Speakers: Jon MacDonald

Session

Working with SWX: The Native Data Format for the Flash Platform

In this session we'll cover the basics of SWX: what it is and what it is best used for, how systemwide simplicity benefits developers, how to use the free public gateway for integrating APIs into your mobile and web applications, and plans for the upcoming ActionScript 3 release.

Bio

A certified Adobe Flash and Web developer, Jon offers a wealth of expertise in development, design, usability and visual communication. Over the course of nine years Jon has honed his skills through a multitude of experiences.

Jon started his career as the sole Web designer/developer for a start-up agency during the dot-com boom and supported clients such as: Nationwide Insurance and GE. After relocating to Portland, Oregon, Jon worked for a world-class e-learning and sales training firm where he played a leadership role in Flash projects for blue-chip clients including: HP, Microsoft, Intel and Comcast. Today, Jon continues to work with household brands, advertising agencies and talented designers and developers across the country through JonnyMac Interactive, the interactive collective he started, as well as XPLANE, a consulting and design firm that drives business results by clarifying complex information through visual communications.

Jon has recently contributed a chapter to "The Essential Guide to Open Source Flash Development", published by Friends of Ed. He is also involved with several open source projects, including SWX and SWFAddress.

On a more personal note, Jon has a passion for usability and user interfaces, and the marriage of design and development has always piqued his interest. While most of his time these days is not spent designing, but rather developing, Jon still holds a strong appreciation for the need of good design be it interactive, print or the lamp on his desk.

Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in visual arts with a concentration in digital medium and a minor in computer science, from Oberlin College in Ohio, USA. His portfolio can be found at http://www.jonnymac.com, and his blog can be read at http://www.jonnymac.com/blog.