Schedule

Week 1: February 1

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: February 8

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:

Due:

  1. Find an image in the world (magazine, Internet, on the street) that makes use of one of the techniques discussed in the chapter.
  2. Write a 1-page response that explains this technique and how it was used (or misused) to convey a specific meaning to the viewer.
  3. Turn in your typed response and a printout of the image (with your name and date)

Due:

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

Week 3: February 15

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:

 Due:

  • Image Repair

Week 4: February 22

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: March 1

In class:

  • View & Discus Self-Portrait Composite Images - Believability/Lack of Evidence of Tampering, Process/Choices, Composition, Concept
  • Photoshop Tennis
  • Introduce HTML

Due:

  • Self-Portrait

Week 6: March 8

In class:

  • Continue with 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: March 15

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: March 22

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: April 5

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

April 12 - NO CLASS - Advising

Week 10: April 19

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: April 26

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: May 3

  • Refining your templates
  • Adding media - video, sound

Week 13: May 10

In class:

  • Meet with Design Teams
  • Site Testing

 Due:

  • Final Website - 2nd draft

Week 14: May 17 NOTE: LAST CLASS

In class:

  • Final Presentation of Sites