Syllabus

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Student Work

 

 

 

     

Art 344B: Design for the Internet II
Spring Semester, 2008
School of Art Design and Art History
San Diego State University

Professor: Kim Stringfellow
Office: Art 418
Phone: 594-6766
Office hours: Wed. 1 to 2:45 pm
Email: kstringf@mail.sdsu.edu
Urls: www.kimstringfellow.com

This class meets in ART-418 T/TH 1 to 3:40 pm.

For open lab hours in Com 106 check the door outside for posted hours. Open lab hours are also available in the Art 216 and Art 213 computer labs. Check the posted hours in the lab.

General Information

Design for the Internet II is the continuation of a two-part course series focusing on applied design and development for the World Wide Web. In this intermediate course we will learn a variety of techniques and applications relating to Adobe's (formally Macromedia) Dreamweaver and Flash software packages. Course assignments include an animation project, a gaming project, and a multimedia documentary final project. Additionally, fundamentals of Web development will be covered including user experience and Information Architecture. Independent research of Web artists and interactive multimedia developers will be included in a research paper and oral presentation. Students are encouraged to create works that are highly experimental and conceptual in nature emphasizing this medium as a new and vital form of creative expression. Class participation, personal expression, original content development, and technical proficiency are equally emphasized.

Proof of Prerequisites

Every student must show proof of prerequisites by the third class period. Preregistered students who are unable to show proof of prerequisites may be administratively dropped by the instructor. If space is available, the instructor may add crashers who are able to show proof of prerequisites. By the second class period turn in a copy of either a grade report for prerequisite class or student transcript. The prerequisites for this course are grades of C or better in Art 344 (344A).

Please note: A understanding of graphic imaging techniques in Adobe Photoshop is suggested. SDSU BATS courses (http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~bats/) are free to students and cover basic Photoshop techniques as well as other software programs. If you complete one of these courses given at the beginning of each semester you will receive one extra credit point. Bring proof of course completion from BATS instructor. Students may receive only two points extra credit from BATS courses (two BATS sessions).

Calendar

Please refer to the calendar for specific readings, daily activities and topics as well as homework assignments and any other important information you will need to know for this course.

Note: The instructor reserves the right to change or update the course calendar/schedule at any time. Please refer to the online calendar weekly for updates.

Course Materials

A USB key drive or other portable media storage device is required to store homework assignments. See required book list below.

Readings

Because this is a highly technical course, students are required to bring by the second class meeting the two books required for this course. The class demos/lectures are designed around course readings and as we will be moving quickly, covering a lot of material during each meeting, it is expected that the student come prepared, having read the required chapters. The Peach Pit Press books are short & concise and the required readings should not interfere with your other study demand's at the University. Please contact the instructor is this becomes a problem. Please refer to the calendar above for specific reading assignments.

Projects/Assignments

All projects & assignments created in or outside of class must be stored on portable media. Students are also responsible for maintaining a BACK-UP COPY of the homework assignment disk. Homework assignments are usually reviewed by the instructor at the beginning of the class meeting. Every student must complete all assignments for to complete the course. Please refer to the calendar for specific homework assignments.

Students are expected to load projects to the server prior to the project critique in the following manner:

  • Create a folder using ONLY your last name (use first initial if you share a last name with another student) typed in LOWERCASE.
  • Place your .fla, .swf and .html files in the folder which are named using your last name ONLY in LOWERCASE. Here's an example: stringfellow.swf, stringfellow.html and stringfellow.fla.

Note: You should publish your .swf file using your last name so the html page imbeds a correctly named .swf file.

Design Brief

In addition to the final artwork, all projects must include a typed design brief in outline form (1 to 2 pages) describing the following:

  • Description of assignment
  • Design goals and objectives (Describe the goals and objectives of the project. What are you trying to achieve by means of design?)
  • Research sources (bibliography & url list)
  • Design exploration (Describe your concept development from preliminary work to final solution development.)
  • Completed design concept and evaluation (Describe your final concept, describe how your solution meets the design objectives stated earlier and why your design is successful)

Due Dates

All work is expected to be completed by the due dates. Unless otherwise specified, work is due at the beginning of the class period.

If work is one class meeting late, the grade will be lowered by one half letter grade.
If work is two class meetings late, the grade may be lowered by one full grade.
If work is three or more class meetings late, the grade may be lowered by one and one half grades and so forth.

If there is a problem in meeting a deadline, the instructor should be consulted in advance.

Project Rules

All copy must be written by the student, except for specific short quotes or unless cleared by the instructor for a particular situation. Quotes should have an appropriate credit on the artwork. All copy must be proofread by another student in the class. Proofed and signed copy must be included in the notebook.

All type must be an identifiable typeface (not made up or created by the student), except for text appearing as handwriting (any exceptions must be cleared by the instructor in advance).

Photographs, preferably, should be taken by the student; if not, appropriate credit/reference should be made on the artwork or in the notebook.

Any illustration, symbol or pattern should be based on actual reference. The reference should be clearly included and identified in the notebook.

Class Participation

Emphasis of this course is both on completion of projects and class participation. Classroom interaction is vital to the learning process. Students will be expected to participated in all class activities. Lectures, demos, discussions and critiques will occur regularly. A grade will be given for class participation and involvement.

Attendance

Attendance to all class meetings is required and is directly related to successful completion of this course. Techical lectures are given at the beginning of the class meeting so it is important for students to arrive on time. The instructor will not individually overview an assignment that a student has missed due to absence unless the student has missed the class under legimate circumstances. If there is a problem in attending a class, the instructor should be consulted in advance if possible.

Tardiness to class meetings is not tolerated as it disrupts the class in session. PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME FOR ALL CLASS MEETINGS. If you need to arrive to a class period late (or need to leave early) notify the instructor prior to the scheduled class meeting.

Grading

TO VIEW GRADES FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS & PROJECTS USE THE ONLINE BLACKBOARD SYSTEM AT https://blackboard.sdsu.edu/webapps/login. Go to Student Tools> View Grades.

Grades will be based on the following criteria:

  • Homework Assignments and completion of readings prior to class meeting
  • Final Project (failure to complete the Final Project will result in a grade of NO CREDIT)
  • Conceptual development (creativity and problem solving)
  • Technical execution
  • Craftsmanship
  • Class participation and involvement
  • Presentation (oral Communication, written communication, neatness and organization)
  • Timeliness & preparedness
  • Enthusiasm

Grading Breakdown:

5% Class Participation
50% Projects/Assignments
10% Research Paper
30% Final Project
5% Design Brief

A- Outstanding achievement, available only for the highest accomplishment. B- Praiseworthy performance, definitely above average. C- Average, awarded for satisfactory performance, the most common grade. D- Minimally passing, less than the typical undergraduate achievement. F- Failing. (Based on SDSU grading guidelines.)

Incomplete
An incomplete grade will only be granted for extenuating circumstances.

Classroom Rules

  • NO CELL PHONES OR PAGERS (please turn yours off before entering the classroom)
  • NO FOOD OR DRINKS IN CLASSROOM

Books

  • Flash CS3 Professional for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Katherine Ulrich, Peachpit Press (REQUIRED)
  • Flash CS3 Professional Advanced for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide by Russel Chun, Peachpit Press (REQUIRED)
  • Internet Art by Rachel Greene, Thames & Hudson (RECCOMENDED)
  • Dreamweaver MX H•O•T (Hands-On Training) by Lynda Weinman (RECCOMENDED)
  • Flash MX H•O•T (Hands-On Training) by Lynda Weinman (RECCOMENDED)

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