Basics of Web Design

Syllabus – Spring 2008

Brian Camelio – Instructor

Course Overview:

In this course the student will learn the basics of web design, web page layout and other key concepts such as:

1.      HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) –The language of the Internet.

2.      Creating custom images and layouts for the web.\

3.      Adding Streaming Media (Audio-Video) to your site.

4.      Using the web as a tool to market yourself and your music.

The course will teach the student by example.  Each student will plan and build their own functional website with an eye towards marketing themselves and their music on the internet.  

Each website will contain:

·        A custom personally designed homepage.

·        A custom personal biography page

·        Streaming music and CD cover art section.

·        A downloadable promotional press kit.

·        An updateable performance schedule page.

·        A merchandising page to sell CDs, Books, T-shirts etc… complete with credit card payment system through PayPal.

·        Any other custom pages the student desires.

Mandatory supplies:

1.      A dedicated notebook for this class only.

2.      A PC formatted 100MB ZIP Disc or portable USB drive for file storage.

Grading Policies:

·        Attendance – 25%

·        Quizzes and homework assignments – 50%

·        Final website project – 25%

·        You must bring your ZIP disc/portable drive and notebook to every class otherwise it will be considered an absence.

Basics of Web Design – Fall 2003 – 2 of 4

Session 1

·        Introduction to Web technologies.

·        Explanation and uses of a Wireframe diagram.

·        Effective website planning.

·        Special topics for Musicians.

·        Directory structure overview.

·        HTML editing software.

·        Preliminary Wireframe worksheet.

o       Assignment – Complete basic wireframe design.

Session 2

·        Mandatory Supplies Check

·        Review and discussion of  student wireframes and web site plans.

·        The concept of a header.

·        The concept of a footer.

·        Code reuse.

·        Media types (multimedia and music on the web)

·        The basics of HMTL/What makes a webpage/Opening-Closing-Head Tags-Attributes

o       Assignment - Study for HTML basic tags quiz.

Session 3

·        HTML basic tags quiz.

·        HTML tags for text formatting.  Demonstration and examples.

·        Other HTML tags and attributes.

o       Assignment – Create basic homepage text layout.

Session 4

·        Review and critique homepage assignment.

·        The concept of tables for page content alignment.

·        HTML table tags and attributes.

o       Assignment – Study for HTML tag quiz

Session 5

·        HTML Table tags quiz.

·        Table workshop.

·        Create Header.

·        HTML link tags.

o       Assignment – Complete header and footer files.

Basics of Web Design – Fall  2003 – 3 of 4

Session 6

·        Scanning and creating images for the web.

·        HTML image tags and image display.

·        Links on Images.

o       Assignment – create homepage with header/footer,links and images.

Session 7

·        Review and critique improved homepage design.

·        Creating a personal biography page.

·        In class individual Q and A.

o       Assignment – create a personal biography page.

Session 8

·        Streaming media overview.

·        Choosing a media type.

·        Creation of streaming media.

·        Linking streaming media to your site.

·        Copyrights and protecting your music on the web.

o       Create and link streaming media to your site.

o       Study for image and media quiz

Session 9

·        Image and media quiz.

·        Individual review of progress.

·        Creating a performance schedule page.

·        Individual Q and A.

o       Assignment – Create a performance schedule page.

Session 10

·        Creating a downloadable press kit.

o       Assignment – Create a downloadable press kit.

Session 11

·        Advanced image making.

·        Javascript rollovers on images.

·        Animated GIFs.

·        Transparent GIFs

·        The possibilities of javascript and server side scripting (ASP)

·        Individual Q and A.

Basics of Web Design – Fall  2003 – 4 of 4

Session 12

·        Creating a mailing list.

·        Creating a guest book.

o       Assignment – Add a guestbook to your site.

Session 13

·        Create a merchandising page.

·        Link the page to accept credit card payment.

·        Add affiliate links to promote your favorite music or books.

o       Assignment – Create Affiliate page.

Session 14

·        Individual Q and A - review of progress.

·        Creating other custom pages – planning and execution

o       Assignment – create a custom page

Session 15

·        Individual Q and A session.

o       Assignment – Finish and hand in Website.