Comments on: mtv.com abandons Flash experiment

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:20:55 +0000

@lilkunta – I just checked, and the site is still HTML. It’s the same redesign that I originally wrote about, save for a few minor layout tweaks.

By: lilkunta

lilkunta — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:49:30 +0000

I didnt like the flash bc it took forever to load & do anything on the website.
I have dsl but still mtv.com would take forever to load.

Now (aug 2008) it seems MTV went back to flash, buts macromedia this time not adobe.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 13 May 2007 01:49:32 +0000

@Ephram Zerb – I did a bit of research when I wrote this post, and it turns out mr Cederholm actually worked on the previous incarnation of mtv.com as well. He designed the non-Flash version of the site so his work would have been invisible to the majority of users, but this time around he’s been given the limelight.

they should be commended on what appears to be a fast turn around and a return to HTML/CSS

From HTML to Flash and back again in 8 months is very fast for a large site like mtv.com! It’s little surprise that the edges still seem rough.

Flash was never suited for a site of this magnitude with such a focus on content.

I worked for over three years as a Flash designer/developer on music websites. We were very proud of what – at the time – were cutting edge sites for the field. But as fashion changed the decision was eventually made to convert the flagship site from Flash to HTML, with Flash still used for promotional features, video and music playback. That happened after I left, so I’m not sure what effect the switch had on traffic. Interestingly, a key instigator of the change was the need to integrate banner advertising into the site, and I find it interesting that mtv.com now also includes banner ads at the top of each page…

By: Ephram Zerb

Ephram Zerb — Sat, 12 May 2007 02:55:24 +0000

I think the header graphics look great and do well to represent MTV’s DNA. I always found their self-promotional interludes between shows or commercial breaks to be a high watermark of visual and motion design. The logo would always be subjected to a unique re-interpretation and this represents that lineage nicely.

With that said, I wonder about the usability implications – the randomness has the potential of really hindering people’s ability to tell where they are on the site. To make it even more difficult, there frequently isn’t much in the way of signals letting people know where they are on the site.

The site is still rough around the edges, but they should be commended on what appears to be a fast turn around and a return to HTML/CSS. Flash was never suited for a site of this magnitude with such a focus on content. I’m glad they returned to HTML / CSS and they were savvy enough to tap one of the best – Dan Cederholm – for some help.

Great link to that MTV “HATS” blog, btw.