Gabocorp Relaunched
October 20, 2003 13 | Comments (Closed)
There was a time, years ago, that Gabocorp was the cream of the Flash crop. What they we’re doing with transitions and navigation building was very creative and the Flash community, as well as stakeholder’s everywhere, were awestruck.
Gabocorp, for a time, was the coolest Flash site around. Everyone wanted a site like that. That was before we learned that complicated navigation and gratuitous transitions were actually detrimental to overall user experience.
Which brings me to the Gabocorp relaunch. The new site is still unusable, it’s still inaccessible and it’s still over-designed with useless and gratuitous transitions. What’s changed is the site isn’t cool anymore.
If done correctly and for the right audience these types of sites can be successful. However, they need to have a very high design sense and really have it buttoned down tight. Unless you really know your audience and are willing to put major effort into doing something really special, you don’t stand a chance. Gabocorp, in terms of design, creativity and coolness, is now just average. In this day and age, average, for this kind of site, doesn’t cut it.
I think this has more to do with what we’ve all learned about Flash in the years that have gone by then anything else. No longer can it be considered cool to make the user wait through long navigation transitions. No longer can it be considered cool to make your content inaccessible. Times have changed and it seems, unfortunately, Gabocorp hasn’t changed with them.
Filed under: Flash
Comments
1. Adam said:
I don’t think it’s that bad. At least there’s a consistent navigational structure. I’ve seen alot worse!
Posted on October 21, 2003 12:43 AM | #
2. Martin Legris said:
You are right about one thing : the content is inaccessible. For the rest, I don’t agree. The navigation on top is very accessible, making the buttons grow bigger when you hover them is a great idea.
The site might be overdesigned, but it is still nice. I’ve had the same impression on my first visit as you (w/o all the overwhelming mind deconstruction, something tells me you just don’t cut it design wise). Revisit it. It’s alright. He has talent. Now he needs to learn to make it more accessible. (i’m not saying i’m better here :)).
:o)
Posted on October 28, 2003 12:44 AM | #
3. Keith said:
Well Martin, design is subjective so if you like the design - you like it. I personally find it overwrought and kind of boring . But the point here isn’t about what I think about the aesthetics of Gabo’s work. His style just isn’t what I’m into - but that’s not the point I was trying to make.
For the record I do know that he does have talent. Thus the overwhelming mind deconstruction. I was kinda of bumbed when I first saw it.
Having said that, a huge part of design for the Web is function and I guess I just don’t get the point of having transitions and the like. It’s not the art that I don’t really like or understand, it’s the fact that I’ve got to see the animations every time, things like that.
Overall it’s not a bad site – I just expected something quite a bit better is all. With success (and his was the Flash site back in the day) comes high expectation. Someone with so much talent (as you rightly mention) could have made a site that is aesthetically pleasing and accessible is all I’m really trying to say.
I can point to 100 all Flash sites out there that are just as good where at one point in time his was the cream of the crop.
Posted on October 28, 2003 01:33 AM | #
4. Jason said:
I’ve got to say that Keith is *almost* right on the money, if a bit harsh, which is unlike him.. (wake up on the wrong side of the bed for this post bro?)
Gabocorp isn’t that bad, but for someone with such a high profile he is bound to suffer some critisim. The design isn’t anything special and it reinforces Flash mistakes and shortcomings that should have been left behind years ago.
It’s exactly this kind of site that gives Flash a bad rap.
Although, I will say I feel it is some what audience appropriate, I mean Flash designers are his audience so…you may have to cut him some slack with the animations and the techy design.
Posted on October 28, 2003 02:45 AM | #
5. Christian said:
I thought the site was great, as long as I wasn’t expected to read anything and then perhaps perform an action like actually hiring the company to build me a site for other people not to read.
Posted on October 28, 2003 04:50 PM | #
6. Mike said:
Personally, I enjoyed the simple elegance of his new site. I particularly enjoyed his choice of music: a sort of cross between the haunting score of Myst and a scene out of a Robert Rodriguez movie.
The 2advanced, egomedia, heavy.com thing has been done. Why should GaboCorp re-invent the wheel? Gabo Mendoza is a one man show –there isn’t a team of Flashers working feverishly on the site…it’s one guy. At 24, Gabo is a legend to older Flashers. And when you start off at the top at the tender age of 19, there’s not much more you can do to dazzle your fans, especially in this age of egocentric web-standard fanatics.
(sigh)
The Internet was so much more fun when few people knew about it :(
Posted on November 5, 2003 07:54 PM | #
7. Bottica said:
I don’t like the site either. (sorry Gabo)
Too primitive, he tries really hard on make it different but it just looks like he tried..
Posted on November 26, 2003 11:26 PM | #
8. FatherNerd said:
Does anyone know where you can see the old gabocorp flash site in action. You know, the one from the 1998 I beleive. It was a fantastic site and would like to take a look at it again for educational purposes. If anyone can assist please email me direct if you would like at admin@nerdbrains.com . I own nerdbrains.com a site for designers and programmers. Over 60,000 members and climbing.
Thank you,
Father Nerd
Posted on November 27, 2003 07:58 AM | #
9. Kevin Dawson said:
I had to turn on ActiveX needed to run the flash content.
I turn it off for security reasons and I’m certain this is not going to be just my trend for the next while.
Java and any type of script inclusive.
Internet security is paramount.
That being said, it puts Gabo in a very niche market with a small audience.
Regardless, the site was disappointing mainly because he set such a high standard previously.
Also, the navigation text is blocked by the robot arms, or whatever they are.
Worse, the context windows are too small.
On a positive note the music is excellent.
Oh well, he definately has a future in intro design.
Posted on March 2, 2004 07:27 PM | #
10. Samuel Wan said:
I remember GaboCorp. I read an article about him in Wired Magazine, and then downloaded the trial version of Flash 3. He is the man.
-Sam
Posted on April 11, 2004 12:02 AM | #
11. Jorge Figueroa said:
Great work as always!!!
I personally know Gabo since we were young kids. His passion for high-tech designs and application of futuristic ideas keep amaizing me. I think he is one of the best designers out there.
Posted on April 15, 2004 06:56 PM | #
12. Elliott Hodgeon said:
How can you say that site isn’t good. How the hell did he design those arms, and make them spin on their axis. It’s amazing. Big up Gabo. You are the man
Posted on May 20, 2004 07:10 AM | #
13. Krimzon said:
I have been watching the GaboCorp site for years. I showed the trailer to many people, who were awestruck.
When the new site was launched, I was extremely excited to see what Gabo had come up with.
I have to say I was no in the least bit dissapointed. This site is incredible. I’ve shown this site too many many people, and they give the same response.
Good work Gabo, I’m looking forward to seeing some more content.
Cheers.
Posted on June 3, 2004 06:33 AM | #
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