The New Kid on the Block - HTML5
As a designer who has spent the better part of the last decade learning, working with, and teaching Flash, it has been very difficult for me to swallow the idea that there might be a new kid on the block. HTML5 is taking the web design world by storm, and many Flash designers are starting to wonder if there will be a place for them once all of our browsers become HTML5 compliant.
Well, let me start by saying that Flash is NOT dead. According to the Wall Street Journal, there is still a high demand for Flash developers, especially in the gaming market. Many smartphones (with the obvious exception of the iPhone) still include Flash functionality in their phones and don't plan for this to change.
Having said that, however, we must be realistic. If you plan on pursuing a career in web design, don't put all of your eggs in the Flash basket. Even though there is still demand for Flash, no one can deny that its role is significantly changing. With the emergence of HTML5, CSS3, and a plethora of new Javascript libraries, developers are now able to create some amazing web apps, games, websites, and animations that were once the sole domain of Flash. And these new, amazing apps don't require any browser plugins! Heck, with HTML5, you can even embed video into your website without plugins!
Don't be Stubborn
Even though there will still be a place for Flash, don't sell yourself short by ignoring HTML5. Adding HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript to your toolkit will open up a whole new world of opportunities for you as a web designer. It won't be too much longer before Internet Explorer 9 ships, and at that point, all major browsers will fully support HTML5. So take the time to learn it. It will certainly be worth your while.
And who knows? Maybe in future versions of Flash, we'll be able to export to HTML5/Javascript!
HTML5 Resources
Following are a few HTML5 resources that will help you get started:
- Dive into HTML5
- The W3C HTML5 Specification
- HTML5 Tutorials
- HTML5 Rocks
- HTML5 Gallery
- And my favorite HTML5 game - Z-Type
What are your thoughts on HTML5? Have you seen any amazing examples out there that have inspired you to learn it?
Tags: Adobe, CSS3, Flash, html5, javascript, w3c, web standards
Craig,
As a long time follower of yours and fellow developer, I too have had to adjust my skill set to accommodate changes in technology. But as anyone knows in our business, change sometimes can be a good thing. It not only challenges us to learn new tools, but, sometimes it can challenge current software companies, (i.e. Adobe) to push the limits – giving us a far superior product to work with. Html5 is here to stay and I will continue to learn and use it’s potential, but in my opinion its still not as fluid and dynamic as Flash.
-Tommyg
Funny thing, I started off as a law major that took a few graphic design classes and eventually switched my major to web design. That was three years ago and the only reason I got into web design was because of Flash. A co-worker of mine gave me an old copy of “Macromedia” Flash dated 2002 and I was hooked. You can only do so much with Photoshop and Illustrator. Flash however provided a lot more.
My work was terrible back then see http://route19delma.com/rou19del/index.html from 2007 or early 2008. But I remember buying your video for Flash CS3 and then I was able to do work like this http://route19designs.com/R19D-09/. As of late I have not used Flash for anything at all. Steve Jobs opened the can of worms. I was shocked at how he attacked adobe. Funny thing was when Mac was on the brink of extinction, it was adobe that still made it relevant because of how their apps go hand in hand with Apple.
In any event, I am not mad, I actually think HTML5 and CSS3 are great. I don’t ever have to use images for rounded corners or drop shadows ever again. That is if I can find the inspiration to start designing again.
Really, I like Flash, but I sometimes take care of it and the other times I neglect it.
what i have decided recently is to try to work as a freelancer flash designer, but unfortunately Most of the jobe posted need GIF banners not Flash. I know how to convert the fla into gif but this only work for the very simple movie without any movie clip. So what will be the Flash future. I created a blog in the hope of being something great.but now i am not sure of that.
Check this out Craig, I”m sure you’re probably aware of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO4dB0yN5CE&feature=related