Visual Design and Web Project

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Dr Rebekah Cupitt
• Assessment: six digitally manipulated images and a 600-word report (15%), three user interface designs, a 1 GIF animation and 2000-word report (35%), a website and documentation (35%), a coding report (10%) and homework submissions (5%)

In this module you will develop your skills in graphics design and optimisation and your technical skills in web development. You will learn skills in manipulating and controlling images for the web, understanding media, screen design, typography and layout, web vs other media, web limitations and interface production using graphics tools.

You will produce a portfolio of images demonstrating your ability and competence to manipulate and control media for use on the web, and provide prototypes of interface designs and a sample home page, banner animation and items that demonstrate your understanding of design principles and explain the decisions you made during the development process.

You will then produce a concise, accessible and professional website which incorporates your designs and demonstrates your ability and competence in implementing the techniques, skills and knowledge you have accumulated, and prepare paper-based documentation to clarify the background to the design and development approach to the project and the sources of information and inspiration. The site will be published on the web.

Indicative syllabus

• Image manipulation (photographs, graphics, illustrations and logos)
• Web image formats (bitmap and vector graphics)
• Optimising images with an image manipulation software package
• Prototype design (high and low fidelity user interface mockups) using a current software package
• Layouts and wireframing
• Principles of visual design, type and colour
• Introduction to GIF animation and image sprites
• Creative concepts, pattern libraries and design systems
• Responsive design
• JavaScript
• html + CSS
• Project documentation

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• articulate the language and context of digital media and its application across society and business
• understand different approaches to user and interface design and their viability and sustainability in appropriate contexts
• recognise the importance of the user experience and analysis in communicating to specific audiences
• use information categorisation in different contexts and for different audiences
• understand the relevance of international standards relating to digital media development
• critically evaluate websites and recommend and justify changes
• understand and critique theoretical arguments, formulate research questions, evaluate responses and apply to them to your project
• assess a wide variety of data and evaluate, prioritise and discard inappropriate information in the context of your project
• critically evaluate arguments and evidence, your own work and the work of others
• communicate ideas in different formats using a range of media
• produce graphics and animations and manipulate and optimise images using standard packages such as Photoshop
• apply technical skills in web development via accessible standard-based code
• publish a website that demonstrates the skills and knowledge acquired.