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Parkland
College > CSIT
Dept > Digital Media > CIS 152 >
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Objectives
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To develop conceptual thinking skills. To communicate ideas visually and verbally. To explore illustration and photography styles. To review web design and production issues. To apply design principles to real-world visual communication problems.
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Secondary Objectives
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To utilize Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash as layout and production tools.
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Description
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Redesign an existing web site (hint: choose a local, poorly designed site). Make improvements in any of the following areas: logo, images, graphics, typography, color, balance, copywriting, navigation, information architecture, load speed, marketing objectives. Keep in mind who the target audience is. The finished site should have at least one front page and four inside pages (you may edit the content if you wish). The site must be Internet-ready and tested on multiple browsers. To receive a quality grade, your design must utilize professional typography and show an understanding of key design principles (unity, emphasis, balance, color theory). When appropriate, utilize rhythm and depth as well. Note: A web site can be a small project or a big one. Think about what you want to do versus the amount of time you want to invest in this project. Be realistic. Web sites have a short life span (about 100 days, according to the Internet Archive). Consider starting small and revising your site as you acquire more skills and resources.
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Procedure
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1. RESEARCH FOR INSPIRATION: Research existing web sites. Be sure to review Macromedia Showcase, books, annuals and magazine. Look at navigation as well as design. Look for interactive elements, such as rollover buttons. What design principles are at work here? Bookmark pages that have innovative artwork and/or navigation schemes. Collect as many web addresses as you can, and link them from your personal web site. At our research critique, present your best examples in class (on screen). Be prepared to explain why these examples are successful. 2. MARKETING RESEARCH: Research your client. What is the client's history? Are there any unique selling points for this business? Who is the competition? If appropriate, visit the business. Take screen snapshots of select screens of their old web site and link them from your personal web site. If needed, acquire a reproduction quality logo of the business. (Optional: also make a link to their old site). 3. PLAN YOUR WEB SITE: Determine your objectives. Analyze your research and write a written statement of objectives in the form of a memo (see sample brief). Email your brief as an attached Word document to pyoung@parkland.edu and anni@lmntal.com. Also post this memo as a link from your personal web site. 4. DETERMINE YOUR CONTENT: How many pages will you need? What are the titles of each page? How will your web site be organized? Sketch out a site map and publish a text-only version of your site linked from your personal web site (if appropriate, use text from the old site). 5. DEVELOP THE VISUAL LOOK: In your sketchbook begin to conceptualize ideas for this project (see sample thumbnails). Make at least 10 sketches of all possible directions you might take this project. Draw exactly how your pages will look. Edit your concepts down to your best three ideas and redraw them inside a browser window using a felt tip pen (download PDF file of a blank browser window). Test how successful your concepts are by presenting them in class for critique. 6. EXECUTION: Based on the critique of the above, create a prototype "mockup" of key pages in Adobe Photoshop. Place your art inside a blank browser window (download layered PSD file). Print out your prototype screen in b&w for critique and be prepared to talk about how the design principles of unity, emphasis and balance are utilized in your layout. 7. PRODUCTION: Based on the critique of the above, make any necessary adjustments to your Photoshop file, then optimize your pictorial elements for the Web. Using Dreamweaver, combine your pictorial elements with your content, then publish your site as a link from your personal web site for critique. Prepare a presentation to "sell" your design to the client. Be prepared to talk about why your solution is better than the client's original site. If necessary, make refinements until you are 100% satisfied with the project. Be sure to save all your files for future editing.
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Schedule
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See the Calendar page
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______________________________ Last updated: 8/20/06 • Webmaster: Paul Young
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