GA2110:03
Design for New Media
Townsville
Prerequisites: GA1210 GA1220
Inadmissable Subject Combination: VA2181 VA2182
13 lectures, 13 tutorials, 52 hours practicals. First semester.
Staff: Mr I White.
This subject examines the ways in which designers may respond to and manage the production and technical demands of screen based and interactive media, whilst aiding and enhancing the experience of the end user. Strategies to enhance the visual communication of information and to promote effective navigation in static screen and non linear interactive environments such as the world Wide Web, Interactive CD-ROM, PDF documents and Information Kiosks are discussed and trialled in practical workshops. Design issues and production techniques related to interactive media are examined and students are introduced to the ways in which design solutions may be devised that are suitable for use in this environment. The narrowing gap between print and screen documents is considered and production pathways encompassing movement between the two domains are examined and compared. A range of multimedia options, including sound, animation, web graphics, video and hypertext are investigated and their relative merits within a range of communications applications are analysed.
Learning Objectives:
- awareness of screen based communication options and incorporate these into the student’s working practice;
- familiarity with a range of screen based and multimedia applications associated with information presentation;
- understand the technical and production requirements involved in the presentation of screen based and multimedia information;
- familiarity with interface and navigational design principles;
- develop a range of personalised, innovative and creative approaches to communication within a multimedia or screen based environment;
- awareness of the rate of technological change and ability to adapt design solutions in an appropriate manner;
- develop a range of critical and analytical skills relevant to the production and analysis of screen and multimedia focussed communication design;
- understand the ways in which print and screen presentations may interrelate;
- ability to translate an existing print oriented document into a format suitable for on-screen access using Adobe Acrobat and relevant extensions.
Assessment by four practical assignments (100%); continuous assessment during practical classes, plus individual and group critiques. Attendance of less than 80% at practical workshops will render students ineligible for assessment unless prior written approval has been obtained from the lecturer, academic adviser or Head of College.
[Contents]