SM7107 - Web Design (2022/23)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2022/23 | ||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Web Design | ||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Computing and Digital Media | ||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2022/23(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module will provide students with a detailed understanding of the contexts and practice of internet publishing and will introduce them to the production of a website. The course will examine internet technologies and the production process. You will develop industry- ready skills to develop and design in the web and mobile industry.
The module aims to identify the nature of the web as a medium and introduces a range of design concepts. In particular it focuses on the key issues of usability and simplicity on the web and the implementation of web-based multimedia with the advent of broadband consumer networks. It also focuses on a range of technical skills including basic text formatting; working with images and interactive programming. This module aims to:
- To examine and evaluate the major technologies involved in website production.
- To enable students to design & produce a web design project which also works on mobile.
- To encourage innovative design of applications for web and mobile environments
- To gain experience of the techniques involved in web design within a professional context.
- To survey and critically analyse the methodologies, design conventions and technical considerations involved in web design
- To analyse current trends in usability, accessibility, technological change and experimental practice in web design, in the context of current social communications, design theory and practice.
Syllabus
The syllabus for this module covers theoretical and practice-based project work comprising the techniques and skills developed in the module. The module enables students to explore ideas about the nature of designing for the Internet and to develop in the field of web design practice. An indicative programme of study covers:
Key concepts: Analysis and discussion of research, debates and techniques relating to usability design and accessibility for both mobile and desktop applications. (LO1, LO2)
Visualisation: communicating design ideas through visualisation, text and presentation. (LO1, LO3)
Wireframing: proof-of-concept and prototyping. (LO3)
User-centred design: usability, user experience design, accessibility, and design heuristics (LO1, 2, 3)
Website design: the design process, opportunities and constraints that exist for the creation of web content. (LO2)
Design of mobile- ready websites: exploration of ideas and best practice for mobile design. (LO2)
Web coding and uploading: including the mark-up languages used to format web pages, the techniques involved in creating and checking code. (LO3)
Web Scripting: languages that are used to add content to web sites. (LO2)
Web Imagery: introduction to software for creating image-rich designs for the Web. (LO3)
Multimedia web integration: incorporation of multimedia objects into web pages. (LO3)
Industry Links: Development of understanding of legal issues in web design and development of employability skills in the context of design and production, technology and communication. (LO3)
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching methods include lectures and online interactive learning material, tutorials, seminar discussions, role-play activities and computer lab sessions. Students will be expected to attend lectures and take part into on-line activities as well as comment on their readings. The teaching and learning strategy will adopt a problem-solving and situated approach to expose students to real-life scenarios and digital media management briefs.
A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience. The VLE will be used as a platform to support online discussions, role-play and situated learning experiences and to facilitate formative assessment and related feedback as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by professional organisations and other relevant sources.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
- Research current trends in web and mobile design and communicate design ideas through online visualisation and documentation (LO1).
- Design and produce a website on a given theme compliant with web standards and current best practice in usability (LO2).
- Apply methodology, concepts, techniques and design contexts to the web design process. (L03)
Assessment strategy
1. Website & Mobile Project Outline
Students have to produce a minimum of 2000 word project document developing the pre-production documentation of a website in an industry of their choice. The subject of the website can be based on a real activity or it can be fictitious. The website project documentation must include user experience design work evidenced in appendices. The academic coursework must adhere to academic formatting conventions, as well as containing appendices evidencing preliminary website design work.
2. The Website and mobile presentation
Students have to present the web artefact and the predesign work outline to the class and take Q and A on their presentation and design process followed. Students need to evidence adherence to academic presentation formats and also independent research in the field of web design.
3. The Website and mobile design
Students have to produce the web and mobile artefact outlined in project 1. The website should conform to the rules of usability and accessibility, demonstrating a full understanding of web design best practice.