Eden Web Solutions
Eve Fisher, Instructor, efisher@westwood.edu
GD443 - Visual Design for Web and Multimedia - Syllabus
Week 1: Needs Analysis - Consideration of Target Audience - KGA #1
  • Reading Assignment:
    • Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability, Introduction, Chapters 1, 2
    • HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Chapter 39.
  • Project Assignment: Create a 1-2 page Brainstorming document answering the following questions. Name the file YourName_Week1Brainstorm.doc.
    • Will your site have a mission statement, and if so, what will it be?
    • Who is the target audience for your planned site?
    • What are your goals and objectives for your planned site?
    • What type of site do you plan to create, and why? Are you familiar with the industry or audience for this type of site? Have you researched the topic to learn what your competition is doing? Briefly describe some characteristics of similar sites.
    • How will you know if your site is a success? What criteria will you use to define success?

Week 2: Front End Planning
  • Reading Assignment:
    • Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability, Introduction, Chapters 3,4
    • HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Chapter 40
  • Project Assignment: Refine your 1-2 page Brainstorming document from Week 1 into your Phase One of KGA Project 1, Web Site Design Plan (see the Project 1 link in Course Home for full requirements). You will design a plan for a websitewith a home page and at least seven (7) additional pages for categories and/or sub-categories, and an external style sheet using at least three (3) text styles. The completed Design Plan will be due in Week 4.
  • Quiz: Week 1 Reading
Week 3: Web Site Architecture
  • Reading Assignment:
    • Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability, Chapters 7,8 & Conclusion
  • Project Assignment:
  • Content Analysis and Development – Word document:
    • Turn in a Word document with the text and images you will use on the site pages. Be sure that the text is broken into small paragraphs (3 - 5 sentences), and use bullets and sub-titles to make the text easy to skim. Put the most important content at the top of the page. Each page needs to contain at least 100 words of content.
    • How will the content be placed on the pages? Will the content be placed directly on the page by the developer or client (static) or be updated using a database and delivered to the page based upon the user tasks (dynamic), or a combination of both methods? Indicate on each page how the content will be delivered.
    • The site requires an audio, video and animation to be placed on the site. Indicate where on the site each will be placed to enhance the content.
    • A form (functioning or not) is also required on the site. Where will you place a form on the site and how will it be used?
    • Title the file YourName_KGA1PhaseTwo.doc. Upload your Content Analysis and Development Word document into the Week 3: Content Analysis and Dev Dropbox by Friday.
  • Site Design Prototypes – JPG files:
    • Create three completely different digital websitedesign prototypes of the home page. Explore varying the layout, including the colors used and placement of navigation, logo, header, sub-header, and body text. If the home page and interior pages will be laid out differently, then two prototypes of the home page and one of the interior page is required. Please place the navigation on the home page as well as the interior pages—do not create a splash page for the index page. Use web safe colors and demonstrate your knowledge of digital typography design.
    • The prototypes must be sized properly for the screen resolution you are targeting (see the websiteGuidelines for details). You will use the graphics and images from the final prototype when building the site in Dreamweaver.
    • Get feedback from your client. Be prepared to combine elements of several designs to create a final prototype.  
  • Quiz: Week 2 Reading
Week 4: Interface Design
  • Reading Assignment:
    • Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability, Introduction, Chapters 5,6
    • HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Chapter 41, 42
  • Project Assignment: Create one finished design for development and create a storyboard demonstrating the animation you will build for your site. The storyboard needs to show the key frames for the animation.
  • Quiz: Week 3 Reading
Week 5: HTML, CSS and Typography - KGA #2
  • Reading Assignment:
    • HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Part II, Chapters 4, 8, 9.
    • Part III, Chapters 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24
  • Project Assignment: Upload your two prototype pages and an external style sheet to your Web space (include any associated files, if you have used them).
  • Quiz: Week 4 Reading
Week 6: CSS in Dreamweaver
  • Reading Assignment:
    • HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Part II (Chapters 5,7,10,11)
    • Part III (Chapters 20, 21, 36).
  • Project Assignment: Create your Web Style Guide for the site.
  • Review: Week 5 Reading
Week 7: HTML Forms
  • Reading Assignment: HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Parts II Chapters 12, 13, 15.
  • Project Assignment: Create a rough draft of your form for the site.
  • Review: Week 6 Reading - Todd
Week 8: Graphics, Multimedia and Interactive Media
  • Reading Assignment:
    • Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability, Chapter 6, Images section, pages 235-241
    • HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Part II, Chapter 6 and 14
  • Project Assignment: Continue working on your Project 2 site.
  • Review: Week 7 Reading - Jon
Week 9: Testing, Validating, SEO & Maintenance
  • Reading Assignment: HTML, XHTML and CSS Bible, Part V, Chapters 33, 37, 38
  • Project Assignment: Upload your completed KGA Project 2 to your hosting space for your classmates to critique. Upload your written evaluation summary with the URL of your home page at the top of the document
  • Review: Week 8 Reading - Brad
Site Planning Resources

Site Design Resources

Site Building Resources