Advanced Web Design
Course Description
Advanced web design is a continuation of Web Page Design & Implementation, which is a prerequisite for this course.
Students will study, in further detail, XHTML and CSS to ensure that they have a solid foundation. It will be assumed that students have a solid grasp of Photoshop and Illustrator, and their proper workflow integration with Dreamweaver. The course is focused on completing a web site, designing and building it, as well as writing all the content for the site. A portfolio site is not appropriate for the final project, and will not be acceptable.
Each student will choose an affiliate program(s) that is appropriate for their site. They will register with the affiliate program service, and practice effective content development with the goal of driving traffic to their site, and making income. Introduction to the uses of Javascript, Flash, and other technologies will be reviewed in this course.
Grading:
40% Web Design Project
30% Homework
20% Quiz
10% Class preparation/participation/attendance
Recommended text:
Styling With CSS, Charles Wyke-Smith, New Riders, ISBN-10:0-321-52556-6
CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards, Andy Budd, Friends of ED, ISBN-10: 1-59059-614-5
Class Outline
Class 1: Course description; affiliate programs; concept and design.
Homework: Conceptualize the project site. Write up a short description. Search for appropriate affiliate programs. Choose an appropriate url and purchase. Sign up for ISP service. Submit for homework.
Class 2: Class critique of urls and concepts for final project. Research, content development and keywords determination. Begin design process. Introduction to the c-panel admin interface. Set up email accts.
Homework: Create 3 alternate logos and interface designs for the project web site. Be prepared to present the designs and have questions looking for feedback. Submit for grade.
Class 3: Class critiques of web site designs. Create site architecture. Dreamweaver. Begin to build the web site. Begin to do research and write copy.
Homework: Site map, wireframes, finalized design. Submit for grade.
Class 4: Page layout. Understanding how elements are used to construct a page.
Homework: Build 3 different layouts of a page. Submit links for grade.
Class 5 The box model. Understanding how web pages are styled.
Homework: Begin to style pages with color, images, and Greeked text.
Class 6:The box model continued. Learning in detail how to position elements on a page.
Homework: Style pages with color, images, and Greeked text. Submit links for grade.
Class 7:SEO basics. Marketing copywriting. setting up analytics, targeted landing pages.
Homework: : Write list of keywords appropriate for site. Integrate keywords in copy for all pages on site. Submit for grade.
Class 8: CSS in depth. How the cascade works. Using selectors, styling tags, classes and IDs.
Homework: Complete exercises in CSS.
Class 9: Layout revisited. Fixed, liquid, elastic, and hybrid layouts.
Homework: Complete exercises in page layout. Submit links for grade.
Class 10: Introduction to blogs. Wordpress, design templates, tweaking the template. Blog best practices. RSS feeds.
Homework: Install Wordpress, choose and implement WordPress theme. Write a post. Study for Quiz.
Class 11: Quiz. Working with Tables.
Homework: Design and implement a formatted table.
Class 12: Creating Forms and implementing form validation scripts.
Homework: Design and implement a form (contact us page, or survey page)
Class 13: Introduction to Javascript and Flash actionscript.
Homework: Create an animated swf file and bring it into a page.
Class 14:Flash Continued: Interactivity, and loading swf objects. Introduction to Actionscripting. Working with audio and video in Flash.
Homework: Create a Flash object that has interactivity and function (e.g., Flash navigation system).
Homework: Complete project website.
Class 15: Class critique of students’ final project.