Description

Designing for the internet requires a solution that embraces the web as a communication medium while providing for a unique user experience.
The goal is to strike a balance between form and function, between visual design and effective communication. This course will cover the latest methods of web design, development, and production including HTML, CSS, and beyond.
From beginners to those with more experience, students will learn the most current techniques for planning, designing, building and testing a fully functional website start to finish.
Along the way, you’ll be introduced to relevant readings, conduct in-class tutorials, and be provided challenging exercises and projects to deepen your awareness of graphic design principles in tandem with web based practice and technology.

In-Class Activities

Tuesdays consists of any combination of the following:
• Student-led reading discussion
• Topic lecture/discussion
• Project Critique/discussion
• Group activity

Thursdays consists of any combination of the following:
• Skill based workshop
• Personal working time
• One one one meeting

Weekly Student-led Reading Presentation & Discussions
Each student will select a reading for a pecha-kucha-style presentation. A “Pecha Kucha” or 20×20 presentation contains 20 slides, with each slide shown for 20 seconds, for a presentation of exactly 6 minutes, 40 seconds. Your pecha kucha must be online and linked to your class homepage.
In addition, the student must lead a class-discussion about the reading.
In this google doc, write your name next to one readings. One presentation will occur each Tuesday at the start of class

Readings
Readings will be assigned each week. We will discuss the readings in class, in relation to specific websites, artworks, and each other’s work.
Each student must submit 3 questions to that week’s Google doc (viewable in the Calendar section of this website) before 3pm the day of the assigned reading discussion.
The questions should not be for the instructor, but should be for your fellow students. You must come to class prepared to discuss the texts.

Tutorials/Resources
http://learn.shayhowe.com/
https://www.codecademy.com/learn/weba

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will:
• Produce complete well-documented online projects of their own
• Achieve working knowledge of HTML and CSS
• Achieve firm understanding of the technology involved in implementing a website
• Understand how information is distributed online, and how good design can harness these modes of structured information
• Understand the web as a very specific public space, with its own communities, forms of engagement, modes of communication
• Understand design principles relating to dynamic media

Prerequisites
No coding requirements
Basic photo editing and vector editing knowledge
A willingness to explore the web in all its many forms, uses, and aesthetics

Material Requirements
• Personal Laptop
• Sublime Text or Atomic for editing and updating code
• Github pages for website hosting
• Adobe CC for image/media generating and editing
• Phone, digital camera, scanner, screen capture etc.

Grading
50% Execution of Projects
25% Execution of Exercises
25% Participation, Reading Discussion and Presentation

Submitting your work
Any exercise or project that you submit for grading must be uploaded to your class website before each class. Even if you are done with your work on your local computer, it will be considered late work if it is not visible on your class website.

At the end of the term, you will be required to send me an archival .zip file to document your projects. If you do not send me the archive, you will fail the class.

Please follow the instructions below:

1. Divide your materials into four folders: P1, P2, P3, and Presentation.
2. Within each project (P1, P2, P3) folder, make three new folders: Project, Documentation, Description.
3. Put all of your project materials (code and required assets) into the Project folder.
4. In the Documentation folder, place a video screen capture (made using Quicktime) to concisely document your project.
5. Within the Description folder, place a text file containing a paragraph description of your project.
6. Within the Presentation folder, place a PDF version of your presentation into the folder.
7. When you make the .zip file, send it to me over wetransfer.com.
   Remember:
   — When creating the archive, make sure your assets are optimized for web so that the file sizes are as small as possible
   — Make sure every link on your class homepage is working.

Academic Integrity
Students will become familiar with using pre-existing language, images, and software as raw material while creating entirely new works and how to properly credit their inclusion. While making online projects, we will learn what technologies are good (and important) to appropriate. We will reference the “Fair Use” policy (http://collegeart.org/fair-use), Creative Commons, and software licenses.

Grading Criteria
F – Frequently late and/or absent. Insufficient participation. Little to no understanding of the coding and technology.
D – Occasional lateness and more than one unexcused absence. Basic understanding of coding and technology.
C – Occasional lateness. Demonstrated an understanding of coding and technology. Failed to take risks. Work holds together. Makes only obligatory contributions to discussions
B – Always present. Work in on time. Demonstrated a solid understanding of coding and technology. was able to seek out new coding principles and technologies. Work has good form and content, and took some risks. Able to make interesting contributions to the class
A – Always present. Work in on time. Demonstrated a solid understanding of coding and technology. Was able to seek out new coding principles and technologies. work has excellent form and content, and took major risks. Always makes interesting contributions to the class, and frequently led class discussions

Attendance
One unexcused absence and your letter grade drops by one, i.e. from A to a B. Two unexcused absences and you will be dropped from the course.
Two late arrivals without prior arrangements equals one unexcused absence. Students who have been absent are expected to have their work completed the class session following their return. To obtain an excused absence, you must both write the instructor in advance and bring in medical documentation.
See also: CCA’s Attendance Policy.