Here’s a really cool site by Nike.com - (warning: this page will resize your browser)

This is the kind of site that give Flash both a good and bad reputation. It’s amazingly interactive but the usability is, well, challenging to say the least. To be fair, I would put this in the “User Experience” category of Flash sites. Much like a movie website. The object here isn’t for you to buy something but to play around and enjoy the space. Now the onus is on them to make a compelling experience that will motivate someone to discover the usability so that they can experience the site.

What I really question about sites like this is the Return On Investment. No doubt this site cost a chunk of change to design and developer. So does Nike really expect that this site will increase sales enough to pay for itself? From my perspective I’m just glad that work like this is being done. It gives Flash developers some good work and at the same time I’m sure it influences other companies to follow suit.

I’d be interested in what people think of this site and if it’s good or bad for the Flash platform. Please post a comment here if you have an opinion on the subject.

Nike’s new website for their Nike Air shoes show us how to it’s done. This is a paragon of how video work can be done in Flash. Try doing this with any other video player - not possible.