ART 271 : Web Design I
This course introduces students to the process of creating a website, with an overview of organizational issues, marketing concerns, navigation, typography on the Web, and other design considerations. It uses industry-standard imaging software and graphical interface-based web design software such as Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver. The course uses lectures, software demonstrations, exploration and analysis of existing websites, hands-on exercises, and projects to enable students to acquire the basic skills and knowledge to create web pages for the World Wide Web. Pre or co-requisite: ART 260 recommended, or previous Photoshop experience. Three critique hours and three studio hours per week. Instructional Support Fee applies. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Human Expression and Information Literacy.
Course Outcomes
Through project work and critique, students will demonstrate their ability to:
1. Analyze current web design trends and best practices.
2. Conduct research and planning, including defining a target audience, site goals, and content strategy.
3. Develop wireframes and visual mockups that demonstrate effective layout, hierarchy, and navigation structure.
4. Apply principles of typography for the web by selecting and implementing appropriate web-safe and web fonts that support readability, accessibility, and brand consistency.
5. Optimize and prepare digital images for web use by adjusting resolution, file format, dimensions, and compression settings to meet performance standards.
6. Construct two functional websites using foundational HTML and CSS, demonstrating proper file structure, semantic markup, and basic styling techniques, that demonstrates effective design process from concept development through final digital production.
7. Evaluate and revise web design projects through critique, presenting and justifying design decisions using appropriate design vocabulary and incorporating peer and instructor feedback to improve clarity, usability, and visual communication.