VC 491 Parallax Web Design (Independent Study) Cazenovia College Spring 2014 Independent Study Syllabus Student: Kathryn Wheeler

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1 VC 491 Parallax Web Design (Independent Study) Cazenovia College Spring 2014 Independent Study Syllabus Student: Kathryn Wheeler Instructor Brian Hauser Class Meeting Time & Location Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00pm 8:50pm 119 Reisman Hall Office Hours 108 Reisman Hall Mondays & Wednesdays 5:00-6:00pm or by appointment Class Website Phone Introduction Course Desctipion Parallax Web Design will enable the student to expand upon their knowledge of interactive design from Advanced Designing for the Web. The student will research, design and implement websites to expand both horizontally and vertically to create an interactive component for the end-user. There will be an emphasis with creative problem solving, research and building websites structurally. The student will become familiar with internet and web design standards through research and creating expandable website hands on. The interactive design process will be introduced stepping the student from initial design assessment, creative problem solving, building websites using Dreamweaver or Muse and creating live websites. The student will be required to do research and to document their website process. Course Description VC 491 Parallax Web Design - 3 credits (CS) This course will be an independent study expanding knowledge through researching parallax web design. Parallax web design are websites that have scrollable content with backgrounds that move and change. Students learn web software such as Dreamweaver, Muse and as well as design principles for screen based applications and customer usability.

2 Course Objectives By the end of this course this student should be able to: Be knowledgeable about different options when making parallax websites Program parallax websites using HTML5 & Cascading Style Sheets 3.0 (CSS3) Compose website designs through Adobe Photoshop Optimize website graphics in appropriate and fast loading file formats Design websites that enhance the User Experience (UX) through interaction Identify how parallax website designs can be used in a portfolio and business context Effectively program and design expandable, interactive parallax websites Knowledgable about website domain and hosting options Course Competencies The following competencies are integral to this course: research skills, visual literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, written and oral communication skills, computer literacy, participation and critique. Class Structure Course objectives will be achieved through lectures, demonstrations, visual materials, research, discussions and critiques. This class will be conducted as if it was a professional, established interactive design studio. Since this is an independent study for an advanced top research is a crucial component for this course. Class meeting time will be used for me go over research topics, readings, touch base and assist you with projects as needed. I am also accessible during my office hours or by appointment and always reachable through . Supplies Flash Drive/External Hard Drive CD s Sketch Book Pencils & Pens Website Domain & Hosting (Highly Recommended) Plastic Eraser Markers Student Responsibilities You must use your college account and check it daily. Any communication from the instructor will be through the college system. If you do not check your you could miss something! You are expected to be motivated, user lab time effectively and participate in discussions and critiques. Your participation is expected and required in the following areas: Critical discussions and assignment progress reviews Software demonstrations and presentations Informal discussions about design concepts based on course assignments Individual discussions while working on project assignments in the studio

3 You are expected to attend all classes and stay through the duration of the class period. If you are absent, you are still expected to meet all deadlines and make up any work you missed. Academic Honesty Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. Anyone found using another designer s work or ideas, either a professionals or classmates is violating the Student Code of Conduct (see handbook). Project Assignments Project assignments are sequential and progressive, developing concepts throughout the term and will be described in separate documents. Throughout the semester you will rely heavily on research, design elements & principles, and technical skills. You will produce a written design brief, along with print outs of your completed assignment. When submitting assignments it is important that you include the following materials: sketches, roughs, flow charts, site map - along with a burned CD of your design and website files labelled with your name, course name and project. Some of these files may be used to create promotional materials for the Visual Communications program. The files will never be given to anyone other than the instructor. Design Process You will be expected to show the progression of your work on a regular basis. Planning - Review the assignment, figure out what web pages your website will need to have. Organize - Create a flow chart and site map that shows the organization of your website. Thumbnail Sketches - Create thumbnail sketches showing different website layouts would be styled. These must be approved by me prior to designing on the computer. Layer Comp/Roughs - Create your approved design in Adobe Fireworks Build Out - Optimize website graphics from Fireworks and bring them into Dreamweaver Final Website - Finished website that is live or ready to go live. ** Always make sure to write down critique feedback as this will help to improve your work in the future. Digital Backups Keep double copies of all files on both Flash drives or CD s and the file server. Lost data will not be an excuse for missing deadlines! You are required to keep all files available until the end of the semester. Remember that data can become corrupt, or may accidentally be erased or destroyed. Keep multiple back-up files of everything! Evaluation/Grading System Project Grades For each project you hand in you will receive a letter grade. This letter grade will be determined by the following criteria: concept, research, effort, progress, technical ability, following directions, handing in all required pieces, and execution. Very often we will have

4 critiques of work in progress where you will be expected to explain what you are working on. When due dates are given this means the project is due or the critique will begin at the beginning of that class period unless otherwise stated Your projects will always have deadline dates. If your project is late, 10 points will be taken off your project grade. Late projects must be submitted on or before the next week s class to receive credit for the project. Projects will not be accepted after this day. Project Submission Criteria For each project you will be required to submit your design files from Photoshop and/or Fireworks. You will also be required to submit digital PDF's that includes sketches (scan them in), roughs, flowchart, site map, and a completed design brief. You will also submit a folder that contains your entire site folder including all of your HTML, CSS and image files that are clearly organized into subfolders as specified in class lecture/demonstration. Your main folder and your design files should be clearly labeled with your initials, course number, project name. Folder Example: BEH4XX_Proj2_WebMarketing File Example: BEH4XX_Proj2_Roughs.psd Final Grade - Your final grade will be derived from the following breakdown: 10% Class Participation - participation in activities; attendance, attitude, punctuality, and communication skills. 90% Projects At the beginning of the semester you will write a proposal of projects you will be working on which I must sign off for approval. A project idea that has already been discussed between myself (the professor) and the student is making a portfolio website into a parallax website to help interactively engage the end-user / potential clientele. Grade Criteria A Excellent: shows outstanding effort, creativity and craft expected for this project. B Above Average: demonstrates effort, creativity, and craft expected for this project. C Average: meets all requires for this project. Improvements needs in effort, creativity or craft. D Below Average: does not meet the requirements for the project, demonstrations lack of effort, creativity or craft. F Failing: unable to complete the requirements for this project.

5 Attendance Policy Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. You are expected to attend all classes and stay through the duration of the class. You are expected to be in class with your materials and working at each class session. After three absences your final grade will be affected. After six absences your final grade for the course will be an F. If you arrive to class later than 15 minutes after starting time or leave before dismissed by instructor you will be considered absent. If you are absent, you are still expected to meet all deadlines and make up any work missed. If you are absent due to a sporting event, you are required to hand in anything that is due BEFORE the missed class. Students will not be excused from class for sport practices. Individual meetings with the instructor will not be re-scheduled in the event of a noshow. Technology Policy If technology and the workflow of the labs has been disrupted for any reason beyond the ability of the student to troubleshoot, the student is required to write a support ticket to ICT notifying that department of the problem in detail. If a ticket has not been issues at least one day prior to a project deadline, the student is responsible for making the deadline regardless of the conditions of the labs. ICT at support@cazenovia.edu. You may call ICT at x7777 to back up your ticket and to get immediate service. Always a support ticket, and copy the professor. Special Needs If you have a special need, please contact me so we can discuss what accommodations you need to be successful in this course. Course Outline The student will sit in on the VC 375/475 class time to utilize the lab and gain feedback from students through critiques and discussions. The students work will focus heavily on research and working with the professor both inside and outside of class.

6 Daily Class Workflow Will Include: Independent Research 1-on-1 Progress Reviews with Professor Designing or Programming Parallax Websites Periodic Class Workflow Will Include: (schedule to coincide with VC 375/475 for peer input, schedule announced during first meeting session) Critique / Presenting Progress Critiques