Re: Flash Crawls

[David Gary]

Colin Moock wrote:


> When developing the Levi's website. I

> actually did a lot of testing on a 486.




> A rule of thumb for us is to keep the user from feeling that our

> site/product is causing problems.


> that simply means clearly stating system requirements up front.


Hiya Colin and Flashers,


Testing on lower systems is indeed the way to test. However It is my opinion

that what a designer

develops for should really be in balance with what the client is selling or

saying.

If a client is selling a product that caters to the upper class, then he

might be advised by the designer

to have some fairly detailed and processor hungry animation to "knock their

socks off". Of course

this depends on the design itself. The client might not be as concerned in

what experience the "486er" might have

since theres usually a good bet your average "joe blow" 486er isnt the kind

of guy willing to give his credit card over the

internet, much less buy anything expensive for that matter.


You cant consider the 486er and count out the people who have paid out the

ass for a p300.


In the multi-media age there arent very many agents so a freelance

multi-media designer might find himself

as his own agent. The unexperienced can really have a number done on them by

the client if this is usually the case.

However people starting in this industry as freelance must learn their

capabilities, how to sell the work and who to sell it to.

If the clients product is expensive and they have a large budget, charge

accordingly, but you should not limit

their product or service to the 486ers of the world. Distribute the animation

and processor occupancy based

on what the product or service is and what clientele it caters to. Theres a

fine balance here. I find myself animating way

over the limits of what a typical p90 might handle and may have to re

evaluate how much animation is happening

at a time. Flash is not a toaster and where not designing for television.

Dont forget about baud rate too.


I'm finding these simple steps when designing for the web.


1.Whats the client selling or trying to say? Whos he trying to sell or say it

to? How much will his budget provide to

sell or say it?


This will tell you how much freedom you have in the design phase.


2.Design a storyboard and draw the design and interactivity on paper, before

you even open a authoring program.


This will give you a starting and stopping point and everything laid in front

of you to make the actuall designing

much easier. It will also give your client an idea of what hes buying.


3.Never under estimate the time it will take you to design and create the

site.(So many freelancers

make this mistake and when they've added up the hours how long it took them

and what they where paid for the

job, they could've been working at a water park drinking pinia coladas,

whatching pretty girls in bikinis all day!

for what they've charged the client. Always get payed a % up front

and always do what you tell the client your going to do.


I know Ive gotten off the "animation vs. processor thing, but it all adds up

to what your designing FOR.


By the way Colin, I visited you site lately, very nice, mucho thanks from

this flasher!


Adios,


-DG-




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