teach

NOTE: This webpage provides resources for this course. It is NOT the course syllabus and DOES NOT provide information about course assignments, requirements, or expectations. Please consult the course syllabus for these types of questions.
DTC 336 Composition and Design explores "design practices and process for composing for a multimedia environment including color, pattern and shape" (University Catalog). This course is integral to the overall vision for The Creative Media & Digital Culture Program and so is aligned with the CMDC Program Goals and Objectives. The specific CMDC program goals this course is intended to meet, as well as the objectives for each, are detailed below.

• Program Goal 3
  Employ the principles of visual form for sophisticated image manipulation
  • Objectives
    1. Arranging textual content in sequential or non-linear form demonstrating the conceptual underpinnings of text as visual form in front-end design
    2. Utilizing textual content as visual rhetoric in the process of designing interactive media interfaces that are both functional and usable
    3. Composing textual content for multimedia projects that works in conjunction with video, still images, animation, and sound to create an effective visual image interface
• Program Goal 4
  Understand the production and assessment of media objects
  • Objectives
    1. Composing digital content using appropriate software and digital output capabilities
    2. Demonstrating an overall understanding and utilization of appropriate textual content for various forms of interactive media
    3. Producing and evaluating effective textual content that promotes interaction, functionality, and usability by different readers
• Program Goal 7
  Recognize various forms of language processing and their implications for media authoring
  • Objectives
    1. Utilizing appropriate language forms most effectively in composing textual content for different types of interactive media
    2. Studying, creating, and critiquing digital text and its central role in human-computer interactions
    3. Employing textual content in web pages and other digital interfaces or environments that respond to specific audience needs

Download a copy of The Ten CMDC Program Goals and their objectives

The assignments and activities listed in this syllabus reflect these goals and objectives and serve to assist students with reaching program goals.
Useful Texts

• Writing for Multimedia and the Web: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media
  Timothy Garrand. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2006. ISBN 0-240-80822-3
• Becoming a Digital Designer
  Steven Heller and David Womack. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, 2008. ISBN 978-0-470-04844-3
  The subtitle says it all: "A Guide to Careers in Web / Video / Broadcast / Game + Animation Design
• HTML for the World Wide Web with XHTML and CSS: Visual QuickStart Guide
  Elizabeth Castro. Sixth Edition. Peachpit Press, 2006. ISBN 0321430840
• Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
  Steve Krug. Second Edition. New Riders Press, 2000. ISBN 0789723107
• The Non-Designer's Web Book
  Robin Williams and John Tollett. Third Edition. Peachpit Press, 2005. ISBN 0321303377
• Copyright
  A straight-forward document prepared by the library staff. Features sources for public domain or "some rights reserved" visual, audio, and video media that you can use for your projects.
• Digital Storytelling
  Digital Storytelling is the practice of combing narrative with digital content, including images, sound, and video to create a narrative structure (movie, slide show, live performance) with a strong emotional component. This primer details seven things you should know about Digital Storytelling. A good, basic resource.
• Tutorial: Storyboard
  A straight-forward tutorial that shows how to use Microsoft Word to create a storyboard in which you can include both text and images.
• Strong Bad, "The English Paper"
  I do not recommend all the strategies suggested by Strong Bad, but, still, he makes some good points about effective communication.

Content

• "Four Fatal Errors of Web Writing . . ."
• "The Seven Qualities of Highly Successful Web Writing"
• "Words: The Last, Best Way to Differentiate Yourself Online"
• "Writing Well Online: Talent Isn't Enough"
• "Creative Content"

Design

• Mr. Picasso Head
  Create, save, and share your own Picasso-inspired portrait. A good way to start thinking about interactive design.
• Top Ten Mistakes in Web Design
  The ten most egregious offenses against users; the very worst mistakes of Web design. Compiled by usability expert Jakob Nielsen.

Typography

• Online
  • Typetester
    Test and compare various "web safe" type faces using this online tool
  
  
• Books/Print
  • Williams, Robin. The Non-Designer's Type Book. Second Edition. Peachpit Press, 2006. ISBN 0321303369

Visual Display of Information

• The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
  Edward R. Tufte. Cheshire, CN: Graphics Press, 1983.
• Envisioning Information
  Edward R. Tufte. Cheshire, CN: 1990.
• Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities
  Edward R. Tufte. Chesire, CN: Graphics Press, 1997.

Graphic Narrative Generators

• ImageTexT
  A web-based journal committed to advancing the academic study of comic books, comic strips, and animated cartoons (www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/)
• Comic Strip Creator
  Emphasis on structured dialog rather than free form image composition; two characters per panel maximum; Encourages blocking out dialog within constraints of context.
• Comic Strip Generator
  Library of character and object icons; Users arrange dialog with ease; Suggested uses: reproduction of movie scenes, illustrating song lyrics.

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