MA C101, Introduction to Digital Media Design

Course Description. This course provides students with the basic principles of screen design, which includes the psychology of interactivity and layout design principles. This foundation takes students beyond merely producing web sites that utilize the newest dazzling effects. It will help them to understand a site’s content conceptually and apply the most appropriate design solution to that specific site. Digital imaging and web design software are introduced as tools for web site design. Students will learn to use Macromedia Dreamweaver MX to create web pages.

Course Objectives:

• Analyze a design problem and utilize page layout techniques, including the use of grids, to design web pages that are easy to navigate as well as visually appealing.
• Identify, contrast and compare a variety of a complex system information (i.e. website) models.
• Construct a mental model for a complex system of information.
• Create a graphic user interface that utilizes accurate mapping for that mental model and provides feedback so the user can easily navigate the complex system of information.
• Select the most appropriate features of digital imaging and web design software tools to implement design solutions.
• Diagram and implement project management and workflow issues.
• Design and assemble moderately complex web sites.

Spring 2003 Class Schedule

TBA

Textbook

• Macromedia Dreamweaver MX - Training from the Source
  Peachpit Press, ISBN 0-201-79929-4