Skip Intro

Macromedia Flash Usability and Interface Design

by Joyce J Evans

This book was a refreshing surprise. I really like Flash when its used well but there are so many bad uses of Flash that many people are discouraged from using it.

The advice given in this book will aid the designer/developer in making usable Flash movies without being boring. It points out very strongly how you need to think about the users and look at the intended user. Yes!! It really bugs me when designers design for their peers instead of the intended user. These sorts of designs may win awards but no one could actually USE them.

The authors in Skip Intro show you that there are no strict rules and and they show you design examples demonstrating the concepts and theories of the user interface and a usable design as it relates to Flash. Each of the modules in the book are available as drag and drop Flash components the the CD-ROM.

This books purpose is not to teach you ActionScrip but rather explain why your target user should be the center of a project design from the beginning and to show you good practices in usability and interface design.

I think anyone learning Flash that wants to develop interface design, needs to get this book. In fact any learning institutions for design really should incorporate this book into their curriculum.

Skip Intro
by Michelangelo Capraro and Duncan McAlester
New Riders
ISBN: -73571178X
252 pages