Web Design Packages (UK)

A well-known (in I.T. circles) website design consultant once said Flash websites are “99% Bad !!”. His name is Jakob Nielson (see useit.com)

He argues that Flash animation and design works against the user; encourages a ‘bells and whistles’ approach to web design; is bad for people who cannot use a mouse or who have poor/no eye- sight; is bad for people with low-spec’ computer equipment and is poor for search engine listings.

We actually agree (most of the time) with all those… want to know more???

Yes we think in general Flash Websites are bad, maybe not 99% of the time though. We think if used intelligently and with a real purpose it can add impact and functionality to a site. We generally do not encourage it but if clients ask for it we will explain the pros and cons of using it and suggest that small areas of the site could maybe use it. E.G. a banner, a special offer or to showcase a product from different angles.

Flash Can Add Value and Impact

Sports Car sites are good at using Flash. As a high value product it lends itself to show-off the car in all it’s glory. They often use Flash to jazz-up the impact, movement, video, add emotive music and sound affects as part of the sell.

We have seen Film/Games websites use Flash effectively to promote the film/game. Entertainment website would be fairly dull without Flash… Look at You Tube! Their videos are embedded into a Flash Player.

BUT we would discourage (in general) anyone from having a fully functional Flash site. Reasons? On the whole Flash websites:

• may take too long to download, especially if the movie contains real photos
• rely of the user’s PC having a Flash plug-in (or they see nothing)
• force sound / music on the user (in an office this is bad)
• perform VERY BADLY in SEARCH ENGINES, (it’s rare to see a full Flash site in the top 10 of Google, Yahoo, etc)
• don’t have ‘normal’ page functionality (e.g. cannot go ‘back” and refresh doesn’t work as expected)
• are difficult and more expensive to update, they need a flash designer really
• have restrictive dimensions (width x height). Flash cannot expand dimensions like a HTML web page can.
• the novice struggles to understand how Flash works and would need the Flash authoring software if he/she wanted to update the site themselves (it’s expensive for most)
• It could be breaking accessibility laws in some countries if not build with the disabled in mind

So Flash is Bad Then?

To re-iterate ‘not all the time’ but should be used sparingly. We actually love using Flash and there are some awesome Flash sites about but we are conscious that the customer generally may be time-poor, wants to keep it simple and YOU want to retain as many prospects at their site as possible. So a balancing act of quick, easy, cost and visitor interest has to be considered.
It is only professional of us to tell you the pros and cons of using Flash. Sometimes it may deter or block some users from seeing your site altogether!

If you are convinced your target audience will appreciate the use of Flash well yes go-ahead BUT REMEMBER: Don’y use it as gratuitous eye-candy and you OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE static page to the Flash version so others without the need of ‘Bells and Whistles’ or are disadvantaged in some way will be able to read your product / service information.

» Digital Idiom have used Flash in these websites.

Comments are closed.