GDS 45 - Web Design and Development 1 - Online
Weekly Instructions
Fall 2024 - Section 76205
- Check due dates on the calendar in Canvas
- The course is here in Canvas:
https://wvm.instructure.com/courses/59099 - See the links sidebar on this page for Canvas and online learning related links.
- If you have general questions, ask them in the discussion forum in Canvas.
- Here is a direct link to the Learning Web Design book on Oreilly Learning.
- All book related files can be downloaded from http://www.learningwebdesign.com/
- Here is a direct link to the The Principles of Beautiful Web Design book on Oreilly Learning.
- Here is a link to the help files for many versions of Photoshop.
- Here are the instructions for obtaining a free Safari Books online account.
Aug. 26 - Week 1 - Unit 1 - Instructions:
Introductions
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Important Note: Some of the material is optional, extra credit, or highly suggested, for those who may have more time to get into things. I will indicate whether something is optional, extra credit, or highly suggested on the individual items. If an item is NOT marked optional, extra credit, or highly suggested, you can assume it is required. SOME of the material from highly suggested items and optional items MAY show up on quiz.
That being said, I want you to get what YOU want out of the class!
Please post questions in the Question discussion forum if you have questions about individual items. Thanks. It will be fun, I promise :) - Please let me know if you find broken links to exercise files, etc. Thanks!
- Note: If you have not done this already, try to figure out a regular(maybe daily)time when you can work on the class. It can help in online classes. Procrastinating is not advised ;)
There are some other good tips for online learning here at
8 STRATEGIES FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF AN ONLINE CLASS - Login to Canvas (https://wvm.instructure.com) and download the syllabus in Canvas from the class home page near the top if you don't have it.
- Watch the video orientation. The current syllabus will be slightly different from the one in the video. You can watch this one on high speed playback if you want ;)
- If they are not linked on this page, most of the videos are also listed on the video tutorials page here.
- The video mentions using Brackets and VS Code for coding, and most videos use one of the other. You CAN us what you want, but You probably want to use VS Code instead, which is becoming sort of a standard. You will see a video on VS Code below.
- See the class links sidebar on this page for Canvas and online learning related links.
- Read the General Class Information in Canvas (https://wvm.instructure.com). It may be slightly different than the video or syllabus.
- Please let me know if you are confused or having trouble with the material. Your first option is to post in the question discussion forum in Canvas. Click on Discussions on the left in Canvas to find the forum. If your question is more personal, you can message me through Canvas (https://wvm.instructure.com), by logging in, clicking on the class, clicking on the inbox link on the left, and creating a message. It's like email inside the class.
- Generally Mon 10:30AM - 12:00PM, online and in GC321B, and Thursdays 11:00AM – 1:00PM online only. Here is the link to optional office hours. It's also on the Home Page for the class in Canvas. You can talk to me live at those times to ask questions, etc.
- Assignment: Post in the Introductions discussion forum in Canvas. Give a short introduction to yourself, and about your expectations for the class. You can find the discussion forum under the Discussions link on the left or the Week 1 module under the Modules link. I will check this to verify you are in the class. Make sure to reply to the post as soon as possible to avoid being dropped.
- Assignment - Please take the opening day survey in the week 1 module in Canvas.
- There is tutoring for some of our classes if you need it.
- You can see more information about signing up here.
- The tutoring schedule should be posted there shortly after the start of the semester
- We do use photoshop a bit in the class. See the syllabus for more options, but as far as I know at this time, the best deal for the complete Adobe CC can currently be found for $50/semester at http://store.collegebuys.org/
- Please let me know if you do not have adequate computer hardware, internet access, or can't afford the $50 for the Adobe software.
- If you ordered Adobe Creative cloud from collegebuys.org, there is a pdf with instructions on accessing your account in the Content Links Module, and the Week 1 Module in Canvas. It is also here.
- Check out the file Day 1 Terms here and in the week 1 module.
- Important! Watch the video Web Design and Development Technical Terms - Duration 17:07
- This video will talk about some of the important items from the Day 1 Terms above.
- Highly suggested: Read Chapter 1 in Learning Web Design. You should be able to get FREE ACCESS to the books from Oreilly Safari Books Online. See below.
- Optional Video: Intro to Visual Studio Code.- Duration 28:38
The first assignment below also has the basics of using VSCode, so this video is optional. This one has a bit more information on using VSCode code, which is the text editor I would suggest using to make your pages. You CAN use other editors though. - Here is another short video on getting started with Visual Studio Code called Learn Visual Studio Code in 7min (Official Beginner Tutorial) - Duration 7:16
- Watch the short video Using the W3C validator to check HTML - Duration 5:55.
- Assignment 1 - First Page: Create your first web page by watching the video GDS45 Assign1 - Creating a Basic Web Page (Duration 1:03:27). Note: Some videos will be on youtube and others will be in Panopto as we transition to Panopto.
Here is the link to the same Assignment 1 video on youtube, in case MC-Panopto is causing you problems. It was down sometime on Thursday- You should use VS Code to do the coding in the class. You can download VS Code here. You should probably use VS Code on all the future exercises since it is becoming very popular, although technically you could use ANY text editor for the exercises. The videos were made with a variety of editors, but remember that the code is the same, no matter what editor you use.
- Please recreate the page exactly. In later assignments, you will have more creative freedom.
- Before you send me your files, always make sure to check your file for errors by submitting it to the W3C validation service at:
http://validator.w3.org/. Click on Validate File by Upload near the top, then click the browse button, locate your file, and submit. It will point out some coding errors, if you have any. Another thing to do is to view the code source in Firefox(PC:control-U/Mac:command-u). Mistakes will often show up there in red text. Make sure to check out the video Using the W3C validator to check HTML - After correcting any mistakes, submit your final file. Drop the file in the Assignment drop box in Canvas in the weekly module in Canvas. Include your name in the file name as in firstname_lastname_page1.html.
- Check the calendar for due dates.
- Have fun!
Sept. 2 - Week 2 - Unit 2 - Instructions:
Block and Inline Tags
- NEW! Watch Web Design Terms and Conventions 1 - Duration 16:43. It covers some important basics related to Web Design.
- Highly suggested: Take a look at Chapters 2 and 3 in Learning Web Design. If you have time to read it, that would be great, but it's good to know the basics, at least, of what's in the Chapters. Do the Ch. 4 exercises for practice if you wish. You do not have to turn these in.
- Read the pages in the short section in CH. 1 in the Principles of Beautiful Web Design on the Design Process. If you are reading the online version, you can read up until the "Defining Good Design" heading.
- Optional: Take a look at this video on the web design process and this page from GDS46 Web Design and Development 2 on the Web Design Process(youtube video).
- Optional: Take a look at this page on HTML5 Semantic Elements.
- Optional: Videos: Watch Section 1 in What Makes a Good User Experience from the course User Experience for Web Design (these links may not be right depending on what city or county library you are using) on LinkedIn Learning.
- You should be able to get free access to these videos through many of the local City or County Libraries.
- Once you get access, Search for User Experience for Web Design.
- Here is the link to get a library eCard from Santa Clara County Library, so you can access these videosLinks to an external site.
- If you are outside Santa Clara County, check your local County library for how to get access to online resources(Although it is pretty easy to get a library card from Santa Clara County Library, as long as you have a local address you can use(That is a hint ;)
- Here is the link to the Linkedin Learning instructions for Santa Clara County LibraryLinks to an external site.- You have to scroll down a bit.
- Here is the link to the LinkedIn Learning instructions for San Mateo County Library
- Highly Suggested: Take a look at these articles on Information Architecture and the UX Process.
- Assignment 2 - Block and Inline Tags: Create your second web page by watching the Semantic Markup with Block and Inline Tags video tutorial. Please recreate the page exactly. It has a LOT of information in it, and is a little long because of that, so feel free to stop in the middle somewhere and do it in phases.
- Here are the files to start with.
- You can use VS Code to make this file.
- There is an image of the code in the Canvas module for this week, in case you want to compare your code to code in the video. Don't just copy the code from the image though, as you will miss a LOT of information :)
- Don't forget to validate as you did with assignment 1 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.
- Drop your file in the Assignment 2 drop box. Name the file page2.htm with your name in the file name as in firstname_lastname_page2.html.
- Check the calendar for due dates.
Important note on the videos: Most videos and files are in html5, while some might occasionally be in XHTML. It's a good idea to know both syntaxes, since you will see both on the web and both are viable. They are not all that different. Check out page 761 of Learning Web Design for xhtml markup requirements. This is in Appendix D for those using the online version of the book.
Sept. 9 - Week 3 - Unit 3 - Instructions: More Terms and Convention, Lists, CSS Styles and Colors
- Highly Suggested: Look at Chapters 4 and 5 in Learning Web Design. It is about basic tags for text. There is information related to the exercise this week. Do the Ch. 5 exercises for practice if you wish. You do not have to turn these in.
- Highly Suggested: Read the rest of Chapter 1(you already read pages 1-7) and Ch. 2 of The Principles of Beautiful Web Design. They are about layout and color.
- Watch Web Design Terms and Conventions 2 - Duration 14:03. It covers some important basics related to Web Design.
- Highly suggested: Check out this site on Accessibility for Designers. Accessibility is very important, often deals with making sites easier to "see" for the vision impaired, and is mandatory on some some sites, such as government sites. Also see the section on "ONE WEB FOR ALL (ACCESSIBILITY)" in Chapter 3 of Learning Web Design.
- Highly suggested: Review pages 303-315 in Learning Web Design about color and the hexadecimal system. You can search for it in Ch. 13 if you are looking at the online version of the book. A bit of the same material is in Ch.2 of The principles of Beautiful Web Design.
- Watch the video on Color and Color Schemes - Duration 20:29.
The sites below are in the video.- https://color.adobe.com
- This is a cool color picker and theme collection from adobe.
- https://coolors.co/
- http://colormind.io/
- http://colorschemedesigner.com/
- https://color.adobe.com
- Highly Suggested Videos: Watch more of Section 1 in What Makes a Good User Experience from the course User Experience for Web Design (these links may not be right depending on what city or county library you are using) on LinkedIn Learning.
- You should be able to get free access to these videos through many of the local City or County Libraries.
- Once you get access, Search for User Experience for Web Design.
- Here is the link to get a library eCard from Santa Clara County Library, so you can access these videosLinks to an external site.
- If you are outside Santa Clara County, check your local County library for how to get access to online resources(Although it is pretty easy to get a library card from Santa Clara County Library, as long as you have a local address you can use(That is a hint ;)
- Here is the link to the Linkedin Learning instructions for Santa Clara County LibraryLinks to an external site.- You have to scroll down a bit.
- Here is the link to the LinkedIn Learning instructions for San Mateo County Library
- Watch the short video Using the W3C validator to check HTML - Duration 5:55.
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Assignment 3 - Lists: Create a web page by watching the Lists, Styles, Colors and More video tutorial.
- Here are the files you need to start with.
- For this assignment, please recreate the page exactly. In later assignments, you will have more creative freedom. Drop your files into the Assignment 3 drop box. Don't forget to include the bullet3.png file with your submission. If you forget, I won't see it.
- To turn in assignments with multiple files or folders, it works best if you put all files in a folder and zip the folder. There is a picture of the files panel in the start files, with the 3 files you should submit in 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 where X is the assignment number. Then when you zip the folder, I will know it is yours.
- Make sure to validate your files BEFORE you send them at:
http://validator.w3.org/
This will affect your grades, as I will do it too, and see if you have any errors that show up. - Here is a short video on Using the W3C validator to check HTML.
- Check the calendar for due dates.
- Don't forget to zip your folder with your files. To zip the folder: 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.
Sept. 16 - Week 4 - Unit 4 - Instructions:
Web Design Mistakes, CSS Fundamentals and a Basic Layout
- Again, there is a LOT of extra credit available. This is important content that would be valuable for everybody, but I don't want to overload anyone who has challenges with the time they have available. I do want those who have the time to be able to practice more things. Hopefully everyone gets what they need and want :)
- Note: Make sure to check the calendar for due dates. Assignments should also show up under your To Do list on the canvas home page. Also, I usually finish grading within a week after the due date, often earlier, so check the grade book for grades and comments periodically. You may get notifications on grades too, depending on your Canvas settings.
- Mission College tutoring is now online for some classes(if you have other classes). There is no tutor for this specific class this Summer, but I am available for no added fee ;)
- You hopefully should see the Summer 2024 MC Tutoring course card on your Canvas dashboard soon.
- You can see more information about signing up here.
- Highly suggested:Reading this week(I know I listed a lot, but do what you can when you have time):
- Important! Take a look at Ch. 11 of Learning Web Design for an intro to CSS.
- Take a good look at Chapters 1 and 2 of The Principles of Beautiful Web Design. They are about layout and color.
- For more detail and background, review Chapters 4 and 5 in Learning Web Design. Chapter 5 covers many of the text tags we have been using.
- Watch the video on Web Design Mistakes(youtube video) - Duration 15:52. Some of the featured awesome websites are linked below.
- Highly suggested: Check out these example bad websites for things not to do.
- Assignment: Find a website you think is poorly designed and talk about why you think it is poorly designed. Post/reply under the forum Poorly Designed Websites in the weekly module in Canvas. Try to post your first post by Friday, then comment on posts about websites posted by other students by the due date. Please don't use the first 2 sites above. Please to reply to someone who has no replies yet.
- Optional: Watch the video on HTML5 Semantic Elements. There is no assignment associated with this video, but the information could come up later...hint, hint ;)
- Optional: Learning Web Design exercises 11-1 and 11-2: Complete Exercises 11-1 and 11-2 from Learning Web Design. You do not have to turn this exercise in, but you do need the information for later assignments. All book related files can be downloaded from http://www.learningwebdesign.com
- Here are some good online references for CSS
- Assignment 4 - Simple 1 Column HTML Template Follow along and create the page in the video Simple 1 Column HTML Template - Duration 31:04. You can also use the file you create as a starting point for some later assignments. Don't forget to validate your file before you turn it in! http://validator.w3.org/
- Important! For this assignment, you start with the ending file from the lists exercise, probably from last week. If you do not have that file, because a dragon ate your computer, there is an image of the code to start with in the Canvas Module for this week. About the first 5 minutes of the video is adapting the file from the lists video to a starting point for the template in this video. You're best bet is to start with what you did in the lists video, however.
- Important!:
Add one heading and one extra paragraph after the Lipsum text about something fun you did over the Summer. Use at least an H2 tag, the p tag, and the strong tag. - To turn in the assignment:
- To turn in assignments with multiple files or folders, it works best if you put all files in a folder and zip the folder. Canvas has changed how I receive files from students in submissions that are zipped. Because of this, 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 where X is the assignment number. Then when you zip the folder, I will know it is yours.
To zip the folder: 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 your zipped files into the Assignment drop box.
- Check due dates on the calendar in Canvas.
- Important! For this assignment, you start with the ending file from the lists exercise, probably from last week. If you do not have that file, because a dragon ate your computer, there is an image of the code to start with in the Canvas Module for this week. About the first 5 minutes of the video is adapting the file from the lists video to a starting point for the template in this video. You're best bet is to start with what you did in the lists video, however.
Sept. 23 - Week 5 - Unit 5 - Instructions:
Color, Links, and File Paths
The videos below from LinkedIn Learning have been updated.
- Highly Suggested Videos: Watch Section 2 from the course User Experience for Web Design (these links may not be right depending on what city or county library you are using) on LinkedIn Learning.
- You should be able to get free access to these videos through many of the local City or County Libraries.
- Once you get access, Search for User Experience for Web Design.
- Here is the link to get a library eCard from Santa Clara County Library, so you can access these videosLinks to an external site.
- If you are outside Santa Clara County, check your local County library for how to get access to online resources(Although it is pretty easy to get a library card from Santa Clara County Library, as long as you have a local address you can use(That is a hint ;)
- Here is the link to the Linkedin Learning instructions for Santa Clara County LibraryLinks to an external site.- You have to scroll down a bit.
- Here is the link to the LinkedIn Learning instructions for San Mateo County Library
- Highly suggested: Watch the video RGB and RGBa Color. There is no assignment to turn in for this video.
The file in the lessons module on Color using the hexadecimal color or RGB, and background color transparency goes along with the video. Also look at CH. 13 and specifically page 271 of the printed version of Learning Web Design for a description of RGBa, which can be used to make your background colors partially transparent. Search for RGBa in the online version of the book. - Highly suggested: Reading this week: Review Chapters 6 in Learning Web Design on links. It will help on the links assignment.
- Assignment 5 - Links and File Paths: Create 2 web pages by watching the Linking Web Pages video. Recreate the site exactly as the one in the video. Chapter 6 in Learning Web Design also can help.
Here are the start files you can use. You might notice that the files are similar to Assignment 4, but I'm hoping you do that one first :)
Name the files and folders as in the video. The names of your files and folders must match the names in your links, or the links will not work. Always make sure to check your file for errors by submitting it to the W3C validation services at http://validator.w3.org/.
- To turn in the assignment:
- Before you zip the folder with your files, test the site before you send it make sure all the links work.
- To turn in assignments with multiple files or folders, it works best if you put all files in a folder and zip the folder. Canvas has changed how I receive files from students in submissions that are zipped. Because of this, it is important to name your folder correctly BEFORE you zip it to send, so I know who's folder it is. Please name your folder like this firstname_lastname_assignX where X is the assignment number. Then when you zip the folder, I will know it is yours.
To zip the folder: 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 your zipped files into the Assignment drop box.
- Check due dates on the calendar in Canvas.
- Highly suggested: Check out this page on using the html 5 figure and figcaption tags to place a caption next to an image. Using these tags also gives you more tags to use as hooks for CSS styles. Click the Try it Yourself link near the top to see it in action.
You can see another example here. - Extra Credit this term: Start Assignment 6 - Resume or Reading Summary. There are examples in the weekly module.
Full requirements and instructions listed here.
Soon we will be seeing how to add images, so you will know how to do that. This is a good chance to practice some of the things we have been doing in the follow along exercises. Check due dates on the calendar. This exercise will be worth 12.5 points extra credit this term :)
If you have general questions, ask them in the discussion forum in Canvas. - Don't forget, if you have questions, or just interesting links or observations, post them in the discussion forum in Canvas. It is part of your grade ;)
Sept. 30 - Week 6 - Unit 6 - Instructions: CSS Locations and Images
- Look over this page that talks about the 3 places you can put CSS styles
- Inline - by using the style attribute inside HTML elements
- Internal - by using a <style> element in the <head> section
- External - by using a <link> element to link to an external CSS file
- Optional: For more information on where to put CSS styles, watch at least the first 5:10 of the video on Locations for CSS and basic selectors. This will show you where you can put CSS, including external CSS files. It can also help with the assignment with external style sheets. There is no assignment to turn in for this video. It should be a bit of a review... mostly.
-
Highly suggested: Watch the video on Basic CSS Selectors - Duration 26:48. You do NOT have to do the follow-along part of the exercise, but you can if you want to. Use this start file which has much of the code for the page(right click to download) if you want to do the follow along exercise.
- Check out this page on image file formats.
- Optional: Here is a video on Images and File Types, which goes over the image file types above, and how to export them, etc. You will see this video again later as an exercise, but you can check it out now if you have time.
- Highly suggested: Look at Chapters 7 and 23-25 of Learning Web Design for more detail on working with images.
- Highly suggested: Look at Chapter 24 of Learning Web Design for more detail on optimizing images.
- Do exercises 24-1 and 24-2 to practice image optimization.
- You do not have to turn these in.
- Optional: Check out this page on scanning if you don't feel comfortable with scanning.
- Optional: Here is a video on scanning that might help too.
- Optional: Check out this page with a salary guide put out by The Creative Group. It has information about salaries for designers and developers. You can make money doing this stuff!
- Highly suggested: Watch the short video: Exporting from Bridge Using the Export Panel - Quick Tip This is another way to export images to use on pages.
- Extra Credit this term: Finish Assignment 6 - Resume or Reading Summary. There are examples in the weekly module.
Full requirements and instructions listed here. The requirements were updated with links to a video about putting images on your page. Check due dates on the calendar.- Make sure to zip the whole site folder to attach to your submission. Don't submit separate files, because the links will probably not work. This exercise will be worth 12.5 points extra credit this term :)
- If you have general questions, ask them in the discussion forum in Canvas.
- Assignment 7 - Background Images: Recreate the page in the video by watching the video Background Images video - Duration 33:08.
- Recreate the page like the one in the video, although you can use a different image than the one in the video.
- Chapter 7 in Learning Web Design also can help.
- Make sure to start with the valid template page from Assignment 4, with corrections made if needed.
- Create the folder structure you see in the sidebar in VSCode from the video. Basically, you make 3 folders inside your assignment folder. See the video for details.
- Of course, always make sure to check your files for errors by submitting it to the W3C validation services at http://validator.w3.org/.
- To turn in the assignment:
- Before you zip the folder with your files, test the site before you send it make sure everything works, and validate the pages to catch errors.
- Remember, to turn in assignments with multiple files or folders, it works best if you put all files in a folder and zip the folder. Also remember to name your folder correctly BEFORE you zip it to send, so I know who's folder it is. Please name your folder like this firstname_lastname_assignX where X is the assignment number. Then, when you zip the folder, I will know it is yours.
To zip the folder: 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 your zipped files into the Assignment drop box.
- Check due dates on the calendar in Canvas.
- Optional this week:Watch the video on Basic Inline Images - Duration 34:10
- This video can help with the optional image portion of Assignment 6 (extra credit). You will see it again later too.
- The part of the video about the code used to insert an inline image is here.
Oct. 7 - Week 7 - Unit 7 - Instructions: Text Formatting, Image Preparation and Background Images
- Highly suggested: Read Ch. 3 in The principles of Beautiful Web Design on texture.
- Highly suggested: Be familiar with the information in Chapters 11 and Chapter 12 of Learning Web Design. They have more information on CSS and using CSS to format text.
- Optional: For practice, complete Exercises 12-1 through 12-6 from Learning Web Design. They are related to using selectors and formatting text which we covered. You do not have to turn in these files.
- Highly suggested: Watch the video on CSS for Text Formatting - Duration 35:34. You do NOT have to do the follow-along part of the exercise, but you can if you want to. Use this start file which has much of the code for the page(right click to download) if you want to do the follow along exercise. This video has valuable information about text formatting, some of which might end up on a quiz :|
Here is a finished version of the file, so you can see how to use CSS to format text(right click to download). - Highly suggested:Watch the video What is UI vs. UX Design? - Duration 5:44
- Assignment 8 - Basic Inline Images: Recreate the page in the video by watching the video Basic Inline Images video - Duration 34:10.
- Recreate the page like the one in the video, although you can use a different image than the one in the video.
- As with the background images video, chapter 7 in Learning Web Design also can help.
- Make sure to start with the finished Background Images exercise file. If you don't have it for some reason, there is an image of the code in the Canvas module for this week.
- Of course, always make sure to check your files for errors by submitting it to the W3C validation services at http://validator.w3.org/.
- Turn in the assignment the same way you turned in the Background Images exercise:
- Before you zip the folder with your files, test the site before you send it make sure everything works, and validate the pages to catch errors.
- Remember, to turn in assignments with multiple files or folders, it works best if you put all files in a folder and zip the folder. Also remember to name your folder correctly BEFORE you zip it to send, so I know who's folder it is. Please name your folder like this firstname_lastname_assignX where X is the assignment number. Then, when you zip the folder, I will know it is yours.
To zip the folder: 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 your zipped files into the Assignment drop box.
- Check due dates on the calendar in Canvas.
- Do one or both of the following exercises (9 and/or 10) for extra credit.
If you do both, you will get some more extra credit! Is that extra, extra credit? :) You don't have to do these, but you should know how to position background images and optimize images.- Assignment 9 - Image preparation and optimization: Clean up and optimize the image_processing_start.psd image by following the procedure in the video Processing and Exporting an Image. The original image is here and in this week's lessons module. It will not display in Canvas, but you can click on the filename to download. Here is the webpage in the video with some general steps, but follow the order in the video. Drop your finished, optimized, image file into the Assignment drop box. You only need to submit the regular, full size optimized file, image_processing_2.jpg, from the video, not the smaller .5x version or the PSD file. Check due dates on the calendar.
- Assignment 10 - Background Images:
Watch and follow along with the video on Background image placement to recreate the page. Download the start files here. Be sure to include all image files with your submission, or it will not show up on my end. The images will not show up for me unless you send it along with your html files. See page 324 of Learning Web Design for more information. Drop your files into the Assignment drop box. Even if you don't do this one, you should know the material. You may just want to watch it even if you don't do this one. Check due dates on the calendar. - Again, you can do 9 OR 10, but you can do both for more extra credit! There is one Assignment in Canvas where you can put one or both exercises. If you do both, put them both in the same zipped folder. If you don't do them, you should at least know the material somewhat. Thanks.
- Assignment 9 - Image preparation and optimization: Clean up and optimize the image_processing_start.psd image by following the procedure in the video Processing and Exporting an Image. The original image is here and in this week's lessons module. It will not display in Canvas, but you can click on the filename to download. Here is the webpage in the video with some general steps, but follow the order in the video. Drop your finished, optimized, image file into the Assignment drop box. You only need to submit the regular, full size optimized file, image_processing_2.jpg, from the video, not the smaller .5x version or the PSD file. Check due dates on the calendar.
- Highly suggested: Review Chapters 7, 23 and 24 of Learning Web Design. They have more information on web graphics and how to optimize them.
- Assignment - Discussion:
Find a site on the web that uses background images or video in an interesting, creative way. In the discussion forum in the weekly module, post the URL of the site by Thursday, and tell us why you think it is interesting. Also comment on a site posted by someone else by Monday. Try to reply to someone who has no replies yet if you can. The discussion forum is called "Sites with interesting use of background images".
Oct. 14 - Week 8 - Unit 8 - Instructions: CSS Box Model and Flexbox
- Important! Watch the video on the CSS Box Model.
Here are the files if you want to follow along. It will help with layout, borders, etc. , and there may be quiz questions based on it :( - Highly suggested: Be familiar with the information in Chapter 14 of Learning Web Design. It has more information on the CSS box model.
- Optional: Complete Exercises 14-1 through 14-3 from Learning Web Design. They are related to the CSS box model and borders. You do not have to turn in these files, but will help a lot on later assignments.
- Optional: Check out Adobe Max videos. This conference has a lot of content on using Adobe software.
- Check out this page using opacity. View the source to see how it works.
- Optional: Check out this page using attribute selectors. View the source to see how it works.
- Highly suggested:Be familiar with Ch. 13 of Learning Web Design. It covers more selectors, gradient backgrounds, opacity, and other goodies. Pay special attention to the Opacity attribute on page 315 of the print version and the Attribute Selectors on page 323 of the print version.
- Important! Check out the first half of CH. 16 in Learning Web Design on Flexbox. We will be using flexbox going forward for layout. Look at Exercise 16-1 for an example of using flexbox to create a navigation bar. We will also use it on Assignment 12 below. You will see more content later on flexbox, but it will be good to start learning it now.
- You can also take a look at A Complete Guide to Flexbox, which lot of people use to help with knowing how it works and all the possibilities.
- Important! Watch the video on Introduction to Flexbox - Duration 22:36
There is nothing to tun in for this one, but it has important basic information on flexbox, which we will spend some time on. - Assignment 11 - Two Column Layout with flexbox: Watch the video on Simple 2 Column Responsive Layout with Flexbox
Here are the start files (right click to download). Recreate the page in the video using the start file. You can use the finished version of this exercise or the basic 2 column layout exercise as a start for Assignment 13. Make sure to validate HTML and CSS. Drop your files into the Assignment drop box. (Check due dates on the calendar.)- Optional Video: Here is an older version of this exercise creating a 2 column layout with floats. This is no longer the preferred technique, but you may run into sites still on the web using floats for layout.
- Don't forget to include the normalize file that is linked in the head of the start file. Here is a zip with the start file and the normalize file.
- Assignment: Take the Midpoint Survey in the weekly module
- Optional: Watch the video on Tables : Create a web page like the one in the video lecture by watching the video tutorial Tables and Practice with Background Images. You can use the image shown in the video for background images, or one of your own. Download the image to use for the exercise here. Always make sure to validate on http://validator.w3.org/ and http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/. This exercise is optional, but some of the information may be on the final. There is nothing to turn in for this assignment.
- Here are some example tables in codepen that you can play with. This wold be good to at least look at.
- Codepen is a way to try out and share code in a browser. If you sign up for a free account, you can fork other pens to save to your own collection. It is used a lot to share ideas on CSS, etc. Here is a video on the basics of codepen if you are interested.
- For more information on tables, read Chapter 8 of Learning Web Design.
- Optional: Watch the video on Adding Text to an Image in Photoshop
Here is the start file if you want to follow along. You do not have to turn anything in for this exercise. - Optional: Check out this codepen demo on the Overflow property. It can be used to create scrolling boxes, among other things.
- Optional: Cascade test in codepen On this one, you can uncomment the CSS line by line to help see how the cascade works. Cascade is the C in CSS, by the way.
- Very Optional: Watch the video CSS Floats Basics.
Use these start files which have much of the code for the page(right click to download). The start file may be slightly different from the video, accounting for some errors that were corrected. Don't worry about it. This is an optional exercise, and you do not have to turn in these files.- Float based layouts are going out of style, but many existing layouts on the web right now still use them.
- Ch. 15 has more information about floats and CSS positioning.
- This bonus chapter from Learning Web Design "Page Layout with floats and Positioning" has more information and templates.
Oct. 21 - Week 9 - Unit 9 - Instructions: Photoshop Basics, Exporting Images and File Types, CSS Positioning, Web Fonts, and a Quiz
- Highly suggested: Read the article Exploring the Gestalt Principles of Design. It talks about some design principals also in Ch. 1 of the The Principles of Beautiful Web Design.
- Highly suggested: If you are not familiar with Photoshop, watch the video Photoshop post for Beginners. It could help with later assignments.
- Optional: Watch the video on Basic Inline Responsive Images. This should be review.
- If you use narrow columns, like in the 2 column layout we did earlier, it can help prevent your images from leaking out of the columns.
- There is no exercise due for this video.
- Assignment 12B - Images and File Types (Extra Credit but important to know)
Watch and follow along with the video on Images and File Types - Duration 47:07 to recreate the page. Download the start files here. I included a new start file, so you can skip some of the copying from the content file. This is a test to see who is reading actual directions ;) Be sure to include all image files with your submission, or it will not show up on my end. The images will not show up for me unless you send it along with your html files. Drop your files into the Assignment drop box. You don't have to do this one, but it does go over image file types and how to export them. It probably would be relevant for someone looking for a job as a Web Production Artist. Even if you don't do this one, you should know the material. Check due dates on the calendar. - Make sure you are familiar with the information in Chapter 15 of Learning Web Design. It has more information on CSS positioning and CSS Floats. Doing the exercises in the chapter helps too, although it is not required.
- Watch the video on CSS Positioning.
- Here is a page on CSS positioning mentioned in the video.
- There is no exercise due for this video, but you do need to know the material.
- Not in the video is sticky positioning, which makes the element change between relative and fixed. You can use it to make top navigation bars that do not scroll off screen when the page is scrolled. Check it out in your Learning Web Design book and here.
- Watch this video on Using Web fonts. (There is a little surprise in this one. See if you can find it.) You do not have to turn anything in for this video, but it will help if you want to use custom web fonts, which you probably do ;) Feel free to use web fonts on Assignment 13, but it is not required.
- Optional: Here is an article on using Google Fonts, which is also covered in the video above.
- Assignment 12A - Take the Midterm Quiz in the Weekly module in Canvas:
- This quiz is open book, open note and open internet. Do NOT use other people as a resource however, so take the quiz by yourself. Thanks.
- Almost all questions are from the videos such as CSS Positioning and CSS for Text Formatting, Images and File Types, as well other videos.
- You get one attempt.
- Good luck!
- Start Assignment 13 - Two page site:
Full requirements and instructions listed here. Check due dates on the calendar.
Oct. 28 - Week 10 - Unit 10 - Instructions: Typography and More Flexbox
- Important! Watch this short video on 4 design principals that apply to web design, and other design disciplines, called 4 Foundational UI Design Principles | C.R.A.P. - Duration 9:15
- Important! Read Ch. 4 in The Principles of Beautiful Web Design on typography.
- Check out fontawesome, which is a popular icon service you can use on your sites. There are free and paid options.
- Here is a guide on using it.
- If you haven't already, check out the first half of CH. 16 in Learning Web Design on Flexbox. We will be using flexbox a bit going forward for layout. Look at Exercise 16-1 for an example of using flexbox to create a navigation bar.
- Check out A Complete Guide to Flexbox from CSS Tricks. All the cool people use it as a reference about flexbox.
- Important! (believe it or not) Play Flexbox Froggy. It's a fun but nerdy game that will really help you learn Flexbox.
- Optional: Check out flexbox.io for more videos on Flexbox, which is becoming more popular for layout.
- Assignment 14 - Flexbox Container Properties: Watch the Flexbox Container Properties - Duration 21:39, video tutorial. Please recreate the page exactly.
- Here are the files to start with.
- Don't forget to validate as you did with assignment 1 by checking the file at:
http://validator.w3.org/
-
Optional: For more information on Flexbox, watch the video on Flex Item Properties - Order and Alignment - Duration 14:27
- Here are the files IF you want to follow along.
- You do not have to turn this in, but you probably do need to know about the content. Watch it at high speed! (just an idea)
- Take a quick look at figma. We will be using it later for things like wireframing.
- Important! Make sure to check your sites (like Assignment 13) in mobile design modes in browsers using the built in browser tools, although we haven't done a lot of Responsive Web Design yet, except for changing the number of columns, and using basic responsive images.
- Here are some ways to check contrast for accessibility. This is mostly to help the vision impaired read your pages, which is good.
- Highly suggested: Check out the video on using browser tools and browser extensions to verify contrast is OK on your pages, so your text is readable to ALL your users.
- Optional: Watch the another short video on Checking Contrast with Chrome Devtools, which often allows you to check contrast right inside Chrome.
- Finish Assignment 13 - Two page site
Full requirements and instructions listed here.- Refer to the Web Critique file here and in Canvas to self-critique your site and look for ways to improve the design before submitting it.
- Check due dates on the calendar.
- Very Optional: Watch the video lecture on Creating Equal Height Boxes and Cards. It is a little advanced, but it may be useful now. There is no assignment for this video(yay!), but some information may be on the final exam(boo!). Here are the files if you want to follow along.
Nov. 4 - Week 11 - Unit 11 - Instructions: Figma, Navigation Bars, Animated gifs and Final Project Start
- Make sure you have read Ch. 4 in The Principles of Beautiful Web Design on typography.
- Assignment - Discussion: Write a post about something interesting you learned from Ch. 4 in The Principles of Beautiful Web Design, and post it in the discussion forum called "Post on Chapter 4 here", which is in the weekly module. Also, comment on at least one other person's post. Try to reply to someone without any replies if you can.
- Assignment 15: Using the file web_critique_criteria4_responsive_horizontal.pdf as a guide, evaluate another student's 2 page site Assignment 13 submission. The critique help file is in the weekly module. Here is the link to the Assignment 13 projects. There are instructions in the Assignment 15 forum on how to download folders if you have trouble. The student folders will be numbered, and please critique the person's submission who is below yours. If you are at the bottom of the list, do the person's at the top. Look at their pages and come up with comments, observations or suggestions to give them feedback on their design. The outline of what to comment on is in the discussion. The idea is to help them see the design with a fresh perspective, and improve their future designs. Again, you can use the file web_critique_criteria4_responsive_horizontal.pdf to help with ideas of things to talk about. Post your comments in the Assign. 15: Discussion Forum for critique of Assign. 13 in the weekly module. Make sure to say in your post title who's pages you are evaluating. You can also take a look at other submissions to see what other students did. (Check due dates on the calendar.)
- Optional: Check out this article, Here’s How to Become a UX Designer in 2023, if you are interested.
-
Optional: For even more information on Flexbox, watch the video on Flex Item Properties - flex-grow, flex-shrink, and flex-basis - Duration 27:39
- Here are the files IF you want to follow along.
- You do not have to turn this in, but you probably do need to know about the content. Watch it at high speed! (just an idea)
- Important Note:
For this term you can do EITHER Assignment 16A about creating Animated gifs, OR Assignment 16B which is about making navigation bars, for Extra Credit. You do need to know the techniques in both videos and exercises, but you only need to turn in 1 for Extra Credit. You choose! Assignment 16B is farther below. - Optional: Watch the video on Creating an animated gif from a video.
- Highly suggested:Watch the video on Creating movement in animated gifs with Photoshop, and follow along using the start files. Another demo is below on a different way to do the assignment. Both of these videos will help with Assignment 14. Do not duplicate any of the demo examples. You do not have to turn in this practice example.
- Highly suggested:Watch the video on Slideshow style animated gifs in Photoshop, and follow along using the start files. Both of these videos will help with Assignment 14B. Do not duplicate any of the demo examples. You do not have to turn in this practice example.
-
Here are some Stock photo companies and articles if you are having trouble finding images for assignments.
- Unsplash - Mostly Free
- Pexels - Mostly Free
- Pixabay - Mostly Free
- 15 Best Places for Designers to Get Free Stock Photos Online
- Flickr Creative Commons - Free with attribution
- Shutterstock
- pond5 - price varies(microstock?)
- istockphoto - medium
- gettyimages - not cheap, but more exclusive
- Fair Use. What is legal with using copywritten material.
- Assignment 16A - Creating an Animated Gif (You can do EITHER Assignment 16A OR Assignment 16B for Extra Credit): Your assignment is to create your own animated gif using Photoshop that will promote a product for sale. Do not recreate the exact animation from the practice videos, and do not create a gif from a video as in the other video. You can also look at the animated_gifs.pdf file in the weekly module, and Photoshop help under animation for tips. The requirements are below. There are samples to view in the weekly module. Drop your psd of your file and the final gif file into the Assignment 14 drop box. (Check due dates on the calendar.)
- Requirements:
- You may use an image of the product from a website or catalog as a component of your animation, but you must create your own original animation.
- The size should be 970x250 or 300 x 250 as in the videos. Either size is OK.
- The animation must be a minimum of 4 frames and must be an appropriately small file size(less than 400k).
- Remember, gifs work better with images that have fewer colors.
- Try to communicate your information effectively and efficiently.
- Refer to the file from Learning Web Design 2 in the weekly Canvas Module and the 2 links below.
- Links and examples
- Creating Gifs from Video
https://imgflip.com/gifgenerator - 25 Wonderful Examples of Animated GIFs in Email Marketing TemplatesLinks to an external site.
- 25 Excellent Examples of GIF Animations in Email Marketing: The SequelLinks to an external site.
- The Many Uses (and 2 Drawbacks) of Animated Gifs
- Practicalities of using animated gifs
- The Ultimate Guide to Using Animated GIFs in Your Marketing
- Photoshop help files for multiple versions can be found here.
- Creating Gifs from Video
- Assignment 16B - Navigation Bars 1 (You can do EITHER Assignment 16A (above) OR Assignment 16B for Extra Credit. You DO NOT have to turn in either one, if you are too lazy ;).
Watch the video Navigation bars 1.
Here is the start file(right click to download). Recreate the page in the video using the start file. Please recreate the page exactly. Make sure to validate as always. Drop your files into the Assignment drop box. Check due dates on the Canvas calendar. - Important! Assignment Begin Final Project
Make sure to check requirements and specifications in the project description(click here for description). Watch the video description here and on the video page. Requirements might have changed slightly from the video, so make sure to check the requirements on the web page for current requirements.
See samples of final projects in the weekly module. There is a drop box for the wireframes or comps or briefs in a weekly module, but it may be a future module(Check the calendar). Don't worry about Beta Testing, although it is a great idea to show your design to others throughout the design process to get feedback from fresh eyes. (Check due dates on the calendar.) See assignment 17 below for an assignment related to the final project. - Note: You will probably be using Figma for Assignment 17 and 17.5. Figma was just updated June 2024, and it looks a little different than it may in some of the videos, but you should be able to use it in the same ways for Assignments 17 and 17.5.
- Sign up for a free educational upgrade to a figma account using your Mission College email address. Here is the link to sign up for a free Figma education account.
- Highly suggested: Watch the video Intro to Figma - Duration 32:30 This will help with Assignment 17 (and others)
- Highly suggested: Watch the video Intro to Wireframing with Figma - Duration 46:57 This will also help with Assignment 17 (and others)
- Assignment 17 (Part of the Final Project): Turn in at least 10 Wireframes, OR at least 6 Comps for the final Project. To be clear, It's 10 Wireframes OR 6 Comps, and you do need 10 Wireframes OR 6 Comps to do Assignment 17.5 afterwards.
- The note above has links where you can get a Figma Education account and access the figma team for this semester.
- To turn in, please submit image files AND a link to your project in Figma(if you used figma).
- Here is the link to the team for Fall 24. It has projects for Assignment 17 and Assignment 17.5 where you should put duplicates of your wireframes and comps. You should also put a link to your projects in the assignment submissions in Canvas.
- Here is an under 2 minute video on sharing Figma files.
- If you used something else besides Figma, you can just submit actual image files.
- See the project description page for more information
- There is an optional discussion forum in canvas where you can upload images of sketches for the class to look at before you do wireframes. This is optional.
- For Wireframes, see the video "Introduction to Wireframing in Figma" - (for help with Assignment 17) Duration 46:57
- Here is another video (not by me) about doing wireframes in Figma, called Free Figma Tutorial: Designing Wireframes with Figma - Duration 1:00:38
- There are a lot of tutorials for Figma here.
- Here is a file you can use to start with in figma. See the project page for how to import the file into figma.
- Here is a good example of a set of wireframes.
- You do not have to sketches, although it would be beneficial to you to do them as well. See instructions on the Final Project Page. There are links to example wireframes on the project page. See samples of final projects in the weekly module. Check the calendar for due dates.
- Important! Here is a link to a playlist of 20+ videos about using Figma from the Spring 23 version of GDS 072, Digital Imaging and User interface Design class. You can look there for tutorials on many aspects of using Figma. Figma is updated fairly often, so things will change.
- Remember, you should probably use figma to do wireframes for the final project. If you haven't already, create a free account at figma.com if you haven't already. Here is the video Introduction to Wireframing in Figma.
Nov. 11 - Week 12 - Unit 12 - Instructions: The Display property, Media Queries, More Flexbox Layout and Prototyping
- Optional: Check out the typography links in the sidebar for more info on typography, especially the first one.
- Highly suggested: Make sure to read Chapter 16 of Learning Web Design, especially the first half on Flexbox. You might want to go through exercises 16-1 to 16-3, which would probably help with the final project. You do not have to turn these in though. BTW, we go over CSS Grid, which is the second part of the chapter, in the intermediate class. It is the wave of the future!
- CSS Display Property
- We have already seen the use of the display property to make navigation bars and layouts, but there is a bit more to it
- The CSS Display Property sets whether an element is treated as a block on inline element, among other possibilities. For example, you can make a link act like a block element, even though it is an inline element by default. You can also hide elements using display:none.
- Check out this reference page on the CSS Display Property from W3 Schools for a list of possibilities.
- Here is another page from MDN Webdocs explaining the different options
- See the video CSS Display Property Tutorial for Beginners | Block, Inline, & Inline-Block Types - Duration 15:59, for some demos using the display property.
- Highly suggested: Watch this video on Media Queries. We used them a bit in some of the videos on layouts, and will use them more this week. The information will help with Assignment 18 and probably your Final Project. Download the source files here and follow along with the video if you wish. Dreamweaver is used in the video, but that is not important.
- Assignment 17.5 (Part of the Final Project): Create a prototype(or prototypes, see below)of your Final Project site using figma and your wireframes(from figma, illustrator etc) or comps(from figma, photoshop, sketch, etc).
- Here is a video on using your wireframes or comps in figma to create a prototype.
- Here is the link to the community file from the video. You can copy it to your own Figma files from there.
- You do need 10 wireframes or 6 comps to create the prototype.
- You should have your free figma account to create your prototype.
It's pretty easy and will only take you a few minutes, but you do need 5 wireframes or 3 comps to create the prototype. - For this assignment, I only need the link to your prototype.
Post the link to the Canvas forum called "Assign. 17.5: Prototype links". - Check the calendar for due dates. You have a few extra days to turn this one in.
Here is a help page from figma on "Guide to prototyping in Figma". - Here are some more videos on using figma for prototypes
- Figma For Beginners: Build prototypes (3/4)- Duration 7:45
- Figma Tutorial: Prototyping - Duration 3:57
- Here is a video on using your wireframes or comps in figma to create a prototype.
- Assignment 18A - Responsive Layout with Flexbox: Create a web page by watching the video tutorial on Responsive Layout with Flexbox. Please recreate the page exactly. Use this start file(right click to download). Drop your finished file into the Assignment 18 drop box. Make sure to validate as always.(Check due dates on the calendar)
- Assignment 18B - Responsive Flexbox Layout Patterns (extra credit): Follow along with the video tutorial on Responsive Flexbox Layout Patterns. This is actully an exercise from GDS 046 - Web Design and Development 2, but it could be very helpful when you are working on layouts for the final project. This is extra credit in this class, however. Please recreate the page exactly. Use this start file(right click to download). Drop your finished file into the Assignment 18B drop box. Make sure to validate as always. (Check due dates on the calendar)
- Here is another video on Flexbox design patterns you can use in your projects - Duration 15:32
- All of the videos above can help with the final project page layout, but you are only required to watch Responsive Flexbox Layout Patterns and Responsive Layout with Flexbox.
- Assignment Continue Final Project Make sure to check requirements and specifications in the project description(click here for description). There is a video description of the assignment on the video page. See samples of comps, creative briefs and final projects in the weekly module. There is a drop box for the comps, wireframes or or briefs in the lessons module. Don't worry about Beta Testing, although it is a great idea to show your design to others throughout the design process to get feedback from fresh eyes. Don't forget to validate HTML and CSS at http://validator.w3.org/. (Check due dates on the calendar.)(Check due dates on the calendar.)
Nov. 18 - Week 13 - Unit 13 - Instructions: Forms and Design Patterns
- We are getting near the end of the class, and some great work is being done. I know this class has had a lot of content, so quite a few of the exercises are extra credit for those who have time and want to dig in, but I do want you all to have time to focus on the final project.
- Important: Figma has changed how you share files a bit. See this quick video for how to share files with me and others, like Assignments 17 and 17.5
Sharing Figma Files - Duration 2:33 - Optional: Here is a another video that might help with the basics of Figma, which you are probably using for wireframes and prototypes on the final project.
Figma for Edu: Figma Design Basics for beginners - Duration 1:10:40 - Finish Assignment 17.5
- Here is a help page from figma on "Guide to prototyping in Figma", for possible help with Assignment 17.5.
- Here is the video from earlier on using your wireframes or comps in figma to create a prototype.
- Here is a video from GDS 072 called Figma for Education: Prototyping with Figma 101 - Duration 1:03:38. It's pretty long, but it would help with Assignment 17.5.
- Highly suggested: Look at UX Design Patterns - this can help with design ideas for projects
- Optional: Check out the article - The Evolution of the Flat Design Revolution
- Optional: Check out the article - The history of flat design: How efficiency and minimalism turned the digital world flat
- Highly suggested:Check out Chapter 9 of Learning Web Design. It has more information on Forms.
- Assignment 19 (Extra Credit): Creating html Forms - This is an optional, EXTRA CREDIT exercise, but you do have to include a form in your final project, so you might as well do it ;) Create 1 web page by watching the video tutorial on Creating html Formsand duplicating the procedure. Use this start file(right click to download). Recreate the page exactly. Drop your file into the Assignment 19 drop box. Make sure to validate HTML using http://validator.w3.org/. (Check due dates on the calendar.)
- Assignment 20 (Extra Credit): Styling HTML forms - This is another optional, EXTRA CREDIT exercise. This is a continuation of the file from Assignment 19. You should apply some of this material to create the required form for the final project, but you do not need to turn this in.
Watch the video on Styling html Forms. Recreate the page exactly starting with your assignment 19 ending file. Chapter 19 of Learning Web Design has more information on styling forms. Drop your file into the Assignment 20 drop box. Make sure to validate HTML using http://validator.w3.org/. (Check due dates on the calendar.) - Remember to style your form on your final project, or it will not be very successful. You do not have to use the exact styles from this video, but think about alignment, usability, etc.
- Optional(No points): All of you probably have to fill out forms often online. Post a screenshot or URL of at least one good or badly designed form in the discussion forum called "Form Experiences" by Thursday, and tell us why you think it's good or bad. Comment on the post of at least one other student by the Due Date. It is in the weekly module.
- Optional(No points): You can leave constructive feedback for other students in the invision or figma prototypes links in the Assignment 17.5 discussion forum. You just log into your invision account to leave comments in other invision prototypes, or use the links to leave comments in figma projects. It's not required, but is nice :)
- Optional:
Links for help with responsive navigation and video embedding, if you need it for the final project. You do NOT have to use any of these techniques.
- A video from GDS 046 about making a responsive navigation bar
- How TO - Responsive Top Navigation from W3 Schools. This one has a bit of JS
- Video - Responsive navbar tutorial using HTML CSS & JS - a little complicated but good
- Video - Create a responsive navigation nav with no JS! - a little older one but no JS
- Video(you'll see it again later) - Embedding Video on a Web Page
- Optional: Fun Link Make your handwriting into a font at Calligrapher.com
- Assignment Continue Final Project Make sure to check requirements and specifications in the project description(click here for description). There is a video description of the assignment on the video page. See samples of comps, creative briefs and final projects in the weekly module. There is a drop box for the comps or briefs in the lessons module. Don't worry about Beta Testing, although it is a great idea to show your design to others throughout the design process to get feedback from fresh eyes. The dropbox is under the lessons link. Don't forget to validate HTML and CSS at http://validator.w3.org/. (Check due dates on the calendar.)
- Here is a bonus video that might help with going from wireframes to code... it's called From idea to layout: How I approach designing a site - Duration 45:53
Nov. 25 - Week 14 - Unit 14 - Instructions: More Layout and CSS Trasforms and Transitions
- Here is a video on using the Figma App to view/mirror your mobile design views on a device. - Duration 1:52 You definitely need to check how your pages look on a mobile device.
- Optional: Here are some links (again) that might be helpful
- Helpful links about layout code
- Links for tricky Flexbox stuff
- Highly suggested: Review Chapter 16 on CSS Layout with Flexbox and Grid, and Chapter 17 on Responsive Web Design. This can help with the Final Project
- You have already used Flexbox and done some responsive web design on exercises 16 and 18. I am not requiring any more assignments on these areas right now, since you have already done a lot in this class :) However, CSS Grid is the next frontier in CSS Layout, and is now starting to be used in the wild, so it would be good to start getting familiar with it.
- Optional:Work through the exercises in those Chapters to become more familiar with the techniques.
- There are good intro videos on CSS Grid here
- Highly suggested: Check out Ch. 18 of Learning Web Design on Transitions, Transforms, and Animation
- Optional: Do exercises 18-1 and 18-2 in Learning Web Design. They should be fun! You do not have to turn these in.
- Optional: Check out the Animation Handbook from Invision in the weekly module.
- This is Optional/Extra Credit. Assignment 21: Watch the video on CSS Transforms and Transitions
- Duration 23:52 This is fun stuff, at least to some people ;)
- Assignment: For this video, follow along with the video and recreate the page done in the video.
- The video uses dreamweaver to code the page, but brackets or any editor should be fine.
- Feel free to not include the vendor prefix code versions after the first one(You will know what I mean when you see it). The CSS is now well supported.
- The start files are here
- Drop your zipped site folder into the Canvas drop box in the Weekly module.
- Highly suggested: Watch the short video on Rounded Images with CSS - Quick Tip. There is no assignment for this video(too easy), but some information may be on the final exam. It might help with your projects. Here is the file if you want to download it.
- Highly suggested: Watch the short video on CSS Gradients - Quick Tip. There is also no assignment for this video(also too easy), but some information may be on the final exam. It can also help with your projects. Here are the files if you want to download them.
- Assignment Complete Final Project Make sure to check requirements and specifications in the project description(click here for description). There is a video description of the assignment on the video page. See samples of comps, creative briefs and final projects in the weekly module. There is a drop box for the comps or briefs in the lessons module. Don't worry about Beta Testing, although it is a great idea to show your design to others throughout the design process to get feedback from fresh eyes. The dropbox is under the lessons link. Don't forget to validate HTML and CSS at http://validator.w3.org/. (Check due dates on the calendar.)
- Highly suggested - Usability Testing: There is no formal beta test on the Final Project required this semester, although it is a good idea to show your designs to other people throughout the design process to see ways to improve your design.
You can also use this form for ideas on what to ask.
Also, check out the following links to learn about usability testing. I would especially look at the Steve Krug Video and book below.
Optional Assignment: Informal User Testing:
After looking at some of the information below on User Testing, ask someone to take a look at your site in progress and give you feedback. Post at least one thing you learned in the discussion forum titled "Feedback from informal user testing"Usability Testing videos and links
- Eye-tracking Web Usability Test Sample
- Rocket Surgery Made Easy - Steve Krug book/video on usability testing
- Guerilla Testing with Usability Cafe
- User Testing - Participant #3 Raw Footage
- Usability Testing w. 5 Users: Design Process (video 1 of 3)
- Video of usability test with a paper prototype(with a child test subject)
User Testing tools for Web Designers and Developers
- Usertesting.com - Remote testing
- Mopinion - User Feedback Service
- Article: 5 Fantastic Remote Usability Testing Tools You Can Use Now
Dec. 2 - Dec. 13 - Weeks 15 and 16 - Units 15 and 16 - Instructions: Audio and Video on the Web, Web Hosting and Final Tasks
- Watch the short video on Rotating Web Elements - Quick Tip. There is no assignment for this video(too fun), but some information may be on the final exam. It could also help with your projects. Here are the files if you want to follow along.
- Watch the short video on CSS Opacity vs RGBA - Quick Tip. There is no assignment for this short video(nice teacher), but some information may be on the final exam. It could perhaps help with your projects. Here are the files if you want to follow along.
- Very Optional: Review Chapter 19 in Learning Web Design. It has more information on CSS techniques like image replacement and CSS sprites.
- Very Optional: Watch the video on CSS Techniques and Image Maps. There is also no assignment for this video, but check out the last part about CSS Transforms and Transitions. Here are the files if you want to download them.
- Watch the video lecture on Embedding Video on a Web Page. There is no assignment for this video, but some information may be on the final exam, and can be used on the extra credit assignment below.
- Watch the video lecture on Embedding Audio on a Web Page. There is no assignment for this video(yay again!), but some information may be on the final exam(boo again!).
- Assignment 22(The next to last one!):
Using the file web_critique_criteria4_responsive_horizontal.pdf as a guide, evaluate another student's Final Project in the Assignment 22 Discussion Forum.
After the due date for the final project, use the same procedure as assignment 15 to critique some else's website.
Here is the link to the student files to use for the critique.
The projects are numbered. Critique the person's submission who is in the folder number after yours. If you are at the bottom of the list, do the person's at the top. You may need to click the download button in the dropbox window to download the folder for each website, and then open them on your own computer. Look at their pages and try to address all the areas on the critique file with observations or suggestions to give them feedback on their design. The idea is to help them see the design with a fresh perspective, and improve their future designs. Make sure to say in your post title who's pages you are evaluating. You can also post comments about other projects in the folder. (Check due dates on the calendar.) - Watch the video lecture Web hosting and FTP programs.
Here is the page on web hosting from the video. There is no assignment for this video, although it will help with the extra credit video assignment below. The interface for the web hosts may change, but I think you can figure it out ;)- Here are more helpful links on hosting
- Watch the short video on publishing sites using Github Pages. - Duration 6:09. You could use it for hosting your files for the extra credit video assignment, if you want. Remember you need to have rights to anything you actually publish on the web... no stolen content.
- st Extra Credit Assignment: After watching the videos on video embedding and hosting, create a page with a video that has you in it. This is a challenge where you will need to figure out a few things on your own.
- You will need to use a phone or other camera to shoot the video.
- Transfer the file to your computer by email, google drive, dropbox, etc.
- You will need a free hosting account from somewhere like https://infinityfree.net/ or 000webhost.com
- Here is the video Web hosting and FTP programs
- You can use VLC, handbrake or any other app to convert the video to the required file types(see below).
- Embed a video on a web page with h.264/mp4 compression
- Here is some good basic information on coding for video.
- Here is the video Embedding Video on a Web Page
- W3 schools HTML Video
- W3 Schools Responsive Web Design - Videos
- CSS Tricks Fluid Width Video
- Important if you are embedding video from youtube or similar using the iframe tag
- Here is another example page.
- You do not need anything else on the page beyond the video.
- To turn in, Post the URL of the page in the discussion forum called Extra Credit Video Page
- Take the class exit survey in the weekly module for more extra credit.
- Check out the final exam info below.
- Any late assignments must be turned in by Dec. 13.
- If you haven't already, take a look at these Certificates(You already have taken at least one class for them!)
- Web Design Certificate
- Web Developer Certificate
- UX and Interface Design Certificate
- GDS Department Majors
- GDS Department Website. We have classes on Javascript Wordpress, Photoshop and more.
- Follow us on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/designatmission/ - We are on Twitter too. https://twitter.com/designatmission
- Make sure to like our facebook page(if anybody still does that) at http://www.facebook.com/missioncollegedesign.
- For Fall, think about taking GDS 046 Web Design and Development 2. It is part of the Web Developer Certificate. It covers more CSS like CSS Grid, and more design related content. If you haven't taken it already, you could also look at GDS 070 User Experience, Interface, and Multimedia Design , which is another good class if you want to to get the UX certificate.
- If you like the coding stuff, check out the GDS 089 Javascript 1 class. Javascript is the 3rd thing you need to know to be a front-end developer, along with HTML and CSS. Post a question in the Questions discussion forum if you have questions about any of these classes.
- Assignment: Take the Final Exam (See below).
- Thanks for taking the class, and I hope you enjoyed it.
-
The Final Exam
- The Final Exam will be taken in Canvas between Thursday, Dec. 12 at 12AM and Friday, Dec. 13 at 11:59PM(open for about 48 hours). You can take it at any time in that time window. Let me know if you cannot take it in that period.
- The test is open book and open internet (no AI), but it is timed(2 hours from when you start)!
- Please do NOT collaborate on the exam or get help from another person or AI :)
- There are about 60 questions.
- The questions are multiple choice, matching and true false.
- The questions will cover information found in the videos, exercises, and files used throughout the course, mostly from the videos.
- Important note: There probably are questions on the exam that were from videos marked "Optional".
- Login to Canvas and look under the Modules link for the exam and instructions.
- You have 2 hours to complete the exam.
- Click the submit button only when you are finished.