Assignments

1. Your First Website
2. Digital Imaging
3. Class Presentation
4. Content Submission
5. Web Proposal
6. Web Production

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1. Your 1^st Website (2 per cent)
Create a simple website that introduces yourself to me and the rest of the class. Remember that this is a public page, so you'll want to keep out any stuff that you don't want everyone to know. This page should have three links to your favourite websites, the MIT 220 logo, and that logo should be linked back to the class website. This is where we will post assignment 2, 3, and 4.

2. Introductory Imaging (13 per cent)
Text as graphics A. Create a graphical element that is both visual and textual (the word is analogous to its meaning). The text should be legible as the main element of the graphic, and it should be web-ready - 72 dpi, with file sizes no larger than 16k. Pick phrases or words from this interview with William Gibson, the author who coined the term "cyberspace". (3 per cent)
(There are tips in the photoshop section.)

Image as content. B&C. Design two graphical elements from photographic sources. These should be graphical interface images or potential links. Create elements that are part of a theme for an imaginary website; each should not exceed 10k in size (at 72 dpi). Include a short (two sentence) description of the website's purpose, and a few words about each graphic. (10 per cent)
(There are tips in the photoshop section.)

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3. Class Presentation (15 per cent)
Research and present a short 10-minute presentation on one web site that you think is excellent. Look at what its communication goals are, and how well it meets those goals. Examine how the site is structured, how the navigation works, and how easy it is to use. Is the appropriate level of technology applied? Is it aesthetically pleasing? Tell us who owns the site, and how easy it is to find on the web, ie., is it well-publicized? Post a short 2 page outline of your findings to your website. You will be responsible for signing up for your time.

4. Content Submission (15 per cent)
Write some content on a subject of your interest -- this subject will be the basis of your web site. You should approach this as the beginning of your site production. You can use the opportunity to write a background piece about the topic: the historical, cultural, political, conceptual contexts as they may relate to your ideas. Or, you can use this opportunity to write the copy for a section or two of the website that you'd like to produce. NOTE: do not describe the website to me in detail; you will do that in assignment five. Include links to potential web site resources (for images and information) no matter what kind of paper you are producing. Papers should be about 750 words (three to five pages, and typed in 12 pt Courier, Helvetica, Times Roman or similar typeface, please), and presented in a web friendly format. Submit the paper as hard copy, and make sure your name, student number and the class name is on each page. Bonus marks: Post the paper on your website in a web friendly writing format before the due date for an additional 5 percent on your paper's mark.

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5. Web Proposal (20 per cent)
To complete this assignment, you will use the following process:

• write communications plan
• figure out what content your site will have, and arrange it in a reasonable architecture
• translate that architecture into an exact file structure
• create sketches of how you think the main sections of the site will be laid out.

At this point you can also decide on the design/navigational elements and consider the overall tone, colour, and layout. This is your best chance to get the site right -- it should be fully planned before you begin creating it. Hand in your communications plan (two pages, point form), the site map (or blueprint), the content map (including as much content as you have already gathered), visual elements that you have and page layout ideas -- also referred to in class as 'storyboards' or "sketches".

6. Web Production (30 per cent)
Produce the site that you have designed and proposed. Keep in mind everything discussed in class, and any suggestions that have been made by either me or the class. Check to ensure the links are not broken and get your peers to Beta test the site. See if there are potential links among your peers' websites to be included in the final class site. See the complete list of marking criteria for this final project.

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