Week 1: September 8
In class:
- Course Overview - Focus on experiential and active learning, problem solving and life skills
- Introduction to Computers & Mac OS - Dock, Desktop, Server, RAM, ROM, Hard Drive, Processor, Ergonomics
- Layout Basics - Composition, Focal Point, Focus, Scale, Color, Contrast, Rhythm, Dynamic
- Photoshop: Layers & Transformation - Layers, Duplicate Layer, Transform (Scale, stretch, squash, rotate, translate), Alpha/Transparency, Blend Modes, Saving, File Types
Week 2: September 15
In class:
- Review Reading - Labels/Captions, Assemblage, Insertions, Deletion, Substitution, Cropping/Framing, Composites, Record/Document, Communication, Identification
- View “Retouched Photos” - Ethics, Responsibility, Representation
- Digital Imaging Concepts - Resolution, Pixels, Color Wheel, Inputs/Outputs, Analog vs. Digital
- Photoshop: Digital Imaging - Variations, Levels, Clone Stamp, Airbrushing, Dodge & Burn
- Scanning
Read for today:
- “How to do Things with Pictures” by William Mitchell [pdf]
Due:
- Collect 1 physical (analog) image of your favorite celebrity that is scratched/damaged [you can provide the scratches]
Week 3: September 22
In class:
- Review Reading - Who is involved in the re-touching process? What are the responsibilities/ethics associated with the profession? What are the similarities/differences to cosmetic surgery? What role does digital technology play in our understanding of body and body manipulation?
- View Example Composite Images
- Copyright - Copyright vs. Plaigarism, Fair Use, Creative Commons, copies & distribution, derivative works, “tangible form of expression”, Protection, Purpose/Origins
- Photoshop: Compositing Basics - Selections, Masks, Copy & Paste, Replace Color, Patch
Read for today:
- "Pixel Perfect" by Lauren Collins
Due:
- Image Repair
Week 4: September 29
In class:
- View & Discuss Digital Cosmetic Surgery Assignments - Believability/Lack of Evidence of Tampering, Process/Choices, Composition, Focal point
- Exercise: Finding & Matching Perspective
- Photoshop: Faking It - Distort, Creating Shadows
Due:
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Bring Materials for Self-Portrait
Week 5: October 6
FIELD TRIP
Meet at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum at 10:30 am
Location:
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is located on Museum Mile, at the corner of 91st Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Current Exhibition:
National Design Triennial: Why Design Now?
Due:
- Self-Portrait
Week 6: October 13
In class:
- View & Discus Self-Portrait Composite Images - Believability/Lack of Evidence of Tampering, Process/Choices, Composition, Concept
- Introduction to HTML - Tags, Attributes, File Structure, HTML Grammar, Naming Conventions
- Write HTML Page: body, head, title, img, a, p, br
link to HTML cheat sheet
Read for today:
Week 7: October 20
In class:
- Introduction to Dreamweaver - Setting up site/Managing Site; Images & Links; Tables (cell, column, row, padding, spacing, border); Save for Web
- Discuss Website Project and Process
- Planning: Purpose/Mission, Content, Audience, Client, Writing, Editing, Information Architecture
- Design: Research-Mockup-Revision cycle
- Implementation: Templates, Testing, Make “live”
- Design Research - What is the website's mission and purpose? What goals would you like a website to help you reach? Who is your target audience? What do you know about the audience? What are their aesthetic and informational needs/desires? How can we find out more details? Who are your competitors and partners?
- Establish Teams
Due:
Week 8: October 27
In class:
- Mockup Basics - Resolution, Color Scheme Choices/Options, Integration of Logo, Maintaining Identity, Navigation
- Site Maps
- View Web Design Examples
Read for today:
Due:
- 1-2 Creative Brief for Niche, your final project
Week 9: November 3
In class:
- Introduction to Cascading Stylesheets (CSS): Styling Text - Why Style?, Internal Vs. External Styles, Syntax, Selector, Property, Value
- View & Discuss Mockups - Composition/Layout; Focal Point; Color; Compliments organization and mission; Clear Structure; Fulfills recommendations
- Typography Basics - Serif, Sans-Serif, Concord, Contrast, Conflict, Size, Color, Cases, Style, Weight, Alignment, Readability, Legibility, Fonts, lorem ipsum
- Information Architecture and Information Hierarchy - Strategies to guide your audience through information
- Meet with Design Teams: Work on Revised Design
Read for today:
Due:
- Usability Study
- Sitemap
- Mockup - 1st Draft
November 10 - NO CLASS - Advising
Week 10: November 17
In class:
- Review Styling Text Exercise
- From HTML Pages to HTML Sites - Best Practices, Linking Pages, Organization
- Digging Into CSS - Cascading Rules, Box Model (Height, Width, Margin, Border, Padding), Float, Class, ID, Styling HTML Tags, background, Starting from templates
Read for today:
- CSS Typography: Contrast Techniques, Tutorials and Best Practices – not just the homepage!!!
Due:
- Collect Materials for client Site (edit text, photos, etc.; create necessary graphics)
- CSS Styling Text Exercise #1
- CSS Exercise #2 (done in class)
November 24 - NO CLASS - Thanksgiving
Week 11: December 1
In class:
- HTML Implementation - Creating Templates; Comments; Making a Site Live; Testing In Multiple Browsers on Multiple Platforms
- Meet with Design Teams
- Continue Developing CSS Mockup
Due:
- * Final Website - 1st draft
Week 12: December 8
- Refining your templates
- Adding media - video, sound
Week 13: December 15
In class:
- Meet with Design Teams
- Site Testing
Due:
- Final Website - 2nd draft
Week 14: December 22 NOTE: LAST CLASS
In class:
- Final Presentation of Sites