BLOG TOPICS AND STUDENT BLOGS
What's a favicon? What file format(s) is it in? Is this a file format that Photoshop natively supports? How do you create a favicon? How do you add one to your HTML code? Where does it appear? How does it affect bookmarks? Why use a favicon?
Some resources:
Many attribute the meteoric growth and diversity of the Internet to early telecommunication policies and the underlying architecture of the Net, which ensured that the network was an open, nondiscriminatory platform for all kinds of communications traffic. Common-carrier regulations of telephone industry dictated that no one company or organization could maintain monopolistic control over the network because lines of transmission were open to competitors and did not discriminate between differing types of content. Beyond this, the Internet's architecture and networking protocols — Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) — were open, decentralized, and nondiscriminatory by design. The protocols treat all information as equal, favoring neither content types nor content providers. Millions of websites sprang up as a result, each with an equal opportunity to attract an audience online.
But the democratic nature and spirit of openness that characterized the birth of the Internet is in danger of disappearing. According to the FCC, the "open access" requirements of the dial-up Internet do not apply to broadband cable, satellite, and DSL companies. The FCC has defined broadband Internet access as an "information service" rather than telecommunications, effectively exempting broadband companies from the common carrier requirements of the traditional dial-up Internet. Moreover, companies such as Ellacoya Networks are already offering hardware and software packages to broadband networks that give them "Total Service Control" of their network and the ability to discriminate between users, content types, and content providers. Such network control subverts the open, nondiscriminatory nature of the Internet's guiding protocols.
Comcast has used such network control to prevent or slow down the use of peer-to-peer sharing and other traffic on its networks. But, recently the FCC bolstered the fight for network neutrality by acting against Comcast's actions. Comcast is appealing the FCC decision, setting the stage for a court-battle.
In addition to Comcast, a number of big media companies have been actively lobbying against Net Neutrality. Google (once a staunch supporter of Net Neutrality) and Verizon have teamed up to offer a kind of compromise on Net Neutrality that would exempt wireless platforms.
The FCC and Congress continue to debate rule making around Network Neutraility and the issue is far from decided.
What are the implications of an Internet without open access requirements? What is network neutrality? What are the repercussions of an Internet without Net neutrality to the use of cutting-edge broadband technologies such as file sharing, peer-to-peer communications (P2P), voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), Internet radio, podcasting, multimedia applications, video blogging, and Internet TV? Who stands to benefit and who stands to lose?
Some resources for more information:
When beginning a web design project, it's a good idea to research other sites that have similar goals and objectives as the site that you plan to build. In other words, you need to check out your competitors (direct or indirect) to find both good and bad ideas, and to find ways to differentiate yourself. You may also choose to do inspirational research, finding sites (or other media) that have effective color palettes, navigational schemes, grid structures, etc.
Find and analyze one or two sites that are similar in nature to your final project site. For example, if doing a website for a cafe, find other cafe/restaurant sites to analyze.
Analyze your chosen site(s). What are the site's communication objectives? How is information structured on the site(s)? What content is emphasized? Is there a theme? How do the design elements function to reveal the theme(s) and objective(s)? Describe what you've learned about designing your final project site based on this competitor/idea research.
Possible Points: 30 points
Review all of the iPoint Advisors sites that your fellow students designed and produced. Find two or three ideas and/or design elements that you think are particularly effective. Explain why you think these ideas/designs work and/or are effective. Conversely, find two or three elements that you don't think work as well or that could be improved. Again, provide the rationale for your thinking and perhaps some ideas for improving the design(s). Make sure you include links to the sites you are discussing. If you were the managing partner at iPoint Advisors, which of the site's would you choose to use and why?
Lastly, critique your own work. If you were to redo your site, what would you do differently?
Possible Points: 30 points
First, review each of the following sites:
One of the big frustrations that designers have about designing for the Web is the historically poor state of web typography. As web designers strive for consistency across platforms, they have been forced to rely on only a small set of commonly installed fonts, knowing that their ideal choice of font may not be installed on the end-users system. As a result, designers would often turn to creating images for their headers and subheads (pictures of text instead of actual text), but this has never been a good choice for body copy as it has some draw backs in terms of file size, semantic markup, and accessibility. However, many people feel that typography on the web is finally beginning to mature. Why is that? What is the @font-face declaration and what are the implications of downloadable and/or hosted fonts? What is WOFF and why is it significant? What are your impressions about the current state (and future) of Web Typography?
Below are a few resources. Can you find/share other good resources?
Possible points: 35 points
What is semantic markup? Why should web designers use it? Why is coding "meaning" into the structure of a document important? How does this make the document more accessible and search engine friendly? Why do many designers seek to separate structure from presentation? Can you write examples of how designers might accidentally ignore semantic markup and/or how it should be applied?
Below are a couple resources. Can you find/share other good resources related to semantic markup?
Many designers have found a rigid focus on usability design stifling to creativity on the Web. The incorporation of experimental navigational systems, animation, sound, high-end graphics, and multimedia elements are often left out of sites who focus on fast-loading pages and making things as easy as possible for the user. However, as broadband connections become increasingly common, so too have many designers become increasingly interested in creating user experiences on the Web; sites where users can do more than simply read a brochure or shop at a store. Companies and designers are discovering that the Web can also be a place for drama, emotion, and a branding experience. Such designers are working in a relatively new design area sometimes called "experience design."
In your own words, define experience design. What considerations would be important for you as a designer if you were designing a site that focuses on "experience." Can you find a site that is a good example of experience design? Why is it a good example and how does it differ from other sites? Like debates between form and function, designing for experience and designing for usability are frequently put at odds. Why is this? Do you think they are mutually exclusive? Or, can they coexist in design?
One good resource:
There is a lot of talk in the web design community about user experience and usability design. What is usability? What is meant by usability testing? What considerations are important for you as a designer if you were designing a site that focuses on "usability."
Can you find a site that is a good example of usability design and/or that provides resources or insights into usability?
A few resources for you to check out:
Possible points: 30 points
Designers sometimes use blogging software and sites such as Blogger and WordPress as content management systems or as ways to allow clients to easily self publish. Often, they need to customize their blogging sites to fit their clients needs and/or branding.
Not so much a topic as a task, what ways can you find to customize the template you've chosen for your class blog? Can you change colors and fonts, add images, gadgets, or other elements? Try to customize your blog and report on what you've done, how you did it, and what else might be possible.
Possible points: 30 points
On many blogs and CMS systems, you have the option of publishing a site feed which will create an XML version of your blog for RSS syndication. What is RSS? How is it useful and/or being used? How can you use the RSS feed to track updates to your fellow student's blogs? What's an aggregator?
Possible Points: 30 Points
Design and development for the Internet is a dynamic and constantly changing field. As technologies and practices change, designers need to be able to keep up. The fact is, nobody can know everything. And, there's always someone out there who knows more than you. Given this, the web design community has always been very open to sharing information and inspiration. As a designer, it's important that you learn where to find sites of information, inspiration, and resources.
Your task: find a resource and share the love. Find a site that provides information, tutorials, forums, stock resources (photos, audio clips, movies, etc.), scripts, downloads, articles, advice, design tips, or links to well-designed and inspiring sites. Tell us what the site is about and how it is useful and include a link to the URL.
Don't know what kind of sites are appropriate? Here's a very short list of resources that I like:
Design and development for the Internet is a dynamic and constantly changing field. As technologies and practices change, designers need to be able to keep up. The fact is, nobody can know everything. And, there's always someone out there who knows more than you. Given this, the web design community has always been very open to sharing information and inspiration. As a designer, it's important that you learn where to find sites of information, inspiration, and resources.
Your task: find a resource and share the love. Find a site that provides information, tutorials, forums, stock resources (photos, audio clips, movies, etc.), scripts, downloads, articles, advice, design tips, or links to well-designed and inspiring sites. Tell us what the site is about and how it is useful and include a link to the URL.
Don't know what kind of sites are appropriate? Here's a very short list of resources that I like:
Find a site that you think is cool or cutting edge and well designed. Explain what this site is about and why you find it compelling. What makes the site cool or cutting edge and how does it differ from most sites that are out there? Are there special, unique, or interesting features to the site? Can you determine how the site was made and/or the tools and techniques that were used?
Possible Points: 15 points | Can be repeated 1x
Students are required to:
Goals for the course blogs include encouraging student exploration and contemplation of issues related to contemporary interactive media arts and the studios and artists making it. Students will explore the Web to find, share, and discuss compelling and cutting-edge examples of interactive media design. Students will further investigate and discuss issues and practices related to interactive media including technology use; design principles and techniques; creative, developmental and business processes; and critical/theoretical analysis.
Given that all of the students in the class will be searching and exploring the Internet for design studios, artists, projects, resources, and other information that relate to interactive media design, a collaborative course blog will allow each student (and the instructor) to be exposed to more (and higher quality) projects and resources than each may have found on their own. Beyond being exposed to a wider variety of content (and points of view) students will contribute to the "collective intelligence" of the course and play a role in shaping course content and their own experience with the course.