General Description

General Description

The goal of this class is to establish a strong foundational comprehension for designing goal-focused, screen-based interfaces. Students will develop an understanding of how a purposeful grid, smart typographic choices, compelling imagery, and intuitive user-interface patterns combine to create highly engaging, usable, and beautiful interfaces.  Topics covered in the class will reflect the core components of web design:

  • Using Photoshop to create web-specific graphics
  • Designing for a grid based layout
  • Properly employing web-specific typography
  • Employing unique usage of graphics, photography, and illustration

Classes will be a mix of lecture, group discussion, and working independently.  Students will be expected to use the class time to ask questions, work on projects for this class, and gain feedback from the instructor on assignments.

Grading

Grades will not be solely based on an accumulation of project grades but rather a weighted
consideration of:

  • Your work and methodology
  • Exploration of solutions
  • Communication of ideas
  • Participation in class and in critiques
  • Craft and professionalism
  • Attendance

Attendance for all classes is mandatory.  If you expect to be late or absent, the instructor must be informed prior to the class. Missed classes or tardiness will result in grade reductions; this is you first, last and only warning!

In addition to working in class, you will be asked to:

  • Access the web outside of class for reading, resources and research
  • Reading/commenting/accessing our collective blog
  • Supply grid-based paper/notebook for in-class sketching

Recommended Reading

While these books are not required, it is HIGHLY recommended you check them out: