[IxDA Discuss] MS Expression products

[Phil Barrett]

We've done some playing with the expression suite tools.  They seem to
be fine.

Expression interactive designer is the most exciting, from my
perspective. It lets you paint applications, much like say visual basic
used to, except that you have full control over the appearance of
everything, instead of being constrained to "grey buttons."  (Note -
this is a double-edged sword and you can imagine the IxD damage that
could be done. But powerful tools always entail risk, I suppose).

These applications can be delivered directly to IE7, or rolled out as
stand alone software.  Curious.

The bit that really intrigues me is the XAML bit.  The idea is that you
can express an entire user interface, and all the animation in an XML
file, and that XML file can be opened and used directly by visual studio
programmers, who can bolt the back end onto it. And then the XAML can be
opened again by the interaction designer or the visual designer and
tweaked, then passed back to the programmers again etc etc.

It seems like a promising way to keep interaction designers involved
with the detail of the experience design right up to release.  Designers
will have a tool that gives them legitimate access to the artefact being
designed, even when it's officially the "development phase". It might be
interesting for fans of agile too?

Expression web designer seems to present a credible alternative to
dreamweaver. Code seems clean. Obsession with standards is healthy.
Accessibility checker built in.

--Phil--

Phil Barrett
Consultancy Director, Flow Interactive
www.flow-interactive.com


> Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 11:59:44 -0400
> From: "Anastasia Fischer" <afischer at eemedia.com>
> Subject: [IxDA Discuss] MS Expression products
> 	
> Has anyone on this list used any of the MS ctp releases of 
> the Expression products? If so I am interested to hear 
> feedback. will summarize.
> 
> 
> Anastasia
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> 
> Anastasia Fischer
> Customer Experience Design & Consulting
> Tel: 207-596-5549
> Cell: 207-318-9482
> www.eemedia.com
> 
>  
> 
>