Course Description
An overview of the concepts and processes utilized in designing and developing digital products that serve user needs.
Athena Title
Digital Platforms I
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ARGD 4190E
Prerequisite
ARGD 3020 or ARGD 3030 or ARGD 3030E or ARGD 3060
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Overview of current topics and tools relevant in visual communication design digital practice, including introduction to various concepts and tools related to design and development for pertinent digital platforms for users such as web and mobile. Topics may include content strategy and development, basic usability principles, interactivity, navigational structures, web and mobile platforms, project planning process, such as site mapping and wire framing, as well as a basic introduction to relevant coding languages and current production tools. Upon completion of this course, students will: — have a basic understanding of usability in terms of human computer interaction — gain a basic literacy with the tools and techniques of digital development for platforms such as mobile and web — learn the language necessary to collaborate with developers on large scale digital design projects
Topical Outline
Class consists of lecture, discussion, and some small group workshops. Topics will be relevant to current digital design practice, such as: —Introduction to the basic principles of user experience and interface design —Development of basic understanding of how design concepts can mediate relationships between people, products, environments, and services —Concepts, languages, and approaches necessary to create digital designs for web and mobile development —Development of a basic literacy in production tools and relevant coding languages, such as html and css —Understanding of basic concepts and tools related to digital prototyping and wire framing —Think about balancing functionality with aesthetics in designing for web and mobile applications —Other possible topics depending on instructor expertise: web analytics and search engine optimization, designing for web with specific content management systems, such as Drupal and WordPress, etc.
Syllabus
Public CV