If you're looking for a book to help you climb the Flash learning curve, this is not it. If you need help navigating the Flash interface or learning how Flash's tools work, do not buy this book. Nonetheless, if you have anything to do with multimedia design in general and Flash as a tool in particular, do not hesitate to buy Flash deConstruction: The Process, Design, and ActionScript of Juxt Interactive.

The owners and designers of Juxt Interactive, one of the best Flash design studios in the world, have taken the time to craft a book that succeeds on two levels. First, the book is a prime example, from cover to cover, of innovative and inspired design. Each page, image, section, and sidebar is thoughtfully laid out and concisely written.

Second, and unique to this book, we are given a peek behind the curtain to see how large Flash projects are handled in a multidesigner environment. Example scripts, tutorials, and how-tos based on experience make for fast learning and worthy reading. Many examples are taken from real-world projects, and there are chapters devoted to such important topics as Flash content management, innovative ActionScript navigation, and the Juxt Interactive process. Sprinkled throughout are interviews with top Flash designers, a list that reads like a Who's Who of Web design: Hillman Curtis, Fred Sharples, Josh Olm, Glenn Thomas.

There are no flaws or drawbacks to this book save that it isn't for the beginning Flash user, but even that isn't entirely true. All beginning Flash users ought to have this book, even if they may have trouble understanding it--the images, interviews, and examples are inspiring and exciting. From all viewpoints--design, aesthetics, layout, and instruction--Flash deConstruction transcends the software and medium it discusses and exemplifies the quintessential book on design. --Mike Caputo


From Book News, Inc.
Presents the approach to Flash programming and ActionScripting used by a web design agency in California named Juxt Interactive. The ten chapters share lessons learned from working with Flash 5 and building web sites for Billabong apparel. The designers break down how they added interactivity to a navigation system, built a dynamic web site with Macromedia Generator, and incorporated Flash's new XML capabilities to create an online movie maker.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
Imagine a seminar for web developers covering ActionScripting, pulled together and presented not by unknown, professional seminar presenters, but by a well-known and respected Flash design house. The first part of the seminar presents ActionScripting Fundamentals, not only for those new to ActionScripting, but also to explain best practices and proper workflow to those already using ActionScripting (this also helps correct bad habits). The second part of the seminar requires the class to walk through a deconstruction of the design house's own website; the third part requires the class to work through the building and deconstruction of a special site developed especially for the seminar. In each part of the seminar, three pedagogical methods are used: 1.) Basic lecture/exposition of the material; 2.) How-To sections focusing on hands-on learning of detailed areas; and 3.) special Inspiration Inserts, where the class explores and deconstructs other high-profile sites.


From the Publisher
A completely unique book on Flash. New Riders wanted to work with Todd Purgason and his company JuxtInteractive because they are simply one of the best motion-graphics-focused design houses in the world. It was Todd who suggested going in the opposite direction than any other Flash book, focusing on answering the questions Juxt gets inundated with constantly: So many working pros out there—freelance, small houses, bigger houses—with so many questions about how to work with clients, how to use the tools, how to plan projects, and on and on… This is far from a smug, "here's how cool we are" showcase book. It's more like "why don't you and your team stop by for a few days this week, and we'll show you how deal with this stuff. Maybe that might help you, too…"


From the Inside Flap
"Flash deCONSTRUCTION could be called "making smart and beautiful flash sites using a very smart process." These guys really delve deep into what is clearly the future of Flash design...sites that communicate on a visual level, a functional level...and are smart enough to remember who you are. Juxt Interactive is also kind enough to share with us their airtight process, flexible enough for small projects as well as the giant ones." -Hillman Curtis, author of and Creative Director and Principal of hillmancurtis, inc. "Juxt Interactive has created an art form out of communicating a brand online with total effectiveness. Flash DeCONSTRUCTION puts you at the heart of that creative process, giving you an invaluable insight into how Todd Purgason and the team make stuff that rocks!" -Brendan Dawes, Creative Director of magneticNorth and author of "Juxt Interactive have created some of the world's most memorable and important Flash sites. This book offers a valuable look at the trade secrets that make their sites a success." -Colin Moock, Web Evangelist, ICE; author of


About the Author
Todd Purgason is the Creative Director for Juxt Interactive, a web-design studio based in southern California that specializes in Internet strategy and Flash-based interactive web sites. Todd has led Juxt in creating innovative work for clients such as Sketchers, Billabong, Macromedia, OmniSky, Nortel, MCY.com, Toshiba, Shorn, Fujitsu, and many others. This work has been highlighted in several publications and books around the world, including PDN-PIX, I.D. magazine, Commarts, HOW Magazine, Print magazine, Cre@te Online, and others. Juxt's work has earned a number of awards, including the Clio Award, How Magazine's International Design Competition award, the Print Magazine Interactive award, Communication Arts Award, IPPA StudioONE and DesignONE awards, the CommArts Magazine Web Site of the Week, and the High Five Award. Under Purgason's creative direction, Juxt has been honored with 12 Macromedia "Site of the Day" awards and has been featured in several product galleries on Macromedia's web site. In addition, IPPA has selected Purgason as one of today's top 10 web designers in the world. Purgason, an author and regular speaker on the subject of interactive web design, has contributed to a number of books, including Hillman Curtis's best-selling book Flash Web Design (New Riders), New Masters of Flash (Friends of Ed), Flash Studio Secrets (Hungry Minds), and The Flash 5 Bible (Hungry Minds). Phil Scott is the Chief Technology Officer for Juxt Interactive, bringing his broad technology background to expand the horizons of the Internet through user experiences steeped in solid technology solutions. Delving into computer programming at age 10, Phil had a bit of an early career start. He grew up through a variety of M.I.S. and software development positions across a broad range of technologies. While actively developing business applications and expert systems, long-time interests in programming languages, telecommunications, and client/server business systems propelled this engineer and project manager into the growing frontier of the Internet in early 1995. Through the first few years of the web scene, he managed and assisted in developing several Internet-based, medical image analysis and diagnostics systems and became a web applications specialist, project manager, and business leader. Since joining Juxt in 1999, Phil has led the company to new levels of technical achievement, with efficient data-driven web sites and custom content management for Flash- and HTML-based solutions. Hidden beneath the stunning and strategic designs of Juxt Interactive, technology pumps through their veins, bringing them to life. An author and speaker on the subject of interactive technology, Phil is contributing to two as-of-yet-untitled books on the subject of Flash and Generator. He has also contributed to Glenn Thomas's book Flash Studio Secrets and is preparing to speak on advanced ActionScripting. Brian Drake has been working in the computer industry since 1992 and specifically in the Internet industry since 1996. Outside of work, Brian is a classically trained guitarist and a martial arts enthusiast. Aside from his capabilities as a developer, Brian is best known at Juxt for surviving two years of eating nothing but boiled chicken and rice, lightly salted. Bonnie Blake, MFA, is an award-winning designer specializing in web design and multimedia. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Digital Media at Ramapo College in New Jersey and has taught at the College of New Rochelle and Parsons School of Design, both in New York. Bonnie is the author of How to Do Everything With Flash 5 and The Premiere Virtual Classroom. She is also the author of the best-selling online course Flash 5 ActionScript, located on ehandson.com.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
How do the world's slickest, wildest Flash developers do what they do? Now you can find out, with Flash Deconstruction: The Process, Design, and ActionScripting of Juxt Interactive. In this book, Hillman Curtis -- author of last year's bestseller Flash Web Design -- takes you behind the scenes at Juxt, whose work has earned everything from the Clio Award to Print magazine's Interactive Award.

As the title says, this isn't just another ActionScript book -- though it does present some of the most powerful ActionScript techniques you've ever seen, straight from real-world projects. You'll also find guidance on how to think about ActionScript programming, how to use ActionScript best practices, and how to define workflows that smoothly integrate designers, developers, and customers.

The heart of the book is its "deconstructions" of real projects, notably Juxt's work for Billabong-USA.com, the surfing, skating, snowboarding dudes. Along the way, you'll also find personal interviews that get you inside the heads of some amazing designers, including Joshua Davis, Brendan Dawes, Fred Sharples, and Glenn Thomas. If you're a Flash developer headed for the cutting edge, this book is inspiration incarnate. (Bill Camarda)

Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer with nearly 20 years' experience in helping technology companies deploy and market advanced software, computing, and networking products and services. He served for nearly ten years as vice president of a New Jersey-based marketing company, where he supervised a wide range of graphics and web design projects. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2000 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks For Dummies®, Second Edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The complete book on best-business practices for the Flash professional.

1     This is a book by professionals for professionals: It has a great combination of hard-edged ActionScripting techniques for the ambitious developer, wrapped in the context of proper workflow and innovative design and development.

1     The authors are high-profile authors recognized by consumers: with 100,000 visitors to the JuxtInteractive site monthly, plus the authors are regular presenters at industry conferences.

2     Gives best-of-breed expert advice.

Working professionals-designers and non-designers alike-want to learn ActionScript as it's used in the real world. This book, however, combines referential explorations of ActionScripting functionality with used-in-the-trenches techniques honed by one of the top Flash design houses-JuxtInteractive-and then adds further perspective on each subject area by including a substantive inspirational profile of how other high-profile Flash designers do it. The first part presents ActionScripting Fundamentals, not only for those new to ActionScripting, but also to explain best practices and proper workflow to those already using ActionScripting. The second part requires the readers to walk through a deconstruction of the design house's own Website; the third part requires the reader to work through the building and deconstruction of a special site developed especially for the seminar.

SYNOPSIS

Presents the approach to Flash programming and ActionScripting used by a web design agency in California named Juxt Interactive. The ten chapters share lessons learned from working with Flash 5 and building web sites for Billabong apparel. The designers break down how they added interactivity to a navigation system, built a dynamic web site with Macromedia Generator, and incorporated Flash's new XML capabilities to create an online movie maker. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

ACCREDITATION