GDS 46

Web Design and Development 2 - Fall 25 - Section 78452


Aug. 23 - Week 1

Topics: Introduction to the class

Assignments and Basic Information

Additional Info

Review CSS and HTML Basics

Dreamweaver

CSS Shapes

Sept. 1 - Week 2

Topics: The Web Design Process and some review of Flexbox and CSS Positioning

Assignments

There is some review this week, as well as some new things. We'll be getting everybody up to speed on the Web Design Process, Flexbox, and CSS Positioning.

The Web Design Process
Flexbox
Multicolumn Layout
  • Optional: Check out Multicolumn Layout as another method of creating columns
    • The section of Learning Web Design on Multicolumn layout in about halfway through Chapter 19, and has information on this technique. You may have to search the online version of the chapter, since there are no page numbers.
    • There is also a full article here
    • This is a pretty easy way to make text flow into columns, and can come in handy
CSS Positioning and Floats
  • Optional: Review Ch. 16 of Learning Web Design on Floats and CSS Positioning if you do not feel comfortable with them. Float based layouts are not best practice anymore, but you MAY need to update a float based layout sometime, so it's good to know, and can still be used to wrap text around an image. Positioning is used in specific instances, although not usually for an entire layout. Do the exercises in Ch. 16 if you want to practice CSS Positioning, and if you have not already looked at these. These exercises are optional, and are not to be turned in. The information on float based layouts is for reference only.
CSS Shapes
Bio Project
  • Assignment: Complete the Bio Page Project
    • See more details here
    • Finish the wireframe if you haven't already.
      • Remember, you can turn them in by submitting an image of the wireframe, and putting a copy of your project in the Figma Team Bio Page Wireframes Project.
    • Here are example wireframes and other student work.
    • Extra credit if you use CSS Shapes on the assignment!
    • Don't forget to validate your assignment by checking the file at: http://validator.w3.org/ Click on Validate File by Upload near the top, and then click the browse button, locate your file, and submit. Make any corrections necessary so you get the happy, green, OK message.
    • To turn in assignments with multiple files or folders, it works best if you put all files in a folder and zip the folder. It is important to name your folder correctly BEFORE you zip it to send, so I know who's folder it is. Please name you folder like this firstname_lastname_assignX. Then when you zip the folder, I will know it is yours. Don't rename any files of folders inside your site folder before sending, as that will probably break things. To zip a folder on a PC, create the folder with your name on it like this firstname_lastname_assignX and put the files needed in it, then right click, select "send to," and finally "compresses (zipped) folder". On a mac, control click or right click on the folder and select compress. Remember to name the folder before compressing it, so I can see who's it is when it is uncompressed.
    • Drop the zip files into the drop box under the Projects module in Canvas.

Additional Info

Flexbox Resources

CSS Shapes

CSS Positioning Review

Very Optional Floats Review(For historical purposes only)

Sept. 8 - Week 3

Topics: Finishing Flexbox, Design Principals, Starting CSS Grid, Information Architecture and Photoshop Layer Comps

Assignments

Finish the Bio Project. Remeber, it's only 1 page :) Check the Calendar for Due dates.

Here are some more good videos on Flexbox, if you haven't seen them already
A little more Flexbox
  • Assignment:
    Watch the video on Cards with Flexbox - Duration 19:42
    • For this video, follow along with the video and recreate the page done in the video.
    • The start files are here
    • Drop your zipped site folder into the Canvas drop box in the Assignment module.
    • You can check the Canvas calendar for due dates.
Design Principals and Information Architecture
Getting started with an Introduction to CSS Grid - we will start using it more next week
Optional: Layer Comps in Photoshop
  • Optional: Check out this help page on Layer Comps in Photoshop
    • Layer comps can be good way to save multiple versions of a design in 1 file if you are using Photoshop.
Wireframing in Figma (for help with the Artist Project wireframes)

Here are some resources again on wireframing in Figma. These are also in the instructions pages in different places, but I thought I would link them again.

Artist Project

Additional Info

More Information Architecture (from GDS 072)
CSS Grid Resources
Other Resources and Links

Sept. 15 - Week 4

Topics: CSS Grid, Media Queries and Photoshop Art Boards

CSS Grid

Assignments

  • Assignment: Message Assignment: Log into Canvas, click on the discussions link and reply to the discussion "Well Designed Websites" with the URL of a site you think is well designed, and give us 3 reasons why. Also describe who you think the target audience is. Try to enter your first post by Friday, so everyone will have time to reply. Reply to 1 other person's post with your comment or opinion on their site by Monday.
Media Queries
Photoshop Art Boards
  • Watch the video on Design with Artboards in Photoshop from Adobe - Duration 3:57
    • Photoshop is still used sometimes to design pages, but Figma is more the standard now.
  • More videos in the Additional info section
Continue the Artist Project
  • See the requirements here
  • Don't procrastinate!
  • Wireframes are due soon. There are links on the project page to Figma(online app) and Sketch (mac only, unfortunately), which are popular design tools, that can also be used for wireframing. Figma would be great to use for the wireframes. If you use figma, you can share the wireframes with me instead of uploading them. You can share figma files by clicking the share button in the top right while in figma. See the video Introduction to Wireframing in Figma for tips on using figma.
    Here is the link to our Figma Team this semester. You should see a project there for Artist Project Wireframes.
  • Check the canvas Calendar for due dates.

Sept. 22 - Week 5

Topics: Figma and More CSS Grid

Assignments

Figma
  • Sign up for a Figma account if you haven't already.
    Use your Mission email address to sign up. It will be free :)
  • You can use figma for some things going forward like wireframes and/or comps.
  • Figma is covered extensively in GDS 072 Digital Imaging and User Interface Design, where there is a much more in depth look at it, and how it can be used for UI/UX. GDS 072 is part of our new User Experience and Interface Design Certificate.
  • New version. If you haven't seen one yet, watch the Introduction to Figma - 2024 - Duration 32:30
  • Figma does a great job of creating lots of video tutorials on how to use it. The Figma youtube channel is here. Take a look when you have time.
CSS Grid
Artist Project

Sept. 29 - Week 6

Topics: Responsive Web Design and More CSS Grid

Responsive Web Design

Assignments

Artist Project

Additional Info

Responsive Web Design
More CSS Grid Resources
Color in Design
Jobs

Oct. 6 - Week 7

Topics: More RWD Principals, Figma links, More CSS Grid, and Personal Project Intro

More Responsive Web Design

Links to resources and tutorials about Figma and Design

Assignments

  • This week, choose at least 1 of the following 2 exercises to do. If you do both, 1 will be extra credit. It's important to know the material in the RWD Principles and Layout exercise, but it may be mostly review for you. The Cards with CSS Grid exercise lets you apply some of the things you have been doing in other exercises with CSS Grid. It's important to know the material in both videos, even if you don't do both exercises.
  • Assignment:
    Watch the video RWD Principles and Layout - Duration 31:28
    • Note: This video covers some of the principals and techniques involved in responsive design, but there are many more. Obviously, flexbox, CSS Grid and other techniques also offer ways to make things 'responsive'
    • For this video, follow along with the video and recreate the page done in the video.
    • The start files are here
    • Drop your zipped site folder into the Canvas drop box in the Assignment module.
    • You can check the Canvas calendar for due dates.
  • Assignment:
    More cards! Watch the video Cards with CSS Grid - Duration 34:43
Start the Personal Project

Additional Info

More Responsive Web Design Resources
Tools that can be used for creating comps(or wireframes). You probably already know this, but...

Oct. 13 - Week 8

Topics: CSS Subgrid and Basic Responsive Images

Note: The Adobe Max online conference is happening soon or just happened, and it is free to watch the sessions. It has sessions on all areas of design. You can check out the Adobe Max Conference here.

Subgrid

Images and Responsive Images

Continue the Personal Project

Additional Info

More Subgrid resources
Responsive Images Articles
Tools that can be used for outputting images in multiple sizes and formats
Salaries and Jobs

Oct. 20 - Week 9

Topics: Container Queries and Advanced Responsive Images

Important Note: This Week, you can do EITHER the Container Queries Exercise OR the Advanced Responsive Images Exercise

Container Queries

  • Suggested Reading: Look at Ch. 3, "Media Queries and Container Queries" in the book "Responsive Web Design with HTML5 and CSS - Fourth Edition".
  • Important! This week, you can do Assignment Option 1 about Container Queries, which is fairly new, OR option 2 about Advanced Responsive Images. This is an older video, but is still accurate. I may add more material on Responsive Images later in the week.
  • Assignment Option 1(see above):
    Watch the video Container Queries - Duration 24:45
  • More Responsive Images

    • Optional: Images and File Types
      Duration 47:07
      • This would be good to look at if you don't feel like you know a lot about exporting images. This is s new, updated video from the beginning class, GDS 045.
      • The video shows how to export different types of images. Here are the files if you want to follow along.
    • Important! Check out Ch. 7 of Learning Web Design on adding images and the 3 other chapters 26-28 on Image Optimization, SVGs and more topics.   
      • Check out the section of Ch. 7 covering using SVG Images on pages, which is becoming very popular
        • Do Exercise 7-2 to practice using SVG Images if you wish
      • Ch. 26 covers Web Image Basics. You probably know a lot of this already, but check it out to make sure you are comfortable with all the details.
        • You could do the exercises in Ch. 26 for practice, but you do not have to turn them in.
      • Ch. 27 covers Image Asset Production and has more information about producing responsive images.
        • Do Exercise 27-1 to practice optimizing images, but you do not have to turn this in.
      • Ch. 25 covers SVGs in depth
      • Important! If you didn't already, make sure to look at the part of Ch. 19 in Learning Web Design on Responsive Image Markup.   You could do exercise 19.1 for practice, but you don't have to turn it in. This content is the subject of this weeks exercise.
    • Assignment Option 2 (see above):
      Watch the video Advanced Responsive Images - Duration 38:22
    Continue the Personal Project

    Additional Info

    Container Queries and Container Query units
    More Responsive Image Resources
    Using SVGs on the web
    Creating SVGs

    Oct.  27 - Week 10

    Topics: Responsive Typography, WebFonts, Responsive Navigation and Icon Fonts

    Responsive Typography

    Responsive Navigation

    Continue the Personal Project

    Additional Info

    Responsive Typography
    Responsive Navigation
    Icon Fonts
    Other Articles

    Nov. 3 - Week 11

    Topics: Bootstrap, Advanced Selectors, Git, Github, an extra credit project, and the Final Project! (Not all due at once ;)

    Bootstrap

    Advanced Selectors

    • Highly Suggested Reading: There is a lot of good information on advanced selectors in Ch. 6, CSS Selectors, Typography, and More in the book "Responsive Web Design with HTML5 and CSS - Fourth Edition".
    • Optional Exercise: Watch the video on Advanced Selectors - Duration 35:30
      • For this video, follow along with the video and recreate the page done in the video.
      • The start files are here
      • See Appendix C in Learning Web Design for a list of advanced selectors.
      • There is nothing to turn in for this optional exercise.
    • For beyond the basics information on selectors, check out the video CSS Selectors - beyond the very basics - Duration 18:46
    • Also from Kevin Powell, take a look at the video The new CSS pseudo-classes explained - :is() :where() :has() - Duration 13:49
      • These are even newer selectors
      • Some people call has() the parent selector. It's pretty cool stuff.
    • See more information and videos about advanced selectors in the Additional Info section

    Group Project

    • Start Group Project
    • Note: These dates are on various days of the week, not once a week on Mondays.
    • Also see the Canvas Calendar for due dates
    • There is a discussion in Canvas listing the team members. Please respond there to let me know who is filling the different roles on the team.
    Git and Github CAN be used during production of the Final Project

    Extra Credit Redesign Project

    Additional Info

    Bootstrap
    Accessibility
    Recommended tools for the Final Project
    • Figma
      • You could do both wireframes and comps in figma
    • Dropbox
      • Good for sharing large files
    • google docs
      • good for sharing text files and copy
    • monday
      • May be good for project management(haven't tried this one)
    Other Collaborative tools for Web Designers
    Advanced Selector Resources
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