Parsons School of Design AAS Communication Design Fall 2023 PACD 1110 CRN 14304, Section B

Hours & Location Tuesdays & Fridays 9:00am – 11:40am Parsons 2 W 13th Room 311

Instructor Nikki Makagiansar [email protected] Office Hours Booking

Class Website https://niktari.github.io/core-interaction-f23

Course Description

This course serves as an introduction to interaction design and prototyping for a web context. Students will undertake projects that cover planning and implementation of web-based projects with a focus on typography, narrative, and experimentation with an interactive screen-based medium. Core 1 Interaction revolves around a series of projects that are conceptualized, wireframed, and implemented using both prototyping software and basic HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

Students will learn how to design and develop complex interactive projects from initial brainstorming to comprehensive research and final execution. The class will consist of exercises and long-form projects that allow students to develop concepts, ideas, and strategies for web-based projects. The class will be supplemented by lectures, readings, student-led group discussions, and critical writing to reinforce core concepts.

The course is complemented by Core 1 Typography. Students will be expected to apply lessons learned from type to their interaction assignments and vice versa in order to form a working method which will be explored further in Core 2 Typography & Interaction.

Course Structure

This course runs on two parallel tracks. Tuesdays will be dedicated to learning user experience and interface design principles (Product Design track). Thursdays will be dedicated to learning HTML, CSS, and Javascript (Code track). The two tracks will converge toward the end of the semester with students developing a digital compendium of their interactive work.

Classes will generally begin with a lecture and/or live demonstration, followed by an overview of the next week’s assignment. Any remaining time will be used for critiques, class discussions, in-class work or individual meetings with students. Students should always come to class prepared to present their work.

This course is primarily an in-person, synchronous class. Unless otherwise communicated in advance, all class meetings will take place in person. Any changes in class modality will be communicated as far in advance as possible via email.

Product Design Track Learning Outcomes

By the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Keen observation skills for user behavior
  2. User-centric and functional approaches to interactive problems
  3. A workflow to plan, develop, and construct site maps and navigation models
  4. A basic understanding of technological implications
  5. Effective application of design techniques
  6. Knowledge of current design trends and best practices
  7. The ability to navigate through complex information and data
  8. The capability to adapt a design to various digital channels

Product Design Track Assignments

Code Track Learning Outcomes

By the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Use a basic vocabulary of interaction design to articulate their design process and critique others within the context of web-based projects.
  2. Evaluate how typography and its variables are applied to interactive systems to facilitate orientation, create consistency, and support user and system.
  3. Conceptualize and wireframe a product for the web.
  4. Use appropriate prototyping methods, including software tools and basic HTML/CSS/Javascript to visualize, communicate, and evaluate a web-based product.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the iterative making process in interaction design, including an ability to incorporate feedback into their work.
  6. Skills: By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
    1. Apply skills in HTML, and CSS and understand the meaning of Javascript
    2. Prepare images or the Web
    3. Understand Web Environments

Code Track Assignments

Weekly Schedule

The schedule may be subject to change over the course of the semester.

💡 Tip: Toggle between different tabs to view the schedule by track!

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Readings

Materials and Supplies

Hardware

Laptop

Technology

**Google Drive** Classroom management for schedule, projects, and presentations

**GitHub** We will be using GitHub to manage our code. Sign up if you don’t have an account already.

Figma

Figma is a modern interface design tool that is collaborative online. We will be using Figma exclusively for creating your design mockups. Sign up with your newschool.edu email for a free education account.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a sophisticated text editor for code, markup, and prose.

Google Chrome

A fast, secure, and free web browser. We’ll be using Chrome exclusively in the class.

Resources

The university provides many resources to help students achieve academic and artistic excellence. These resources include:

The University (and associated) Libraries

The University Learning Center

University Disabilities Service

In keeping with the university’s policy of providing equal access for students with disabilities, any student with a disability who needs academic accommodations is welcome to meet with me privately. All conversations will be kept confidential. Students requesting any accommodations will also need to contact Student Disability Service (SDS). SDS will conduct an intake and, if appropriate, the Director will provide an academic accommodation notification letter for you to bring to me. At that point, I will review the letter with you and discuss these accommodations in relation to this course.

Making Center

The Making Center is a constellation of shops, labs, and open workspaces that are situated across the New School to help students express their ideas in a variety of materials and methods. We have resources to help support woodworking, metalworking, ceramics and pottery work, photography and film, textiles, printmaking, 3D printing, manual and CNC machining, and more. A staff of technicians and student workers provide expertise and maintain the different shops and labs. Safety is a primary concern, so each area has policies for access, training, and etiquette with which students and faculty should be familiar. Many areas require specific orientations or training before access is granted. Detailed information about the resources available, as well as schedules, training, and policies, can be found at resources.parsons.edu.