STUDY PROGRAMME
Graphic Design and Art Direction

AFAM CODE
ABTEC40

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Multimedia design

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Multimedia design

CREDITS
6

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

The exploration and analysis of the typical ways of use and navigation (user experience) across digital devices (web/desktop, tablet, smartphone) is the focus of this propaedeutic course to integrated communication systems design. It focuses on the understanding of information architectures in the transition from print to digital, from fixed to fluid, and on the introduction to the design of layouts and interfaces that are aesthetically consistent with usability along with communication and distribution strategies. It includes practical work.

The programme grants 6 credits, divided as follows:

• DIGITAL PUBLISHING 1: 3 CFA

• WEB DESIGN 1: 3 CFA

Successful students will be able to:

DIGITAL PUBLISHING 1:

• Identify the editorial potential of different devices by analysing language and relation - often complementary - between paper and digital publishing, migration potential and the hybrid publishing scenario

• Design digital publishing contents that are ideal for fruition on any device

• Carry out a comprehensive and detailed project for a digital magazine: texts, graphics, fixed images and videos, with the integration of animation, interaction and 3D elements

• Use print project software and digital-native production tools PubCode and others)

WEB DESIGN 1:

• Analyse a website and identify its aesthetic, formal and usability elements

• Develop a systematic and rigorous approach to the design of structured digital interfaces of different complexity in terms of interaction and navigation

• Manage the whole process for the creation of a website. From the structure and logic project, to the study of its graphic features, until the implementation of the code according to W3C standards

DIGITAL PUBLISHING 1:

• Theoretical introduction and analysis of editorial cases as well as of (hybrid) editorial offices in the migration from print to digital

• Analysis and comparison of the main traits of different publishing devices - paper, web, tablet – with a focus on fruition and navigation issues

• Analysis of digital publishing formats and their structural elements: technical-graphic (typography, visualization) and marketing elements (transversal distribution strategies and e-commerce)

• In-depth analysis of the architecture of information on new generation media: text creation and management, adjustment to different screen types (resolution, readability and usability)

• Ways of publishing and fruition, and their related tools (software): animation and (basic) interaction for multi-touch screens for magazines and complex publications (interactive books, multimedia catalogues) that started off as offline products

• Design and creation of page layouts, complete with typographic and iconic elements, adjusted to the interfaces

WEB DESIGN 1:

• Introduction to the world wide web and digital design

• Understanding of perception and visual rules of digital graphics, associated to standard design technologies and front-end languages: HTML5 and CSS3

• Analysis of the cultural elements, both of contents and formal, of an internet site or web project

• Introduction to the use of the libraries commonly used for the development of websites (html5Boileplate, fontawesome, google fonts, unsemantic grid)

• Introduction to interactive and navigation systems, usability, publication and client relations

• Methods and techniques for the accomplishment of professional projects, partial and complete

This is a theoretical/project based course.

Students will take part in the following activities, which may vary depending on the development of different projects:

• Classroom lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Exercises and revisions

• Workshops

• Individual or group projects

• Individual or group study and research

Assessment tools may include:

DIGITAL PUBLISHING 1:

• Graded practice: arithmetic average of the grades for the various editorial projects carried out throughout the course, plus questions at the oral exam

• Oral exam: testing of theoretical knowledge as well as of technical and analytical skills

WEB DESIGN 1:

• Graded practice: arithmetic average of the grades for the various web projects carried out throughout the course, plus questions at the oral exam

• Oral exam: testing of theoretical knowledge as well as of technical and analytical skills

• Submission of exercises, projects or research work: graphic creation of two web pages, using the software programs studied in class

• Achievement of complete projects: mini internet site of minimum four pages, created with web languages, visible on all modern browsers and complete with an initial analysis on UX (user experience) and UI (user interface), according to W3C

Further details about the exams will be provided by the professors.

The final grade will result from the weighted average of the programme modules.

DIGITAL PUBLISHING 1:

• Lupton, E., Type on Screen, Princeton Architectural Press.

WEB DESIGN 1:

• Duckett, J., HTML & CSS: Design and Build Website.

• Schmitt, C. (2009) CSS Cookbook, 3rd Ed. Quick Solutions to Common CSS Problems, O’Reilly Media.

Many of the recommended sources, together with additional material, are also available online on MyNaba, in the Library section.

Books and resources might be requested or suggested by the professors.