Deliverables for Friday

To give you a bit more time with the CSS, you only need your HTML and media files on the CAS server folder Thursday evening (by 4 pm please).
For crit we can look at that one group of files on the server and simply exchange your CSS files to view each design. So by Friday morning put your final CSS file in a folder with your name in the lexicon folder.

Here's the paths to the CAS server folder:

HTML files go here:
meppelheimer/Public/lexicon/multimedia/terms

Images, media, SWFs, etc. go here:
meppelheimer/Public/lexicon/multimedia/images

Your folder with the lexicon.css file:
meppelheimer/Public/lexicon/

Working the navigation menu...

I've supplied you with a very simple navigation structure, one div container around a simple "list" with each item linked. Using only the CSS you can position and style in a multitude of ways. An excellent site with many navigation examples (with CSS to copy!) can be found at Listamatic.

The copy/alter method is a good way to begin to understand the power and flexibility of CSS styling.

Linking your pages.

I've provided you with all the correct links in within the navigation container. For your respective pages, be sure to remove the link to that page.

Meaning:
For the multimedia.html page, remove the link from the "multimedia" entry in the nav.

This will allow specific navigation styling of the pages you are viewing.

Template replacement files

I've had to make some more adjustments to the template files. Check back here for the availability of the replacements.

The new template files are available here: multimedia.zip

Lexicon Site Layouts on Monday April 21

Bring 3 possible site arrangements to class Monday in electronic form. You can work however you are comfortable (in Illustrator or Photoshop), just save your example in one multi-page PDF for presentation.

Our lexicon site consists of only one page type with given content areas. Your only restriction is the 450px width of media contained in content areas. The site title appears on every page and within the "siteid" container, your term name should also appear.

Template files for lexicon site

Here's the templates for the lexicon site: multimedia.zip

To keep the links working correctly, "save as" the "template.com" file under the "terms" folder with a new name (your term name, all lowercase, no spaces – check the "nav" link for the correct name).

You can place all the files under your microsite folder in Dreamweaver, then your relative path when uploaded would be something like this:
http://green123.dezynorama.com/multimedia/terms/hypermedia.html

Reading for Friday

Please read Windows and Mirrors by Friday April 18 and be ready to discuss in class.

Dreamweaver CS3 with CSS Essential Training

Go through the Dreamweaver CS3 with CSS Essential Training by next Monday April 21. It's long so divide up your sessions.

The exercise files are on CDs in my mailbox.

You can skip sections 2, 8, 11 & 12 if you like as they are not relevant for this project (but still valuable).

Monday April 14

Be ready to project and present your term explanations on Monday (you can put it all into a multipage PDF or Keynote file and place it in my drop box). Bring your ideas far enough to clarify each term's meaning.

Term Description Graphic Width : 450 px

For any info graphics, images, video or Flash, make sure the width does not go over 450 pixels, though it can be smaller.

For Monday, April 7

Sketch some ideas for visualizing your two terms in the different learning styles. Be ready to work in class expanding your ideas and developing possible methods for explaining your terminology.

Also read Helfand's DeStijl, New Media, and the Lessons of Geometry on page 47.

Project 2: Learning Styles and the 4MAT System

Read the following article which describes the learning styles you will be tailoring your descriptions to.

http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/msh/llc/is/4mat.html

You will describe your terms in three of the following four styles:
Type 1: Innovative Learners
Type 2: Analytic Learners
Type 3: Common Sense Learners
Type 4: Dynamic Learners

We are using these categories to help generate ideas and methods for describing your terms. Through the combination of descriptive methods like of text, information graphics, voice or interaction, you can help the viewers understanding and retention. It also gives us a chance to generate a variety of media which will be combined within the final site.

Here's more perspectives on learning styles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_styles
http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/

Go through the VARK questionaire and copy your results:
http://www.vark-learn.com/english/

Circle Exercise PDFs

Please put all your circle exercises (self-portrait included) into a single multipage PDF with each clearly labeled as defined in the originals.

Name them like this: circles_abrodbeck.pdf

Please place them in my Drop Box.

Troubleshooting Microsite Production

Please post ANY issues you are having here in the comments. Also, email me any pertinent files want me to look at. I can solve most of your HTML and CSS issues fairly easily, Action Scripting in Flash will take expert advice which I'm working on bringing in.

Be as detailed and clear as possible in your descriptions of problems and good luck!

Deliverables Next Week

As discussed in class, here's what's expected...


For Monday and Friday, be sure to keep working on your site development, also create the following two exercises.


Monday Mar 3: Self-Portrait
Using our circle format, create a self-portrait that will be used on a top level splash page which will serve as a launch pad to your individual sites. This should be in the media of your own choosing with no formal restrictions. It should however occupy the aesthetic-realm/visual-world of your degree project.


Friday March 7: Video Statement or Interview
Describe the intention and ideas of your degree project in a video interview or project statement. You can use your degree project design question and sub-questions as a guide. Be succinct and clear and don't be too stiff.
Use your a digital camera or built-in laptop cam (a strong light source would be a good idea, test angles and positions) and iMovie to film yourself. You can present your statement alone, pair up with a classmate to perform an interview, or use graphics or text to show questions or main points. iMovie has simple editing techniques you can try out. If using your laptop, don’t just sit in front of the camera at your usual working angle to film, raise it up,or down, rotate it, move it around.
Embed a Quicktime video either in Flash or on an HTML page and put on your CAS Sites server for viewing.

Sub Domains

We now have dezynorama.com at our disposal.
Please send me your preferred subdomain name, like this:

potassiumconcentrate.dezynorama.com

CAS Server

The files you place on the CAS server will be viewable from a browser (on campus only) at:
http://cas.kcai.edu:16080/~username/


UPDATE: The files should be placed in your "Sites" folder. Sorry for any confusion.

Microsite Deliverables for Friday Feb 29

Please have a functioning entry and content page example ready for Friday. Put them on your CAS server "Sites" folder for browser viewing on campus. Look for more updates in this space. Soon.

Microsite Deliverables for Monday Feb 25

Please have discussed revisions as well as content and navigation examples ready for class on Monday. Those with demos should present them.

Reading for Monday Feb 25

Please read Helfand essay The Dynamics of Choice and the Death of Hierarchy for Monday. I'm sure you all have the book by now.

Microsite Deliverables for Friday Feb 22

Choosing your most viable ideas (based on your design goals and technical considerations/aptitude) finalize your preferred sitemap and create a wireframe of your content areas, both in Illustrator or InDesign. Design 3 variations of your main entry point using Photoshop or Illustrator or whatever tools you are comfortable using for screen design. Save all design files as jpegs in the order you wish to present them (i.e. takach_entry_01.jpg) in and email them to me. Print out sitemaps and content wireframes and bring to class.

Dematerialization of Screen Space

Please read the Jessica Helfand's essay (on the right). Since I'm so late posting, read this before Monday's class and comment on it here.

Sitemaps, Sketches & Domain Names

As discussed in class, here's the project sheet for the next step due Friday and an additional project sheet for Monday (need your ideas by Sunday noon) relating to our microsite domain name. After your reactions to my obviously lame designdock.org, I've decided to let you come up with something better, if you can.

Friday Feb 15
P1.20 Degree Microsite: Planning & Sitemapping

Send by Sunday Feb 17 at high noon (comment here or email)
P1.30 Degree Microsite: Domain Name

The Long Now

Brian Eno coined the term "The Long Now" and is one of the founding members of this group who promotes long-term thinking. Their main project is the creation of a clock (designed by Daniel Hillis) which should run for 10,000 years. I remembered this project while we discussed "One, Two, Three, Faux" and believe it's a good counter-point to the idea of acclerated time and should also have relevance for many of your degree projects. Read the article (in the reading list on the sidebar) and interview from Dot Dot Dot 7 , comment here, and be ready to discuss in class on Monday, Feb 11.

TED Talks: Ideas Worth Spreading

As you noticed in class, I was a bit taken aback that no one knew about TED Talks! Here's what it's all about (from the site):

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).

The TED Talks website has over 200 of the best presentations and they add more every week. Be sure to check out John Maeda's "Simplicity Patterns", Ze Frank's "What's So Funny About the Web", Rives "If I Controlled the Internet".