STUDY PROGRAMME
Graphic Design and Art Direction

AFAM CODE
ABTEC40

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Multimedia design

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Multimedia design

CREDITS
6

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

This course deepens the study of digital platforms design, developing multi-channel, multi-fruition, and multi-support solutions. It helps students’ ability to analyse the users’ fruition needs, and goes in-depth on the topics of usability, experience (UX), and interface (UI).

The course prepares for the study of the field of graphic design applied to digital publishing and web design, useful to undertake specialised study or to dive into the world of the production of innovative digital products and services.

The programme grants 6 credits, divided as follows:

• UX/UI CONTENT STRATEGY: 2 CFA

• UX/UI DESIGN: 4 CFA

At the end of the course, the students will be able to design and develop contemporary projects for any kind of digital device, taking into consideration the importance of the information architecture, the readability and usability of texts. The goal is to create user experiences that translate into information, entertainment and experiences that are rich in creative stimuli. In particular, the students will acquire the necessary skills to:

• Analyse contemporary trends in the industry, and use them to set up their projects.

• Apply their strategy and content skills to the design of digital platforms

• Reinforce their graphic techniques and adapt them to digital design

• Design and create digital products and/or services, self-sufficiently and in groups

• Design and create multi-channel, multi-platform digital products and/or services

• Critically analyse the application of design in association with User experience

• Prepare for the world of User Interface Design

• Create high-fidelity prototypes using suitable tools and professional, classic methods

UX/UI CONTENT STRATEGY:

• Analysis of multi-channel case histories, which allow to decode solutions, languages and methods of storytelling, as well as interactive narrative paths, with specific attention to how new generations approach information and online contents

• In-depth study of content design, including branded content, for multiple digital platforms

• Introduction to the design of immersive multimedia contents

UX/UI DESIGN:

• Case histories analysis and identification of issues in the design elements, in consideration of their context

• Analysis and study of different devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, game consoles, etc)

• Study and in-depth analysis of user-oriented design strategies

• Creation of functional and cross-platform interfaces

• Creation of working prototypes with the use of professional tools

This is a theoretical/project based course.

During the course, the students will carry out the following didactic activities, which may vary depending on the projects to be developed:

• Front lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Practical exercises and reviews

• Laboratories

• Individual or group projects

• Individual study or research

The final evaluation of the students will be based on a single project that includes two assessment units, corresponding to the two modules, and will aim at checking the acquisition of coordination skills within the broad spectrum of communication on different devices. Further information about the two modules follows:

UX/UI CONTENT STRATEGY:

• Creation of an individual project aimed at checking the skills acquired by the students in designing effective contents for multiple digital platforms, from an architecture, graphics, and interactivity point of view.

UX/UI DESIGN:

The students will be assessed on three macro-areas:

• User experience (UX), techniques and methods for user-centred design

• Interface design (UI), use of graphics for digital formats

• Prototyping (development), presentation of the project as an interactive mock-up

The final project revolves around the creation of a multi-platform app. All students will collaborate working in groups, taking on specific design responsibilities.

UX/UI CONTENT STRATEGY:

• Lupton, E., Type on screen: a critical guide for designers, writers, developers, and students, Princeton Architectural Press.

• Galan L., Osserman J., Parker T., Taylor M. (2019) How young people consume news and the implications for mainstream media, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

UX/UI DESIGN:

• “Le Leggi della semplicità” di John Maeda.

• “Usabilità Mobile” di Jakob Nielsen.

• “La caffettiera del masochista” di Donald A. Norman.

• “Don’t make me think” di Steve Krug.

• “About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design”- By Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann.

Further books and other recommended or required resources may be specified by the professor.