Flash is proprietary multimedia format created by Macromedia. Flash allows for animations, sounds and client interaction on web sites. Chances are you’ve visited a web site with a fancy trailer and the omnipresent “skip intro” link. Welcome to Flash.

To flash or not to flash
Most Flash on web sites is bad because the technology tends to discourage usability. Three cases in point: 1). It makes poor design more likely. 2). It consumes time and money that would be better spent improving your web site’s content. 3). It breaks with the Web's fundamental interaction style.

Poor Design
My example above regarding “splash” pages is a great one. Most clients visit a site to be informed, entertained or to shop. Your competition is one second away, just a click of the mouse. And no one wants to wait through a intro movie every time they visit your site.

Eats Time And Money
Attractive flash production is not cheap, design rates start at about $50/hour in Portland and go up fast—you get what you pay for. An attractive spash page can easily consume 40 hours or more. You do the math.

Breaks Web Fundamentals
This is the biggie. A web site that is encapsulated in Flash is most likely not searchable! What’s more visitors cannot use their browsers built-in navigation buttons and “find” feature. Right clicking and other on screen status information is lost as well.

There Are Exceptions
Flash can be useful and attractive in some situations. Effective banner ads can be designed with flash. Product demos via animations look good in Flash (as well as Shockwave…but that’s another article). In general, if your site requires animations or multimedia-type inserts, Flash may be the tool.