Centuries’ worth of design principles are based on predictable constraints of physical media, but how does the unpredictable nature of designing for the screen affect those principles? This course looks at the impact our creative choices in typography, color, and layout have on the way we interact with screen–based design on the web, mobile, and more. Emphasis is placed on advanced techniques in constructing meaningful, responsive and contextual layouts across media. Students research, design, and test their creations to inform further iterations of their ideas.
Course Objectives
Students will learn about type, color, and layout systems and how to use these systems to create cohesive interfaces.
Students will learn through design projects how their design choices impact user interaction, mood, and perception.
Students will come away with an understanding of how to back up their design decisions through research, documentation, and observation.
Through in-class presentations and discussions, students will learn how to speak intelligently about their work and how to give and receive design critiques.
Course Policies
Classes will be a mixture of short lectures, design exercises, and class discussions and critiques. Attendance and participation in discussions, critiques, and field trips is mandatory. If you have to miss a class, you must inform the instructor and receive approval in advance. Missing more than two classes in a semester will negatively affect your participation and attendance grade.
Assignments are due at the start of class on a project’s due date unless otherwise specified. Digital files (PDF, GIF, JPG, PNG, etc) should be uploaded to the shared course folder on the server, physical projects can just be brought to class. No late assignments will be accepted, but you may submit them early.
Class members should read or watch assignments before each class; reading additional material is strongly encouraged.
Sketchbook assignments are due to the course TA by noon the day of class. Each student is required to scan a page from the week’s sketches to be uploaded to the course blog by the TA. One student will be chosen at random at the beginning of each class to briefly present their sketchbook page for discussion with the class. At this time, the student will also be required to show the week’s sketches to the instructor. If the student does not have the full week’s worth of sketches, the student will forfeit 50% of the sketchbook grade for the course.
Assignments
Students are expected to create original designs and do their own writing and research for assignments. Your projects will be evaluated through:
In-class presentations and critiques
Craft, process, concept, empathy, and attention to detail
A report detailing your research, process, and/or preliminary materials (where applicable)
How closely student followed the project objectives
Creativity and problem solving
Grading
20% Attendance and Participation
10% Sketchbook
20% Mini-project (x4)
30% Projects (x3)
20% Final
Office Hours
I’ll be in the department space from 4-6pm every Thursday before class.
Overview
Centuries’ worth of design principles are based on predictable constraints of physical media, but how does the unpredictable nature of designing for the screen affect those principles? This course looks at the impact our creative choices in typography, color, and layout have on the way we interact with screen–based design on the web, mobile, and more. Emphasis is placed on advanced techniques in constructing meaningful, responsive and contextual layouts across media. Students research, design, and test their creations to inform further iterations of their ideas.
Course Objectives
Course Policies
Classes will be a mixture of short lectures, design exercises, and class discussions and critiques. Attendance and participation in discussions, critiques, and field trips is mandatory. If you have to miss a class, you must inform the instructor and receive approval in advance. Missing more than two classes in a semester will negatively affect your participation and attendance grade.
Assignments are due at the start of class on a project’s due date unless otherwise specified. Digital files (PDF, GIF, JPG, PNG, etc) should be uploaded to the shared course folder on the server, physical projects can just be brought to class. No late assignments will be accepted, but you may submit them early.
Class members should read or watch assignments before each class; reading additional material is strongly encouraged.
Sketchbook assignments are due to the course TA by noon the day of class. Each student is required to scan a page from the week’s sketches to be uploaded to the course blog by the TA. One student will be chosen at random at the beginning of each class to briefly present their sketchbook page for discussion with the class. At this time, the student will also be required to show the week’s sketches to the instructor. If the student does not have the full week’s worth of sketches, the student will forfeit 50% of the sketchbook grade for the course.
Assignments
Students are expected to create original designs and do their own writing and research for assignments. Your projects will be evaluated through:
Grading
Office Hours
I’ll be in the department space from 4-6pm every Thursday before class.