Design for the Web I
Course: ART 39540 1EF
Instructor: Andy Deck
Time: Monday 2:00 - 4:50pm
January 27, 2014 - May 19, 2014

Overview

This course focuses on the development of HTML documents and website designs. Topics include interface design, technical practices, information structuring, and interactivity for the World Wide Web. Sites will be examined from the perspective of design, utility and interactivity.

Forum

This class will start with the basics of HTML coding, and how to use cascading style sheets, both for font style and layout. We will look at basic programming and site building procedures.

We're going to address a variety of other issues, like content management systems, site architecture, templates, responsive design, etc. By the end of the class you should be able to build and maintain a website that uses HTML5, CSS3, and targets a wide array of media platforms, from laptop computers to phones.

We will be looking at sites that are creative and inspirational as we develop ideas for projects. Students are encouraged to share discoveries both in class and online through the forum. In-class demonstrations will explore abstract and whimsical ideas, in addition to addressing efficiency and pragmatic design.

This class will not make you an instant expert on Web programming and design — it serves an introduction to the basic issues and elements. It will prepare you to continue towards mastery.

Required Text
HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites
Jon Duckett
ISBN: 1118008189

 

Class Objectives:
  • practice and improve your skills in working with HTML, CSS, and online interface design
  • learn how to work creatively in this technically challenging arena
  • explore design challenges associated with this medium
  • learn from other students and engage in critical discussions of work in progress

 

Your Responsibilities:
  • Completing all homework assignments —both readings and programming assignments.
  • Maintaining a website with links to all your assignments
  • Alerting me if you feel you don't understand a concept, or you feel lost in the class.

 

Grading:
Grading will be based on in-class participation, in-class presentations, and homework assignments. Specifically:

1st assignment - 10%
Website visualization for Phone/Tablet/Desktop

2nd assignment - 10%
My First Webpage. Getting it online is the goal. Retro fun examples include superbad.com and jimpunk.com for inspiration. Don't sweat the code, but GET IT ONLINE.

3rd assignment - 10%
Using a grid system for layout, compose a website design revision for the greenwashing.us website. Prepare for this with an in-class exercise related to grid systems.

4th mid-term assignment - 25%
Group project. Topic and details to be negotiated in class. Possible inspiration: Jessica Hagy's 'Indexed' project at indexed.blogspot.com

5th assignment - 10%
Portfolio assignment. Using techniques of your choice, present your designwork (photography? art?) for view online. Must be online for credit. Layout exercises discussed in class are Portfolio skeleton and Transitions and DOM.

6th assignment - 5%
Final project proposal

7th assignment - 15%
Final project. NOT A PORTFOLIO. You will present this to the class in the final class session. This presentation will be a critique, so the work should be aesthetically developed (concept, design decisions, etc.) and not simply a technical exercise.

Class participation - 10%

Presentation - 5%


Tutorial and/or good website presentation (choose one or both)
  1. A website you think is interesting and that you feel makes good use of the web & programming
  2. A tutorial on the topic related to the class that you've found on the web

Interesting Website: The goal is to share a site that you think is particularly interesting. The site can be artistic or commercial. The presentation should take the user through the site, and you should explain why it interests you.

Good Tutorial: The goal is to share a tutorial you found on the web that was particularly helpful to you. The topic of the tutorial should be what we are covering in class. The presentation should take the user through the site, and what you found useful.

The presentations should be short, roughly 5 minutes. Here are the dates for your presentations.

Presentation Schedule

Date Good Tutorial or Interesting Website
1/27 DAVID NIKOLE DAVID NIKOLE
2/3 MAURICIO GONZALEZ MAURICIO GONZALEZ
2/10 MELANIE GRIESEMER MELANIE GRIESEMER
2/20 ESTHER JO ESTHER JO
2/24 BARBARA LASSANCE BARBARA LASSANCE
3/3 ILEANA MOLINA ILEANA MOLINA
3/10 DEVIN RAJARAM DEVIN RAJARAM
3/17 OLGER URGILEZ OLGER URGILEZ
3/24
3/31
4/7
4/28
5/5
5/12


Additional Websites