Section 02 - Schedule

Week 1: September 14

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
  • Scanning

Week 2: September 21

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

Read for today:

  • “How to do Things with Pictures” by William Mitchell [pdf]

Due:

  • Bring Digital Camera to class
  • Collect 1 physical (analog) image of your favorite celebrity that is scratched/damaged [you can provide the scratches]

Week 3: October 5

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
  • "On the Cutting Edge" by Anne Balsamo[pdf]

Due:

  • Image Repair

Week 4: October 19

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 26

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
  • Brief History of the Internet
  • Discuss Website Project

Due:

  • Self-Portrait

Week 6: November 2

In class:

  • Web Design Process
    • Planning: Purpose/Mission, Content, Audience, Client, Writing, Editing, Information Architecture
    • Design: Research-Mockup-Revision cycle
    • Implementation: Templates, Testing, Make “live”
  • Initial "Client" Presentation - project goals and requirements
  • Design Research - What is the organization'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? How/Why do your clients your organization out? How do your services fit into a larger context?

Read for today:

Due:

Week 7: November 9

In class:

  • Mockup Basics - Resolution, Color Scheme Choices/Options, Integration of Logo, Maintaining Identity, Navigation, Site Map
  • Establish Design Teams
  • Site Map & Recommendations: Based on the readings provided and the report you have done, What are the most important concerns/needs for the redesign? Why? What are the strengths that we should build on? Why?
  • Introduction to Dreamweaver - Setting up site/Managing Site; Images & Links; Tables (cell, column, row, padding, spacing, border); Save for Web

Read for today:

Due:

  • State of the Site Report (steps 1-4)

Week 8: November 16

In class:

  • View & Discuss Mockups - Composition/Layout; Focal Point; Color; Compliments organization and mission; Clear Structure; Fulfills recommendations
  • View Web Design Examples
  • 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 - What ideas/suggestions/comments from the review need to be addressed? How will you address them?

Due:

  • Usability Study

Week 9: November 23 (Note this is just before Thanksgiving Break and IS CRUCIAL for your success on the group project).

In class:

  • Meet with Design Teams
    • Organize Presentation
    • Present Design Concepts to client
    • Discuss Site-Map Revisions with client (based on recommendations)
    • Discuss Feedback from client and Colleagues
  • Introduction to Cascading Stylesheets (CSS): Styling Text - Why Style?, Internal Vs. External Styles, Syntax, Selector, Property, Value

Read for today:

Due:

  • State of the Site Final Report
  • Mockup - 1st Draft

Week 10: November 30

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:

Due:

  • Collect Materials for client Site (edit text, photos, etc.; create necessary graphics)
  • CSS Styling Text Exercise #1
  • CSS Exercise #2 (done in class)

Week 11: December 7

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
    • Informal meetings with client

Due:

  • CSS Mockup - 1st draft

Week 12: December 14

In class:

  • Meet with Design Teams
    • Site Testing
  • Review Designs with client - Does the site match the identity, needs and mission of client?; dynamic composition; clear information hierarchy; clear, easy navigation

Due:

  • Finished Version of Website

Week 13: December 15

NOTE: DECEMBER 15 will be a MONDAY schedule

NOTE: LAST CLASS

In class:

  • Final Presentation of Sites

Due:

  • Revised Website
  • Reflection Paper