DES 484 / Digital Media 6 : Syllabus

Place: Group 6, Room 252 and 254
Time: Tuesday 9:30 am - 3:15 pm
Required Text: Your required text will consist of a series of PDF documents and video training which will be assigned throughout the semester. We will also select additional materials appropriate to your senior project.

Course Overview
Digital Media 6 is the final senior level studio course. The primary objective of this course is to help prepare students for entry into the design profession. There will be significant in-class discussion of professionalism, goal setting and job seeking. We will discuss resume writing, portfolio preparation, and interviewing skills.

Goals
Each student will explore an area of digital media that interests him/her, with the goal of producing a self-directed, finished project that will become a highlight in the design portfolio. Each student will formulate a project, prepare a written proposal and take the necessary steps to meet critique deadlines.

The second major objective of this course is to promote your unique creative vision, skills and work through the development of a highly professional, self-promotional design system. Special emphasis will be placed on using the World Wide Web to create an online virtual presentation of the student portfolio.

Objectives
Write and design your resume system.

Select the strongest 10-20 pieces of your design and art work to promote your unique creative vision.

Demonstrate an understanding of the job search, interviewing and salary negotiation process.

Design a presentation-quality content outline for your self-directed digital media project.

Present your work to the class in clear, well-organized oral presentations.

Understand the strengths and weaknesses of web standards (XHTML and CSS) and alternative technologies (Flash) for presenting online information.

Publish your portfolio and resume on the World Wide Web.

Attend class on time and meet all project deadlines.

Listen
Throughout the semester I will be conveying information to you that may not be available in written form. It is critical that you pay attention to avoid missing out on key information.

Question
This is a must! In order to gain a high degree of comfort in computing, we all must attempt to obtain the information that will allow us to freely explore these exciting tools.

Take Notes
It is essential for you to take notes during lectures, presentations, and demonstrations in order for you to have an organized body of information you can refer to in the future. Please be prepared to move and have the proper materials at hand for taking notes, as I will tend to call the class to one computer to share in a problem or I may take the class to another area, for a demonstration or lecture.

Notebook
I require you to keep a notebook of hand-outs, sketches, notes, etc. This book will be dedicated solely to the Digital Media 6 class and should clearly document your thinking about your senior project. The book—it’s contents and organization—will be considered in the final grading process. This notebook will be reviewed at the end of the semester.

Projects and Exercises
Throughout the semester there will be two major projects in this class. There will also be class exercises covering some of the techniques discussed for that day. The class will meet as a group once each week for a lecture or demonstration period and to look at homework. Additionally, you are expected to spend at least 12 hours outside of class each week. Please become familiar with the lab hours and regulations. You may work during any open hours unless a class is in progress and using the lab.

Integration of Traditional Skills and Computer Skills
The implementation of final designs will focus on the computer as a delivery medium. Design skills which you have learned and utilized in other classes will be necessary. For your major project, thumbnails, sketches, and rough layouts will be required. Keep your tools and materials handy.

Critiques
Final assignments will be due at the beginning of class on the date specified. There is no time for last minute changes. All pertinent files must be in place and any print-outs prepared ahead of time, as specified. On that day we will hold critiques or discussions of the projects presented. Everyone is expected to participate and be vocal!

Materials
You will need the following supplies for this course:
— A ring binder to use as your notebook
— Flash/Key drive (512MB or larger)
— 2 or more writable CD's (CD-R's)
— General sketching materials (paper, pens, pencils, etc.)
— Presentation materials (illustration board, special papers, etc. for your site maps, flowcharts and storyboards.

Attendance
Since I will be taking attendance every class, I trust that you will make every effort to be in class and to be on time. You are allowed 1 unexcused absence for the semester. Each additional unexcused absence will drop your final course grade by one letter grade (A to B, B to C, etc.).

Late Assignments
In the design profession, missing a deadline will cost you money and can even cause you to lose the job. Late work is equally unacceptable in this class. Your major project will be broken into sequential stages due weekly. Late work will receive an automatic grade drop. Missing a group critique will drop two grades.

Academic Dishonesty
All UMass Dartmouth students are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity and scholarly practice. The University does not tolerate academic dishonesty of any variety, whether as a result of a failure to understand proper academic and scholarly procedure or as an act of intentional dishonesty. A student found guilty of academic dishonesty is subject to severe disciplinary action which may include expulsion from the University. Please refer to the General Catalog, the Student Handbook and Student Judicial Code for more details about academic dishonesty and due process.

Course Evaluation Criteria
You will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
— The quality of your final projects and weekly assignments
— Your demonstrated understanding of the design process
— Participation, motivation and attendance
— Your demonstrated understanding of the use of the software and hardware
— Results of quizzes on readings and lectures
— Your notebook/sketchbook
— Your risk taking and creative search

You will receive grade forms for the following projects and activities:
— Your personal printed resume, cover letter, references sheet and envelope
— Your personal Web site
— The senior project content outline
— The senior project mid-semester critique
— The submitted copy of your senior project

Project Evaluation Criteria
Your final projects will be evaluated using these criteria. Please make sure that you understand these terms and are confident that your projects will receive high marks in each category.
— concept / idea
— form / composition
— craft / presentation
— process / sketches
— risk taking
— class participation

Have a great semester!

© Scott Ahrens 2009. All rights reserved. Last Updated: 08 23 09