Credit Points: 15
Study Time: 150 Hours

This unit provides you with opportunities for creative development and examination of design for contemporary digital technologies. It will also provide you with an understanding of design concepts and methods to enable you to communicate information effectively within the multidisciplinary nature of designing for screen based media, and allow for opportunities to integrate other specialism's such as: film, photography and typography.

This unit will extend the professionalism gained and explore areas of promotion, identity and branding. You will develop your understanding of the needs of various audiences focusing on the user centred design, navigation and usability; as well as project management and the deployment of relevant digital technologies. This will broaden your understanding of design principles, contemporary cultural, social and ethical issues, as well as enhancing your visual processes.

Outline Syllabus
An indicative guide to the content covered by this unit.

• Effective communication of information with clear and intended purpose
• The use of contemporary interactive design in networking and culture, and the social and ethical issues involved
• The psychology and principles of user-centred and user-determined design within an interactive environment
• Hierarchy of information, text and visual elements
• Identity, branding and promotion
• Usability, navigation issues, accessibility
• Designing for the screen in relation to technical issues, such as bandwidth, colour, file formats, animation, sound and video
• Planning and structuring: linear and non-linear information
• Concept creation and development: interface design
• Creation of a working website

Method of Delivery
Study notes, critiques, workshops, tutorials and demonstrations.

Aims

A1 To understand the characteristics of contemporary screen based culture and design.
A2 To understand the current state of technology in relation to screen based design and production.
A3 To develop analytical skills, organisational skills and creative ability in order to express ideas and communicate information interactively.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Demonstrate your awareness of the characteristics and elements surrounding screen based media in relation to contemporary culture and the user experience.
LO2 Demonstrate your understanding of the technical issues relating to screen based design and production.
LO3 Demonstrate your ability to organise and structure creative interactive designs for the screen.

Reference Material

Key
McLuhan, M; Fiore, Q; Agel, J (2001) The Medium is the Massage, Gingko Press
Fletcher, A. (2001) The Art of Looking Sideways, Phaidon Press Ltd
Barnard, M. (2005) Graphic Design as Communication, Routledge
Malamed, C. (2009) Visual Language for Designers: Principles for Creating Graphics That People Understand, Rockport Publishers
Baggerman, L. (2000). Design for interaction. Rockport, MA: Rockport
Burnet, R. (2004). How images think. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
Garrett, J. (2002). The elements of user experience. Indianapolis: New Riders
Kress, G. and van Leeuwen, T. (2001). Multimodal discourse: the modes and media of contemporary communication. London: Arnold

Recommended
Krug, S (2000). Don't make me think!: a common sense approach to web usability. New Riders
Bennett, A. (2006) Design Studies: Theory and Research in Graphic Design, Princeton Architectural Press
Armstrong, H. (2009) Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field, Princeton Architectural Press
Leborg, C. (2006) Visual Grammar, Princeton Architectural Press
Macdonald, N. (2002). What is web design. London: Rotovision

Magazines and Journals
Communication Arts // Creative Review // Digit // Eye Magazine // Graphik // Visible Language // .net