Syllabus Overview

Goals

1. To become familiar with the fundamental design principles of interactive media.
2. Develop an understanding of the conceptual and technical aspects of the web design process.
3. Acquire the skills necessary to conceive, design and develop an interactive product and related online media.
4. Develop communication and presentation skills necessary to discuss interactive projects in a team environment.

Objectives

Students will..

• be able to analyze and research a target audience.
• understand and know how to present and discuss their research in an interactive presentation.
• be able to evaluate and restructure the information architecture of a site.
• know how to explore identity and branding as it relates to their target audience.
• be capable of doing graphics production in preparation of building their sites.
• have the capability to design and build a website using html/Dreamweaver and Flash software.
• ftp and exhibit their sites on the Pratt web server

Class Structure

• Students present work assignments due
  
• Critique - of new work
• Lecture - new material
• In class work on assignments
• The percentage of time spent on each will be determined by project phase

Grades:

1. Based upon attendance, class participation and successful completion of assignments by specified due dates.
2. Demonstration of subject comprehension
3. Technical skills
4. Fulfillment of assignment specifications and revisions as requested
5. Deadline adherence
6. Be prepared with materials requested by instructor for participation in class work, demonstrations and lectures.
7. Present your final website in the last class. It must up and running on the Pratt server. It must WORK, no broken links, dead pages, etc. or it will severely lower your grade.

Pratt Attendence Policy

• 3 absences result in failure for the semester.
• Late arrival to class (15 minutes or more) results in an absence for the class.

Note: There is much to cover in this class. It is full of techniques and technical terms that you must learn each week. Missing even one class can cause significant disruption in your progress.

Departmental policy:

Please note that it is the departmental policy that incomplete grades will not be assigned unless there are documented medical or family reasons. Failure to complete assignments on time for any other reason will be reflected in your final grade.

---

Project
Redesign an existing website normally considered to be for an older audience and make it appropriate for a much younger group (16-24 year olds).

Combine a theme in some direct or indirect way related to the original site (“tools” in our example using Sears.com, since Sears in known for its tools), plus the look and feel of social networking (e.g., Facebook) to create the new site.

Research, plan, design and build the site with these elements:

1. Homepage based on example layout with a new name and new logotype
2. Navigation with rollovers (css based)
3. One submenu page
4. One content page
   
5. One embedded video on homepage or Flash animation
6. One animated flash advertisement in lower-level page
7. Other elements such as text and small photos

(There will be a separate post for a complete listing of all the elements and their exact sizes)

You will use a specific layout structure on the example provided.

Software
Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Web Browser

For the Blog

1. Screen-shots of existing older audience websites possible for redesign
2. Screen-shots of reference sites already aimed at the 16-24 year-old audience
3. Screen-shots of social networking websites
4. PowerPoint with research
   
5. Name and logo
   
6. New homepage and lower-level page designs
7. Your notes
8. CD with all files in the correct folder configuration

Project Overview
The creation of your site is divided into a number of steps grouped into three main parts of instructions.

In Part I, you will:

(Due next week - January 28)

1. Setup project folders on an external drive as per instructions below
2. Creation of Blog using (Google's) Blogger.com
3. Research existing traditional websites, present 3 possible choices, discussing problems and possible solutions.
   
4. Find marketing research on 16-24 year olds for tastes and habits
5. Find existing websites aimed at this audience for design inspiration, including logo, colors and images
6. Interview your target audience. Take photos, video, audio. Add to blog to discuss.
   

(Due in 2 weeks - February 4th)

1. Present a Power Point Presentation that shows the existing traditional website, reference, websites and social networking sites and possible color palettes in the context of your research.
2. Select your website to redesign. Write about the current problems with the site and how you will update it for the target audience.
   

In Part II, you will:

1. Create a sitemap and Flowchart for your site
2. Design a new logo for based on your research
3. Find/create your content - images and text
   
4. Create wireframes
5. Create web specs and dimensions in wireframe
6. Create web graphics
7. Insert graphics into wireframes
8. Test on server
   

In Part III, you will:

1. Setup website in Dreamweaver
   
2. Create Navigation using CSS lists
   
3. Create Cascading style sheets (CSS) in Dreamweaver
4. Setup the lower level pages of the website
5. Add YouTube Video or Flash animation
6. Creation of the flash advertisement