[IxDA Discuss] Expression Blend a "review"

[Chris Bernard]

I think that the quote that " I'm curious as to how Blend can truly be integrated into an IxD's definition process." Is an interesting one and I'll be honest and say I'm not sure Blend answers this (nor honestly, was it designed to) in its current state. As I've discussed with many folks the 'intent' and ambition of Blend is to be an interaction design production tool for an API for Windows called WPF (and eventually a cross-platform rich-Web based runtime called WPF/e), versus a purely conceptual tool. There are folks using it for prototyping but they are more of the ilk of using a paired team of designer and developer or represent an individual that happens to understand Windows programming languages like C# (Not too far removed from JavaScript or ActionScript). If you're in a smaller shop, flying your own shingle, or unfamiliar with Windows software development nobody is pretending in Microsoft that a learning curve isn't involved. But for the 50% of the software development world that develops using technology like .NET the capabilities of WPF and Blend can be game changing.

There are some distinct advantages to creating prototypes in Blend but don't think that's what you're asking right?

If I take off my MS hat and talk purely as a designer I don't think there is any program that really gets a designer from the definition process into design very easily, I'd even argue that in the early stage of WPF (released last November and Blend, which has not officially shipped) that most of the WPF work that I see out there hasn't seen it's full potential because we haven't been engaging the folks that spend all that time in the definition process.

I'd suspect with most folks these days this process still starts with Sharpies, paper and post it notes and then evolves into using tools like Visio, OmniGraffle, Illustrator. Longer term I'd love for the Expression and ANY design workflow to embrace some type of annotation and sketching paradigm that could follow and be attached to a project forever.

I'll do a few shameless plugs here for folks that want to learn more about this without getting this list too off topic. One, my blog lists very frankly some of the hopes, challenges and opportunities that we are encountering with Expression products and Blend. (It's not all I talk about but a good chunk of it).

Second, a peer of mine in Microsoft named Will Tschumy and myself recently did a podcast over at Core77.com with Steve Portigal talking about our role in Microsoft and the role that design and User Experience play in Microsoft.



Chris Bernard
Microsoft
User Experience Evangelist
chris.bernard at microsoft.com
312.925.4095



Blog: www.designthinkingdigest.com
Design: www.microsoft.com/design
Tools: www.microsoft.com/expression

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Christian Sosa-Lanz
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 4:39 PM
To: IxDA Discuss
Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Expression Blend a "review"

On Apr 5, 2007, at 12:26 PM, David Malouf wrote:
... (personally I think this is a lot more interesting than "I want a
Joost invite", but I can see where maybe we should take it offline.
I'll wait for objections first.)....


I'm definitely interested in reading the rest of this thread. I hope
you guys keep it "online". I'm curious as to how Blend can truly be
integrated into an IxD's definition process.

Christian Sosa-Lanz


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