Assignments

=Assignments and Redesign Assignments=

Submitting Assignments
Every student will create a personal online “jump” page for this class using a content management application. The URL for this page should be posted on the Class //Links to Blogs// page of the class Wiki.

All assignments need to be uploaded to a web server by the stipulated time/date and linked from your personal “jump” page. Each student’s jump page must have the following information on it:


 * Your Name
 * Course number, name and section
 * Instructor’s name
 * Assignment titles
 * Your email contact link.
 * Links to all assignments (typically the assignment title)

All assignment files must be saved to a folder with the course id and your first and last name.


 * 1) DO NOT use spaces or special characters (& /, ‘ % etc.)
 * 2) Create a folder within your folder with the name of the assignment or project
 * 3) Organize files into subfolders as needed
 * 4) Make sure naming conventions are appropriate to the assignment and/or project
 * 5) Create a compressed “zip” file of your main assignment/project folder

A zipped file of your main assignment/project folder must be uploaded to Basecamp (as long as under 100 MB).

Late Assignments
If an assignment cannot be accessed online (jump page AND Basecamp) AND a backup is not on the P drive by the due date, it will not be graded (resulting in a 0 for the assignment). If an assignment is not received on time, it cannot be resubmitted.

Assignment 1: Create a jump page on Blogger.com and add URL to Blog Links page on class Wiki.

 * Due date: April 5**

All assignments must be uploaded to an online server. Provide links to assignments on your blog.

Assignments must also be uploaded to Basecamp (as long as under 100 MB).

Marking Criteria
 * Required for delivery of assignments (0 pts)

Assignment 2: CSS Zen Garden Design Analysis Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: April 12**

Choose a CSS Zen Garden design. Analyze it regarding the following:
 * What type of layout is the design: fixed, flexible, elastic or a combination of any of these?
 * What styles did the designer use to manipulate the box model?
 * What hacks or filters were used (if any) to get the design to work across browsers?
 * What styles work well in current browsers?
 * What styles break in current browsers?

Summarize your analysis in a written document. Present your findings.

Marking Criteria
 * Research and Analysis Documentation Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Assignment 3: Comparative Icon Analysis Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: April 16**

Choose 2 web sites. Compare and contrast the icons.
 * In what ways are they different?
 * Describe their personality.
 * How well do they convey the intended message to the user?
 * In what way (if any) might they confuse the user?

Summarize your analysis in a written document. Present your findings.

Marking Criteria
 * Research and Analysis Documentation Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Assignment 4: Comparative Font Analysis Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: April 19**

Choose 2 fonts that you really like. Compare and contrast them.
 * In what ways are they different?
 * Describe their personality.
 * Show text that fits well with each personality.
 * Show text that clashes with each personality.

Summarize your analysis in a written document. Present your findings.

Marking Criteria
 * Research and Analysis Documentation Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Assignment 5: Comparative Color Analysis Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: April 23**

Class Activity: Choose 2 web sites. Compare and contrast the color schemes.
 * In what ways are they different?
 * Describe their personality.
 * Relate an image and tone (besides the one relating to the web site) that fits well with each personality.
 * Relate an image and tone that clashes with each personality.

Summarize your analysis in a written document. Present your findings.

Marking Criteria
 * Research and Analysis Documentation Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Assignment 6: Logos and Presentation

 * Due date: April 26**

Create 2 logo comps for your blog – one using only symbols (no type) and the other with symbols and type.

Create a concept note and present this information to the class.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (75 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Assignment 7: Color and Presentation

 * Due date: April 30**

Create a color scheme comp that represents you.

Create a concept note and present this information to the class.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (50 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Assignment 8: CSS for Blog and Presentation

 * Due date: May 3**

Edit the CSS for your blog and integrate your color scheme and your logo. Present the result to the class.

Marking Criteria
 * Visual Design Items from Web Site Design Rubric (32 + 3 = 35 pts)
 * Technical Items from Web Site Design Rubric (40 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 1: Show Chosen Site

 * Due date: May 3**

Choose a website to redesign.

Show the chosen website, list the main goal, at least 3 objectives and the requirements needed to meet the objectives, the target audiences, and what is needed to craft the best user experience and promote the main message.

Marking Criteria
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 2: Communication Brief Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: May 7**

Using information as outlined in the client survey, create a communication brief for the project.

The communication brief should include:
 * Important background information about the client and why the project is needed
 * Overall goal of what the web site should do (for the users) when completed
 * Main objectives and requirements
 * Description of the target audience
 * Description of the tone and image targeted toward the primary audience
 * Key project deliverables, due dates and the team member responsible
 * Change of scope policy
 * The omission of language promising something not easily delivered that could lead client to file a lawsuit

Marking Criteria
 * Project Contract Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 3: Content Inventory Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: May 7**

Gather the content you will use for the redesign. Create a content inventory.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 4: Competitive Analysis Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: May 10**

Choose 4 competitors. Analyze the sites and report your findings in the competitive analysis document.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 5: User Experience Design Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: May 14**

Using the information from the communication brief, content inventory and competitive analysis, write a story that illustrates the best user experience for a member of the target audience. Include a brief list of relevant information about this user such as name, age, comfort level with technology, etc.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (50 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 6: Site Map Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: May 17**

Using the information from the communication brief, the content inventory and the competitive analysis, create the new site map.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 7: Wireframes and Flowchart Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: May 21**

Using all the documents so far, create a wireframe layout for the home page and a page in which the user must complete a task. Include a flowchart for the task.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (75 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 8: Visual Design Documents Documentation and Presentation

 * Due date: May 28**

Using all the documents so far, create a visual design comp for the home page and one for the task page. Summarize your visual design choices in a concept note.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (75 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Memorial Day Holiday

 * May 31**

Redesign Assignment 9: Prototype Usability Test Plan Documentation and Prototype Usability Test

 * Due date: June 7**

Using all the project documents so far, build an HTML prototype for the:
 * Home page
 * Page in which the user must complete a task

Create a usability test plan for the two prototypes.

Divide into 2 groups. Each person should conduct the usability test and gather feedback from the others in the group.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Steve Krug Usability Testing Script
[|www.sensible.com/Downloads/script.doc]

Steve Krug Usability Test Demo Video
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Redesign Assignment 10: Summary Documentation of Usability Test

 * Due date: June 11**

Create a list of issues that arose during the test and your recommendations regarding each issue.

Present summary of usability test.

Marking Criteria
 * Individual Project Document Rubric (25 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)

Redesign Assignment 11: Final Prototypes

 * Due date: June 14**

Implement changes to prototype based upon findings from the usability test for the:
 * Home page
 * Page in which the user must complete a task

Marking Criteria
 * Web Site Design Rubric (160 pts)
 * Presentation Rubric (25 pts)