Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

Just a few minutes ago I received an email from Lynda, informing me that she would be handing over the reins of ownership of this year's Flash Forward conference. Handing them over to Beau Ambur, veteran rich media developer and CEO of Metaliq, a San Francisco-based solutions firm.

Why does this merit your attention?

I find it interesting - neutrally, journalistically interesting - that 4 of the 8 projects currently  featured on Metaliq.com are of Microsoft origin. Ambur himself has been working with SilverLight nearly since its inception. If this sounds catty to you, it is just that perception that brings me to my point.

It is my goal as a developer - as a professional - to learn as much as humanly possible about my craft and the media in which that craft is practiced. The end to those means is, ideally, to create experiences for my users so fully abstracted from the nuts and bolts as to eliminate those nuts and bolts from the conversation entirely. The notion that flash developers are flash-centric is outdated and incorrect. Users have control, and we use whatever works best for the job. 

Kudos to Lynda in her selection.

I have work to do.

And dishes to wash, groceries to buy...a supply run to my local home improvement warehouse to make, for a couple of projects that need closure.

So much to do on this, my day of much-needed rest, and all I want to do is play. Several of my creative colleagues and I have just returned from Flash Forward 2007 in Boston, where our brains were expanded, challenged and thrown outside the box. Of the major themes of the week, one that struck me the most was that of remembering, as creatives, to have fun in our work, and to follow the bend in the road when we can.

We work hard dreaming of and orchestrating award-winning work here at Capstrat - while simultaneously navigating a symphony of schedules and deadlines. The folks at Adobe are constantly providing us with deeper, more powerful tools with which to push the envelope on Flash design, production and development; it is easier than ever to find ourselves charging forward, head down, to bring an idea to life - using tried-and-true techniques and code - and in doing so undermining the power at our fingertips.

It is vital that we continue to strive to set the bars of performance and execution, and that means continuing to change the way we think - as our industries and clients continue to shape and change the way they do business. As creatives, it is through experimentation, collaboration and play that we can most effectively push ourselves toward this end. With the changing environment and theology of rich media development, and the user-centered evolution of the Web in general, designers and developers have to be willing to leave the sanctuary of traditional interfaces, navigation and functionality. The schedule at Flash Forward this year, was, as usual, rife with the newest and hottest trends, practices and client work. As a testament to this evolution of tool and trade, however, the week was peppered with inspiring and engaging discussions on staying ahead of the curve. Here are a few session titles in particular:

'Beyond the Knowledge; The Art of Playing'
'Finding Creative Techniques'
'Imagination + Technology'

The curiosity that drove me toward engineering years ago is the same that pushes me today to sharpen my skills as a flash developer. What's this button do? What if I try this effect with this crazy new microphone class I've been reading about? If I do it this way, can I really cut half my file size?!? Using every client project as a canvas on which to blow our own minds is good for us and good for our clients. It may not always work out, and tight schedules may not always allow for it - but setting a goal to experiment a little in your projects will keep you hungry and passionate.

For inspiration:

http://jot.eriknatzke.com/

http://www.reflektions.com/miniml/template.asp?pagename=all

http://lab.mathieu-badimon.com/

http://www.oneover.com/