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 DTC program and so is aligned with the 10 Program Goals. The specific goals this course is intended to meet, as well as the objectives for each of these goals are detailed below. Thus, in this course, students will learn to:

• Program Goal 3
  Employ the principles of visual form for sophisticated image manipulation
  • Course 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
  • Course 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
  • Course 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

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

Back to Top This course is envisioned as a discussion-workshop focusing on techniques and processes associated with content development for interactive multimedia and how one might assure the functionality of such content beyond front-end design. Specifically, this course explores the range of choices faced when designing for a range of contexts, big to small. Students are responsible for substantial weekly readings, engaged discussion of those readings and the concepts they inform, various in-class assignments, and assigned projects demonstrating their engagement and ability to work creatively with ideas explored in this course. To pass this course students are expected to attend and participate in a committed manner and complete all assignments satisfactorily. Further information about attendance, participation, and projects is provided below. Various projects will substitute for midterm and final exams.

NOTE: The assigned readings present a core body of knowledge. Serious students will read and explore further, both around and beyond, these topics throughout the semester in order to best prepare for their projects.

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• 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 See course syllabus

• 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

Back to Top Communication

• Dr. John's Eazy-Peazy Guides
  • Creative Ideas
    A series of "Idea Engines" to help spark creative, imaginative writing ideas, especially in your fiction or poetry writing contexts.
  • Effective Writing
    Ideas to help you improve the effectiveness, and power, of your writing.
  • Public Speaking
    Techniques to help you improve your public speaking skills.
  • Research Skills
    Techniques to help you improve your abilities to identify and locate information regarding topics of personal or professional interest.
• 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.

Downloads
Download the following documents to your computer.

• 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.
• Two sample proposals from previous classes
  • Proposal: Utopia
  • Proposal: Terraforming
• Two sample scripts from previous classes
  • Script: Utopia
  • Script: Underseas Cities

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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