Paul tells me that some of the design ideas in this app were partly inspired by developers suggesting features - so we could use this as an example of the 'cross-pollination' that comes from close collaboration of developers and designers.Also, this is a good example of a heavily data-driven application where designers have control over how that data looks. So we can use this as an example of how data binding is important as the 'point of contact' between developers and designers.
Investment Bank
Ian Griffiths
Paul tells me that some of the design ideas in this app were partly inspired by developers suggesting features - so we could use this as an example of the 'cross-pollination' that comes from close collaboration of developers and designers.Also, this is a good example of a heavily data-driven application where designers have control over how that data looks. So we can use this as an example of how data binding is important as the 'point of contact' between developers and designers.
Mix UK Reader
Ian Griffiths
Paul tells me that some of the design ideas in this app were partly inspired by developers suggesting features - so we could use this as an example of the 'cross-pollination' that comes from close collaboration of developers and designers.Also, this is a good example of a heavily data-driven application where designers have control over how that data looks. So we can use this as an example of how data binding is important as the 'point of contact' between developers and designers.
McLaren
Ian Griffiths
Paul tells me that some of the design ideas in this app were partly inspired by developers suggesting features - so we could use this as an example of the 'cross-pollination' that comes from close collaboration of developers and designers.Also, this is a good example of a heavily data-driven application where designers have control over how that data looks. So we can use this as an example of how data binding is important as the 'point of contact' between developers and designers.
IPTV
Ian Griffiths
Paul tells me that some of the design ideas in this app were partly inspired by developers suggesting features - so we could use this as an example of the 'cross-pollination' that comes from close collaboration of developers and designers.Also, this is a good example of a heavily data-driven application where designers have control over how that data looks. So we can use this as an example of how data binding is important as the 'point of contact' between developers and designers.
BBC Big Zoomy Thingwww.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/2008/zoom
New toolsMostly BlendExpression Suite: Design, Encoder, Media
Ian Griffiths
It's time to look at the tools available for working with Xaml. Obviously there's the Expression suite, most noteably Blend.But we also need to talk about some tools that are aimed primarily at deveopers: VS and TFS. Part of the reason for this is that Xaml is a slightly developer-biased technology. WPF was designed by developers as a programming framework for building UIs, and this is reflected in Xaml. Consequently, you don't really have the full picture if you're not taking code into account - the Expression tools don't quite give you full control over the construction process.Should we talk about 3rd party stuff, like the Xaml exporters for Illustrator and Fireworks?
Expression Blend: Xaml Centrale
Ian Griffiths
There's a lot that could be said about Blend, but I think it'd be better to get a designer perspective than present my heavily developer-skewed point of view.So, Felix, Paul, what would you say on this slide to an audience which will (we think) have a fairly high (for a Microsoft event) proportion of designers?
Conchango
Comments about help from intellisense, etc. getting to grips with XAML but....
Visual Studio 2008
Conchango
we should do a left brain/right brain thing that over the previous slides shows the appropriateness of the tool for the indivudal i.e. this is geek territory,... but... you will still need aspects of it as a designer.
Export to Xaml Illustrator: Mike Swanson @ microsoft Fireworks: Infragistics
ComponentsIdentity MineInfragisticsTelerik
Ian Griffiths
We should point to a few 3rd party components, and give a rough picture of the current state of play here - what's out there and how mature is it?
Some tools to help you
Kaxamlnotstatic.comkaxaml.com
XAMLPadXblogs.msdn.com/llobo
Ian Griffiths
To start with, we'll focus on the tools that understand Xaml. Not much to say on this slide - it's really just a lead into the example slides that follow.
XAMLPadX
Ian Griffiths
XAML Pad is...like Kaxaml only less so.Its principal benefit is that it's supplied by Microsoft as part of their developer tool chain, so it's more likely to be available than Kaxaml. (And it starts up slightly faster because it's simpler.) So we sort of have to mention it because it's the one everyone knows.
Conchango
sometimes it's too much of a faff to open a project, etc.... but....
Kaxaml
Ian Griffiths
Kaxaml is a handy tool that lets you type in Xaml and see the results without the overhead of needing a runnable project in which to host the Xaml as you need in Blend or VS.Kaxaml is written by Robbie Ingebretson of Identitymine fame.
Conchango
You might still need intellisense, etc. so here's a good tool.
Key considerations again
Design for buildabilityCode for designersWork together
Ian Griffiths
Summing up the key points before opening for questions.