Quick and Easy Flash Prototyping
Taught by Alexa Andrzejewski.
Does the idea of working with Flash seem daunting? Do you know a little Flash but aren’t sure how to apply it to your interaction design work? This workshop offers the impetus, skills and inspiration you need to get started with Flash prototyping. Come and learn how to bring your wireframes to life!
Who is this workshop for?
• Interaction designers who have never used Flash before. (If you’re familiar with other design apps, like Visio or Creative Suite, or movie making apps, you’re well on your way!)
• Interaction designers who know a little Flash but want to learn how to apply it to rapid prototyping.
This workshop covers:
• Flash essentials: Creating reusable actors (Movie Clips), giving them names (Instance Names) and telling them what to do (using the Timeline and ActionScript commands).
• Preparing wireframes for Flash and importing them.
• Constructing a simple click-through prototype using keyframes and invisible buttons.
• Working with Flash UI Components like checkboxes and drop-down menus.
• Adding “smarts” to your prototype using conditional statements and ActionScript.
• Using Movie Clips to create independent interactive elements like fly-out menus.
• How to extend your prototypes even further.
Materials needed:
Be sure to download and test these files before arriving at the workshop! You will need:
• A laptop with a working copy of Flash MX 2004 or higher installed (not just the free Flash player). Flash CS3 is recommended to ensure consistency with other participants. If you don’t have Flash, you can download a free, fully-functional 30-day trial within 30 days of the workshop: https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=flash
• Flash prototyping template files (You will receive these before the workshop)
At the workshop, you will also receive a printed booklet containing step-by-step instructions and handy reference material.
Agenda:
0:00-0:15 Introduction and Examples
0:15-1:00 Exercise: Understanding Flash – Actors on a Stage
1:00-1:15 Break/Catch-Up
1:15-2:15 Exercise: Prototyping Simple Interactions
2:15-2:30 Break/Catch-Up
2:30-3:00 Exercise: Prototyping Complex Interactions
Last year's photos, tagged with uxweek2008 on flickr.com
Location
The Palace Hotel
2 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
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Hotel Registration