To Flash Or Not To Flash

In this blog I am going to review the pros, cons, and basically everything to consider regarding Flash and your website. First, it is best to have a basic understanding of what Flash really is. Flash is a multimedia platform that is currently developed by Adobe Systems. It is a popular format in which to add interactivity to a website, stream video, and develop rich internet applications. A lot of the most recent Flash development has been geared toward the social networking giant Facebook. Many of the optional applications, whether it be a game or some other media sharing do-dad, was created using Flash. So what exactly does that mean in terms of your personal or business webpage? There are many things to consider, but the first thing to think about is what you want it to DO.

There are several avenues you can take to get your website to have cool effects and keep the user interested in staying at your site. Some of the most popular are menu systems that have rollover effects or links that change color. Simple things like this are easily done without using Flash to do it for you. However, if you want your menu to have a custom roll-out effect or have some snazzy animation play when a user does something, then you are looking into the realm of Flash. Generally, if you want something on your site to do any type of animating, you will want to consider using Flash to accomplish your goal. Now that you have an idea of when you would want to use Flash on your website you need to look into the other pros and cons of using flash in your website.

Pros:

• Basically any effect you want can be created
• You have more control over what specifically happens
• It is cross-browser compatible
• It can keep the user interested in the page
• Professional animations make the site look more high-tech

Cons:

• Creation can be time consuming (thereby increasing the price of the website)
• File sizes can be large which can lead to slow page load times
• Content within the Flash will not be seen by a web crawler (there are ways around this)
• Content within the Flash is not as easily changed
• If a user has Flash disabled the area that holds the animation will be blank
• Flash animations are not supported on mobile phones

In a nutshell, the use of Flash should be determined on a project to project basis. If the effect you are looking for is easily created without Flash, then that is the best way to go. Or if you can get something similar that you also like, then Flash can be overlooked. However, if you have a specific animation or effect that you want, Flash offers the flexibility to achieve nearly all of those goals. Just remember, when you’re building your website: Flash responsibly!

A Word About Color

Color is one of the most important aspects of good graphic design. It is very important that you carefully consider each color that is used in any design. Good color combinations can relay moods and different messages. Color can be considered one of the most powerful aspects of design, simply because it communicates so effectively. So you could argue that it is necessary that you choose the perfect color combinations in your designs to relay the right message. If you select the proper colors, you can expect some type of a strong emotional response from your audience. If you choose clashing and distracting colors, your design could end up as a long-lasting mistake that could spoil the marketing strategy of your business.

Generally speaking, every human views colors in different ways. And sometimes, clients neglect the value of choosing the right color combinations. Consequently, they don’t acquire what they really want to have in their final product. This leads to frustration and dissatisfaction that can cause your viewers to suffer as well. This is where hiring a professional designer becomes a need for most businesses.

To sum all of this up, it is always important to ensure that the color combinations you’ve chosen for your designs best suit the intended content and the expectations of the viewers. Always remember that how you combine colors has a great impact on how it will be received by your audience. Try to be consistent throughout the design with your color combinations. When it comes to unique ideas and complex interactions, the right color combinations are truly valuable in your designs. After all, it’s actually all about finding the right color combinations!

Creating And Choosing a New Logo

Your company identity and branding is crucial to the growth of your business. The logo, in many cases, is the first thing a client or customer sees and is used in countless ways to promote your product or service. As such, your logo should catch the viewer's attention long enough for her to find out what you do.

Think about the household brands that you use on a daily basis. Those logos are simple, yet effective in conveying who they are. They are generally not elaborate and are designed with a minimal number of colors. They are generally shapes or a specific font stylized to suit the company's tastes and clientele.

Consideration of the future usage of the logo should be taken. If the logo is used primarily online there aren't many limitations but when it goes to print such as on stationery or is embroidered on a shirt or hat, some limitations become a factor. Global Marketing Design can advise you on the ways to maximize your reproduction possibilities while maintaining your logo dynamics.

Here are a few things to consider when designing or choosing a logo:

1. Start out right–invest the time and money needed to end up with the logo that will not only drive business your way but become an icon that people will associate with your success.

2. Simple is sometimes better–complex logos can sometimes be confusing and hard to reproduce based on the medium. If you must have a complex logo, try to have an alternate, more simplified version.

3. A logo doesn't have to convey what your company does–think of Wendy's or Toyota; no hamburgers or sedans in their logos. This allows for these companies to adapt to whatever change the company makes without having reinvent their logo again.

4. Size matters–ideally, your logo will be reproduced in many situations from small letterhead icons to large billboards or decals on the company vehicle. Shrinking complex logos can cause problems with readability.

5. Aspect ratios–tall and skinny or short and squatty logos cause problems for layout of advertisements and websites. They are also not very visually appealing. Steer towards square-shaped, circular, or rectangular (like your wide-screen tv).

6. Your logo is for your audience–however much you want the logo to be about you or your personality, remember that it is your audience that pays the bills.

7. A tagline is nice but not as part of your logo–taglines are used to further differentiate yourself from you competition and can become wordy. They will become illegible as you shrink the logo and are best left out of the initial logo design and used later when appropriate.

8. Strive to be different–modeling your logo after your competitors' does not set you apart from them which, after all, is what you are trying to do.

9. Color is a secondary factor–your logo should be able to stand on its own in black and white and shades of gray. However, color is vital to your corporate identity and branding so when selecting colors, keep in mind that these colors will be seen on all advertising you run.

10. Your company's essence and theme–do you want your identity to be more corporate, more comical or whimsical? This can, and will, be portrayed ultimately in the logo that you choose.

If you keep these tips in mind while designing a logo, you will end up with a design that you are proud of and an icon that portrays the business you want it to. Just stick to the classic types of logos that we can design and longevity, adaptability and impact will be the pay-off.