Choosing A Flash Designer

Although the reason you are reading this article is to find out how to choose the best Macromedia Flash designer to suit your needs, it does no harm to clarify what Macromedia Flash is. The distinguishing factor of Macromedia Flash designs is that they are created using a vector format as opposed to the more common method of using thousands of coloured square dots known as pixels. Whereas pixels require a large file size because the colour and location of each dot must be recorded, vector graphics use mathematical equations to define lines and shapes, resulting in smaller file sizes, faster download times and crisper, more scalable images. End result: your site or banner advertisement looks better and is delivered faster, enabling you to make a vivid impression on potential customers. Research into internet usage has found that web pages have thirty seconds to make an impact, and with Macromedia Flash you can make every second count.

So why doesn't everybody use Macromedia Flash then? Well, the creation of images and animated banners using the Macromedia Flash utility can be extremely tricky and time consuming, although the recent introduction of third-party applications has made it easier to create animated banners using the same file format. Conversely, this democratisation of the market has made sourcing a good designer more difficult as there are now innumerable Flash animators of various experiences and skill levels to consider. This is where the Approved Index, the UK's leading online business to business referral service, proves invaluable, with a list of no more than eight qualified flash design companies on its books for you to contact. This article provides a list of requirements and questions to ask so you that will be able to further narrow down the field and choose the most appropriate Flash website designer for your needs:

• The greatest resource available for researching a Flash animator's aptitude and suitability for the kind of work you have in mind is the portfolio of jobs they have done in the past. Qualities to look for include variety, originality and whether you consider the style of the design appropriate for the site in question. This will also give some indication of the extent the designer has listened to the client's needs or has just followed a generic house style.
• Give consideration to the technical aspects of the sites under review as much as their visual impact. Does the site load quickly? Does it require any plug-ins or software downloads to operate effectively? It is well worth your time entering the site using different web browsers and connection speeds to test compatibility and adaptability, because these issues handicap the effectiveness of Macromedia Flash and you'll want to see how the designer accommodates them.
• In addition to looking at the web pages and banner advertisements created by the designer, it is a good idea to talk to past clients about the experience of working with them. Did the designer deliver what was required within budget and to schedule? Have the designs stood the test of time or presented any technical problems and are they dynamic and adaptable enough so that alterations to the content can be made without difficulty?
• There are two stages to developing software simulations: the design phase and the production phase. Effectively you are hiring the Macromedia Flash designer to realise the production phase, and you will want to have a major say in the design phase. In this respect the delegation of roles becomes a significant factor and you can choose to go two ways. If the flash design agency is large enough they might be able to handle all your development requirements, or you may prefer to outsource various aspect of the work to an agency that specialises in copywriting or graphic design.
• Such decisions are of particular importance in cases where you want an advertising banner or piece of rich media developed, because it is unlikely the animator will be competent in producing advertising copy or managing every aspect of your rich media product. In this respect it is essential to hold a trial session including the members of your team specialising in the various competences that are required to create the final product to see how well they communicate with each other and work together.

As you can see, contracting a Flash Company or Freelance designer to suit your needs is by no means a simple process, but following the above steps should enable you to do so with the minimum of fuss. The very best of luck in your search!