which is key. I’ve broken them down into 10 easy-to-understand tips and divided them into “design” and “animation”.
daddyyankee.com // Elastic People
DESIGN TIPS
1. Make the pre-loader as visually interesting as possible.
Take the time to add detail and come up with something original, this is one of the first elements your users will see and can potentially make a strong impression and can kind of trick your users into deciding they like the site before they’ve even seen it.
2. Create depth and realism through highlights, shadows and texture.
Think of the page as a set in a studio rather than a flat canvas. Try to visually integrate the navigation into the site instead of having it appear as a detached floating element. Avoid having the design sit within an obvious rectangle. Airbrush subtle highlights and shadows onto all photographic elements to give them a slight graphic/illustrative appearance and color treat them to match site color-scheme.
3. Use the entire browser window, not just the area that fits within the lowest resolution.
Use Flash alignment components to pin graphics to corners and edges to create an experience that’s non-congested and customized to the browser size.
4. Find an interesting way to present the information on the home-page.
No floating copy. To maintain the pseudo-reality all text should have some sort of backing on which to sit. Design the body copy, don’t just paste it from the word doc. Align-organize-space it in a manner that combines read-ability with aesthetics.
5. Take the time to design interesting icons and details to place wherever appropriate.
This is the kind of thing that makes the difference, if you nail this during the design phase production will be a dream.
Additional design notes:
- Give almost all elements a super-subtle glow, even text.
- zoom in when you work on details, waste time getting them perfect it’s not actually a waste of time.
Wanderson on 03 Jul 2007 at 9:20 pm #
Nice tips. I´ll print these tips and put in my dashboard.
I´m studing Maya to start to implement 3D on my projects. I´m a newbie in web design, but reading your blog, certainly will acelarate my aprendiceship curve.
Alarm on 26 Jul 2007 at 8:56 am #
nice
DSC Alarm on 06 Aug 2007 at 2:45 am #
nice joob
Dwayne on 21 Feb 2008 at 11:26 am #
Adding subtle lines and dots help sometimes too
baby on 04 Mar 2008 at 2:34 pm #
Great website!! Keep up the good work!!
stronghold crusader extreme on 25 Mar 2008 at 9:54 am #
Good thread, i like this tips
Miguel on 27 Mar 2008 at 9:45 am #
What align components you use?
kamera sistemleri on 12 Apr 2008 at 5:15 am #
Good thread, i like this
Computer jobs on 27 Apr 2008 at 4:40 am #
Very good information
I see there are realy useful tips. I am going to use some
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ringtoneshexitnexuated on 29 Jul 2008 at 4:16 am #
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ringtoneshexitnexuated on 29 Jul 2008 at 11:51 pm #
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Nice site, thanks.
Sebby on 18 Sep 2008 at 6:30 am #
Interesting blog and great information! For all the people trying to learn 3d, I strongly recommend Cinema 4d from Maxon. Out of any 3d app I have tried, Cinema 4d is the easiest. Computer Arts rated Cinema 4d #1 out of all the major 3d apps for graphic designers trying to get into 3d. And the latest release, has really surpassed Maya. Balind your blog is a great resource so keep writing! Would you look over my site and give me honest feedback on what I can improve/remove/update?
thx
Balind on 18 Sep 2008 at 10:51 am #
Sure,
Overall, looks good.
1. Put more effort into your Demo Reel and have that be the default page. Double or triple the speed of the animation so that it plays fast and exciting. If people like what they see there, then they’ll feel like clicking around your work.
2. Write a little bit about yourself, show your personality and professionalism in the ‘about’ section. That’s key.
3. Link the CV button to your LinkedIn page.
4. I feel like the font in the nav is out of place, I’d prefer to see the same one you use for content.
nice work, keep it up.
b.
Sebby on 21 Sep 2008 at 4:27 pm #
Balind, thanks a lot for the suggestions! I will get to them this week. Very much appreciated! I was also wondering the reason for Red Interactive opening an office in Boston instead of NY since you guys do so much entertainment related work?
mirc on 10 Oct 2008 at 11:45 am #
good sharing, thank you.