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Digital and Emerging Media Design I

GDES-220 fall 2015 · American University Design
Instructor: David Ramos (ramos@american.edu)

Schedule

Jump to next class

Assignments and reading are listed under the class when they are due.

Use the basic site files as the starting point for projects.

Tu 1 Sep

Topics

  • Introduction

In-class

Projects

Hey!

There’s reading due for next class! It’s listed under next class’ entry.

Th 3 Sep

Topics

  • HTML/CSS typography: capturing meaning

Reading

In class

Tu 8 Sep

Topics

  • The Box Model
  • HTML/CSS page layout

Reading

Projects

In class

F 11 Sep

Topics

  • HTML/CSS page layout (white space and DIVs)
  • Classes and CSS

Reading

  • HTML & CSS, ch. 2, 3

In class

Tu 15 Sep

Topics

  • Images
  • Studio work on Recipe

Reading

In class

F 18 Sep

Topics

  • File structure and links

Reading

  • HTML & CSS, ch. 5

In class

Tu 22 Sep

Topics

  • Thinking about page layout
  • Basic InDesign for design documentation

Projects

Reading

  • HTML & CSS, ch. 16

F 25 Sep

Topics

  • HTML/CSS page layout
  • Sketching and process

Projects

  • Choose three Wikipedia articles. They should be long articles (roughly, at least twelve screens of text). Be prepared to spend one or two minutes telling the class about your choices.
  • Start Content and form ★

Reading

  • HTML & CSS ch. 16 (layout)
  • Multipage sites and links

In class

Tu 29 Sep

Topics

  • Creating emotion with image choice, color, and typography

Reading

In class

F 2 Oct

Topics

  • Designing for users
  • Work in class
  • Small group critique for Content and form

Reading

Tu 6 Oct

Topics

  • Information architecture, navigation, and naming

Reading

  • HTML & CSS ch. 18

F 9 Oct

Fall break; no class

Tu 13 Oct

Topics

  • HTML/CSS menus

Reading

In-class

F 16 Oct

Topics

  • Review floats, percentage widths, and layout
  • Links: external, anchors, images, borders/backgrounds

Reading

  • Don’t Make Me Think ch. 6

In class

Tu 20 Oct

Topics

  • Website hosting

Projects

  • Desk crits/work in class

Reading

  • Don’t Make Me Think ch. 2, 3

F 23 Oct

Projects

  • Large-group critique for Content and form

Reading

  • Don’t Make Me Think ch. 4, 5

Tu 27 Oct

Topics

  • Website hosting demo
  • Layout from sketch to HTML

Projects

  • Large-group critique for Content and form

F 30 Oct

Topics

  • Details: backgrounds, shadows, and more

Tu 3 Nov

Projects

  • Last critique for Content and form; last work in class w. questions
  • Start thinking about Narrative ★

F 6 Nov

Topics

  • CSS transforms and transitions
  • Process and sketching

Projects

  • Turn in Content and form ★ (upload to Dropbox—please upload a single ZIP file, not many individual files)
  • Discuss ideas for Narrative ★

Upcoming Events

Tu 10 Nov

Topics

  • A glimpse of JavaScript

Projects

  • Narrative: site maps; three versions of low-fi wireframes

In class

F 13 Nov

Topics

  • JavaScript: evaluating and using an existing script

In class

Projects

  • Narrative: style tiles, two versions; refined wireframes
  • Small group critiques and work in class

Tu 17 Nov

Topics

Projects

  • Narrative: hi-fi wireframes, two versions

F 20 Nov

Topics

  • Professional practice in interaction/digital
  • Guest speaker, Bernard Yu

Projects

  • Narrative: work in class and small group critiques; talk through markup/layout strategies

In class

Tu 24 Nov

Topics

  • Mobile/multidevice design and code

Projects

  • Narrative: HTML/CSS for home page and one other key page
  • Desk crits/work in class

In class

F 27 Nov

Thanksgiving break; no class

Tu 1 Dec

Topics

  • Coding accessibile sites
  • Design for accessibility
  • Guest speaker, Liz Calka re user experience design

Projects

  • Desk crits/work in class

In class

F 4 Dec

Topics

  • Intellectual property for designers
  • Content management system concepts
  • Learning on your own

Projects

  • Group critique
  • Work in class

From class

W 9 Dec

Exam period; no class