Flash: The Good, The Bad...

The introduction of Flash technology has enhanced the aesthetic appeal for some sites , but in other cases, may hinder the usability of the site and affect its overall ability to effectively convey the message of the site. In 2000, Jakob Nielsen wrote an online article titled "Flash:99% Bad" discussing how the use of Flash has had a negative impact on the usability of websites and its effects on users. My pet peeve is the lack of navigation on Flash-intensive websites. Sometimes you are forced to look at animations for an extended period of time until they provide you with a button that says "Continue" or "Click here for more". This takes away the users ability to freely navigate throughout a site and may often be a turn off for users.

Good Flash animations can increase the user's ability to understand a difficult concept, however, a bad animation can damage the message of the site and can deter a user from the site. Some sites offer the option for users to skip the introductions, which is useful, while others waste the users time with slow and bright animations to simply show the company's logo. The heavy use of Flash also requires users to quickly learn how to manipulate site features and other controls on the site that should be standard for users.

Flash technology can be used in a positive way to bring attention to an issue through the use of animations and sound to convey a message. An example is the SIRE website, which has a campaign devoted to bringing attention to the number of homeless teenagers in the Netherlands. The homepage of the website has a screen in the middle of the page showing people's eyes slowly opening and closing, which is corresponding to a counter of the number of people who have opened their eyes to the situation occurring in the Netherlands.


After you choose to enter the site, there is a flickering streetlight in the corner of the page, while the rest of the screen is dark. After a few seconds, an arrow and "Click here" appears motioning the user to click on the streetlight for the animation to continue. When the user clicks on the streetlight, there is an animation where the light gets brighter and acts as a spotlight on a teenager who is laying on the ground. Type then appears giving information about the teenager and how long they have been homeless. After clicking on a series of streetlights, the line of text that was once blurred out at the bottom of the page appears and a Continue button appears leading users to go to the next portion of the site.

The different segments of the site all include animations that are accompanied by a statistic about child abuse, sexual abuse, and prostitution rates in the Netherlands. The color palettes used in the segment devoted to homelessness involves dark hues to depict empty streets. The sounds in the background involve sirens and car noises to give the viewer a realistic feel of the scene in the Netherlands where homeless teenagers are sleeping (screenshot below).


In this instance, the animations and metaphors used throughout the site have the ability to evoke emotions in the user and may persuade them to get involved in the campaign. One negative aspect of the site is that the user does not have the ability to navigate through the site as they like. There is often a delay between parts of the animations, forcing the user to watch the animation in its entirety before moving on. The design of the animations are all similar, which can make the site dull after awhile.
The placement of the figures and the icons throughout the animations creates a well-balanced composition with a good integration of elements within the space.


Another website that uses Flash in a aesthetically pleasing manner and integrates good design techniques is the website for Patron spirits company. The website has a very clean look with a plain white background, and black and grey text. The animations on the site are simple, but add a unique flavor to the site. The various brands of liquors that the company produces appear to be sliding towards you, and you are able to click on individual bottles to learn more about the product. The navigation is very clear and easy to use on the site. There are no long animations that you are required to view before going to another portion of the site. The use of fading techniques for text or links that have been read or used also helps the user identify where they have been on the site. Along with the useful information on the site, it is also a nice site to play around with to see what functionality it has. The sound effects throughout the site are of people talking and utensils hitting plates similar to a scene at a club or a restaurant.

Some designers may overdo Flash animations and it could make the site appear loud and overwhelming. Users are interested in sites that are designed well and are easy to use; they are ready to sacrifice the usability of a site because it looks good.