The question is 'how?'
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- xaoscontrol
I want to get more into FLash development. I'm interested enough in it that I'd be okay with doing much less design and focusing more on Flash.
Problem: the company I work for isn't one that would make use of the more dynamic uses of Flash (i.e. ecommerce, chat rooms, etc). That, among other things, leads me to seek employment elsewhere. However, my flash skill level in AS is lacking..or at least I'm not confident enough in it.
So, aside from working on it on my own (tutorials, 'training from the source' books, etc) how am I to grow to the next stage if I cannot exploit what I'm learning with an actual application to prove to employers that I can do it?
- blaw0
personal projects?
- mg330
Learn how to build things anyways.
If you know how to build some of the applications your current employer has no use for, you can at least market that aspect of your knowledge to a potential future employer.
I mean, if you go look for another job, and they say "Do you have experience with AS and database connections?" what would you rather your answer be? Yes, or no?
- xaoscontrol0
personal projects I can see but I've always had this thought that employers will be more interested in "WORK EXAMPLES" as opposed to personal projects, but maybe I'm wrong. Then again, I still show samples of design work that I'm perticularly proud of even though it was something I did while bored late one weeknight.
I see your point, mg33. So it would be in my best interest to develop flash applications (simple or complex) even though they may not be for the company I work for or used by them.
- MrWhite0
What everyione else said...
plus, look for a new job that is going to utilize your skills like you want them to be.
- mg330
Yep. Many people who designed all that experimental crap back in 2000 thinking that they'd get a job because they could make a ball bounce at random eventually got wise and thought, "I better find a practical use for complex AS" or else NO ONE is going to give me a job. I was heavily involved with Flashkit.com as a moderator back then (still am, just not as active) and it was crazy all the kids thinking they were going to make money and get offered great jobs because they knew how to code friction.
Look at someone like Josh Davis. He was a leader back then at doing all the experimental, advanced actionscript - menu sliders, navigation, etc. (Nothing he was doing was crap though :)
His stuff pushed people to learn more, and now he is a great example of putting things to good use that have a purpose. But he wouldn't be where he is now without spending countless hours trying out new things, working his imagination, and never giving up.
- ********0
Go find a ton of information on a subject and devote a flash site to it.
For example, 'Birds of the Amazon', 'Baseball Stats'., etc.
- mg330
Good idea JazX.
- lando0
why not make some money while you learn. find a small business in your area with shit website. do a really good flash one and approach them with it. if they say no, you can just change the logo, adjust the copy and offer it to their competitiors...
- blaw0
Good idea JazX.
mg33
(Aug 2 05, 09:23)----
agreed. very good.
then share the link with us. :)
- mg330
Best think I can think of is a dynamic web gallery that presents the lowest scoring Threadless shirts and allows honest designers to comment truthfully about how you don't become a t-shirt designer after your second use of a hacked copy of Photoshop.
The honesty in such a site could be revolutionary considering 99% of threadless shirt reviews are devoid of any rational design discussion, and reek of the reviewer's fear of being honest and saying "Your shirt design sucks. Try again."
- ********0
don't you guys remember that site that just showed the biggest gangsters and criminals of all time.
if you were clever enough you could develop an interacive Flash site using that content tying in XML.
:)
- mg330
Or, approach active street gangs in your community (many have websites) and offer to build better sites for them.
Great from every aspect!
You can create awesome bullet-hole mouse trails, create dynamic turf maps using Google's satellite mapping technology, set up product sales anonymously through Pay-Pal and Cafe Press so all the new gangbangers can order their new gear online using stolen credit cards, and if you get a gang with a well known color scheme like the Crips or Bloods, you can go hogwild in Photoshop with a super cool monochromatic color pallete!
- ********0
- Hello-Sexy0
talk to your boss.
Tell them you want to learn it and are willing to put more time in.
Tell them to pitch it with current clients or potential ones.
If they dont see the value in you learning it or putting in extra time (eg weekends) to do it, tell them to piss off.
personal projects work, but they have to be good. i would hire someone if their personal projects were as good as a real project.
if you have time, find a local company and do trade out. i would caution against doing anything for free or for friends. make sure youre getting compensated for your work.
- xaoscontrol0
"Or, approach active street gangs in your community (many have websites) and offer to build better sites for them. "
Oh, Mg33, you're what the spaniards call 'ell ter-ee-blay'.
Good comments, guys. Thanks for the advice.
- Fariska0
personal projects I can see but I've always had this thought that employers will be more interested in "WORK EXAMPLES" as opposed to personal projects, but maybe I'm wrong. Then again, I still show samples of design work that I'm perticularly proud of even though it was something I did while bored late one weeknight.
xaoscontrol
(Aug 2 05, 09:03)For my little experience i say that employers are not so interested to see WORK EXAMPLES, but just your skill. If you challenge yourself in a hard project, (let's say a 3d engine, or external data driven layouts) surely they will consider you, and don't mind that is not a work example