E-Biz MBA's Ten Best Flash Websites

Here is a link to what E-Biz MBA has voted the top ten flash websites of 2010. One that I like a lot is AgencyNet's website which has some elements of inspiration for my own website. Both create a landscape inlaid with buttons, which when clicked, create animations within the landscape.

Another one that I like, which incidentally also uses landscape as part of its design is Advanced Studio's website which is successful in the high-tech tone it creates through illustrated landscapes and general interface design.

Leo Burnett Website

This is another website with amazing design. The concept itself looks to be inspired by Magritte which is made even stronger through the consistency in design. The visual and interactive aspects make navigating the entire site irresistible.

Inspirations for Project 3

As I put Project #2 behind me, I started to look online for website site designs with enticing interactive properties. I found the following website for Wonderwall, Inc. which is an interior design firm established by Masamichi Katayama. I love the wall created with images of the various locations they've designed. The movement it creates when you hover through lends itself to the tactile quality you want to experience with interior design.

Animations Using Light

While not a direct source of inspiration, I found these videos which use action light painting to create these animations.

NYTimes: New Web Code Draws Concern Over Risks to Privacy

Here's an article from today's New York Times discussing the advent of HTML 5 and the concerns it is raising over privacy. In the next few years, HTML 5 will take over as the new face of the internet. In addition to making it easier for users to view multi-media content without downloading extra software while enhancing our ability to check e-mail offline or shop from a smartphone, it will also provide marketers with infinitely more information about us as consumers.

It would be unrealistic to expect such capabilities without our privacy being invaded, since it is this very personal information that allows for the web to acclimate itself to our needs and suggest other sites or products based on our internet habits. So, in essence, it comes down sacrificing one benefit to enhance another. However, the article makes it clear that we should at least have a choice. While many web browsers do have privacy settings, they are not as clear as they should be and more often than not, are not as effective.

Hopefully as HTML5 becomes more ubiquitous in use, there will be enhancements to web browsers allowing for us to protect ourselves to a granular level of specificity.

Some After Effects Videos

As a source of inspiration, I am including a link to a website which includes a hodge podge of videos created using After Effects. After learning how to create a relatively basic Flash animation, I am even more in awe of the animations that I am flooded with on a daily basis. I have imbedded one such example. While it is way more advanced than what we will be producing for the second assignment, I found it to be a nice segue given its use of simple geometric shapes, and typography.

Coca-Cola - Night Visuals 2010 from binalogue on Vimeo.

Here is a link to the Vimeo Website.

Cute Flash Animation (About Flash)

Given our first Flash animations are due today, I thought it was appropriate to post this video I found which somewhat portrays the Flash program itself as a villain. Enjoy!