Designing Digitally

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: to be confirmed
• Assessment: a comparative platform analysis (20%), digital media design plan (30%) and online/mobile platform or service (50%)

Media and creative practitioners wanting to independently showcase their work, pursue a cause or start a business increasingly need to be able to design and develop a digital media project, be that a website or other online service. Many of the barriers related for example to web design and development have been lowered substantially, making it easier than ever for non-professionals to build their own digital media project. Yet at the same time, with the rise of mobile connectivity, smartphone apps, social media and big data, there is a new and sometimes bewildering range of things to take into account if that digital project is going to be a success.

In this module you will gain knowledge of, and hands-on application in, key fundamentals of digital media design and development today. The module centres on the analysis and implementation of effective and engaging online user experiences. You will build and test an online/mobile platform or service, and along the way learn about web analytics, search engine optimisation (SEO), data mining and data driven audience engagement/marketing.

Indicative syllabus

• History of the internet and worldwide web
• Key approaches to analysing digital platforms
• Understanding information architecture
• Usability and accessibility
• Web authoring
• Graphics, animations and interface development
• Mobile apps
• Search engine optimisation
• Evaluating and monitoring web analytics
• Data mining and data-driven audience engagement
• Project management
• Developing a digital media design plan