While tinkering with Flash 10 and anxiously awaiting the release of Flash CS4 and Gumbo (Flex 4) I stumbled upon Degrafa. Degrafa is a flex graphics framework that allows you to markup graphics in MXML. It’s super easy to use and comes with some awesome samples. Use it to make your site beautiful and integrate it with your Flash Den components.

We are coming ever closer to a suitable method for designers and developers to interact. The current process is broken and has the developers making choices that effect how an entire site feels through transitions, tweens and movement overall. There are savant-like developers who I’m sure can do both the mathemtical and creative simultaneously, but I’m not one of them. When it comes time for movement I turn my math side to Dimwit and my creative side to Steven Tyler. That could explain why my movement behaves like a drunken musician, but i digress.

What is needed is a framework that completely abstracts the process for creating complex movement. Flex 4 Gumbo is another big step in the right direction and with advanced skinning its possible for a designer to use styles to control the movement and display of any component. It’s not completely there, however, and you’ll notice in the video there are just too many steps designers have to make to get this setup (10 in all). Designers, if you know a developer you may need their Skype, AIM or my new favorite TokBox to make this work, but it’s worth it.

I’m looking forward to way to many things to count. Obama, 2012, Spore, Kath & Kim (for me and my wife), Entourage and the serious impact of possiblities from combining Flash 10’s 3D-ishness, Degrafa and Flex 4’s advanced skinning. Please forward all interesting creations this way.