Design Fundamentals for the Web

IMM 130-03 Spring 2014

Instructor

Professor
Mark D. Thompson
Office Address
Adjunct Office
Email Address
thompsom@tcnj.edu
Office Hours
By Appointment

Course Details

Course Title & Number
Design Fundamentals for the Web 130-03
Class Meets
Thursdays, 5:30–8:20
Location
Art and Multimedia 223
Syllabus
http://tcnj-imm-130-03.github.io/syllabus/

Course Description

“Design Fundamentals for the Web” is an introductory course allowing students to develop and practice specific, foundational skills in web production, while simultaneously developing an understanding of and strategies for effective visual communication in general. Students will learn when and how to use tools such as HTML, CSS and Javascript. Through readings, lectures and demonstrations, students will also develop an appreciation for fundamental issues of graphical communication, including color, typography and composition.

Course Purpose & Learning Goals

This is an introductory course designed to help students develop and practice specific, foundational skills in web production, while simultaneously developing an understanding of and strategies for effective visual communication.

Students will learn to:

Course Requirements

In addition to regular readings, exercises & discussions, students are required to develop a vision document for their final project. For their final project, students will develop their own personal/portfolio website using the concepts and tools presented in class.

Grading

Grades with be determined according to the following formula:

Course Materials

Books

Tools

Frameworks & Fonts

Developer Resources

Course Schedule

Thurs, 1/23/2014
Subject
Course Overview, Design Process, Github Signup & tutorial
Reading
Chapters 1 & 2
Assignment
User personas & user stories
Thurs, 1/30/2014
Subject
Organizing Content & Intro to HTML
Reading
Chapter 4
Assignment
Create a sitemap & first pages from your User Stories
Thurs, 2/6/2014
Subject
CSS Basics & Intro to Type
Reading
Chapter 3 & Appendices A & B
Assignment
Apply a type treatment to your work from last week.
Thurs, 2/13/2014

Snowed Out

Thurs, 2/20/2014
Subject
CSS, Composition & Layouts
Reading
Chapter 5 & 7
Assignment
Create a layout for you site using CSS positioning
Thurs, 2/27/2014
Subject
CSS & Design Principles
Reading
Chapter 6
Assignment
Prepare your Vision Document for your final project
Thurs, 3/06/2014

Vision Document Due

Subject
CSS & Color
Reading
Chapters 8 & 9
Assignment
Rework your site to use color as an additional dimension to your visual hierarchy
Thurs, 3/13/2014

Spring Break

Thurs, 3/20/2014
Subject
Bootstrap, Mobile & Responsive Design
Reading
Assignment
Apply the Bootstrap framework to your site and rework your site as a mobile-friendly, responsive design
Thurs, 3/27/2014
Subject
Intro to Javascript & jQuery
Reading
Assignment
Add behavior to your site using jQuery
Thurs, 4/03/2014
Subject
HTML Forms, PHP & Intro to AJAX/JSON
Reading
Assignment
Prepare for design review & user testing session
Wed, 4/9/2014, 9:00am-12:00pm
Subject
Design Critique & User Testing
Reading
Assignment
Revise your site design based upon feedback received in class
Thurs, 4/17/2014
Travelling
Subject
Implementation
Reading
Assignment
Continue developing your site
Thurs, 4/24/2014
Subject
Implementation
Reading
Assignment
Continue developing your site
Thurs, 5/01/2014
Subject
Implementation
Reading
Assignment
Continue developing your site
Thurs, 5/08/2014, 7:30-10:20pm
Final Presentations

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