If you’re an artist by trade, or are hyping an upcoming movie or video game, then you can ignore this article. It’s not for you, because large media files for you are needed to succeed at design. However, most designers simply overuse media files when creating a website. Many times this leads to loss of visitors, or hinders usability for users.
There are all kinds of wonderful multimedia options out there, which can add stylish options to your site. Flash, javascript, animated GIFs, are just a few examples of media which can be used to create some wonderful components for a website. The key is knowing how to use bits of multimedia in moderation, and utilizing some tricks to keep your site from being bogged down with load times.
When dealing with any media for the web, the keyword to remember is ‘optimization’. Whether it’s images, movies, music, interactive components; keep it all under control. With images, it’s easy to optimize. Use file types which can keep good quality, while lowering file size. When saving images in an editor, tweak quality to use the lowest amount while keeping the image usable.
When using Flash, designers tend to overkill its inclusion. I shake my head whenever I see a site, or hear of a designer creating a site completely in Flash. There are very few instances when a site should be completely constructed in Flash. Again, artists and movie sites being the main exceptions. Instead, use smaller plug-ins which can many times give you the effect which was wanted in the first place. All the while, helping to curb compatibility issues and load times.
Along with overuse, something designers fail to grasp is instances where Flash isn’t even needed. This can occur because they’re unaware of the capabilities which exist with javascript. There was a time when compatibility issues killed the use of javascript, and Flash took its place. These days, those browser related problems are fewer and javascript has made a return.
When deciding to use Flash or Javascript, keep a few things in mind. First, search engine and accessebility issues. While SEO problems have improved with Flash, it still doesn’t match what can be done with javascript. Along with search engine compatibility, Flash has many problems with plug-in compatibility and users must often have the latest update to access Flash content. This means potential loss of visitors, which never helps your site.
When moving forward on a site, don’t take the tips provided here to an extreme. You still want your site to look, and function well. Flash menus are great, and having well designed animated GIFs can add charm to your site. As stated prior, just be sure to keep it all in moderation.
