Electronic Media Design

An introduction to the Macintosh operating system. Students will learn the basics of navigating the system through the finder, document creation, software installation, file management, and basic Mac OS workflow practices.

A brief introduction to some of the key concepts in the business of design. This course helps students to contextualize the skills they will refine over the next three terms. Touches on principles of promotion and marketing, pricing models, usage, and contracts.

Learn to use colour from both a strategic and psychological perspective. Understand the physics of both additive and subtractive coloursa vital skill if you are working in print and electronic media. Through lecture, case study and assignment, explore these issues as well as colour matching and using mixed colour in a strategic manner.

Introduces students to basic scripting languages for the web HTML and CSS in an environment designed to support individual exploration. Students will learn best practices for forward compatibility and web standards compliance. By the end of term, students will have the necessary foundational skills to create a web site.

This course provides an in-depth introduction to available coding languages and software that focus on rich media interaction and rich content web delivery. Students will use programming skills to create animations, to deliver multimedia content, and to construct web interfaces. Students will learn the fundamentals of interactive media use, and will apply these fundamentals in a series of in-class projects.

Guides students through the process, tools and workflow of document creation in the InDesign environment. Students will become proficient in document setup, use of master pages and styles, PDF creation, and will be guided through the process of preparing documents for delivery to a service provider for printing.

Introduces students to the tools of the Photoshop environment. Students will become acquainted with pixel-based layers, selections, and masking, as well as learning how to generate their own effects within Photoshop. Students will develop skills in colour correction and retouching of photographic images while becoming familiar with the various file formats available to them.

An introduction to the vector environment of Adobe Illustrator, where students will gain tools and techniques to create objects within the Illustrator environment, while employing file management strategies to improve workflow. Students will become familiar with Illustrator layers, the pen tool, selecting and editing paths, blending, gradients and gradient meshes, and creating custom tools.

A survey of the origins and major movements in graphic design in Europe and North America. This course will foster an understanding of how designers respond to their historical context, both in terms of events and the technology available to them. Students will investigate this relationship through a series of class assignments.

Introduces students to the elements of typography: anatomy of the letterform, layout, letterfit, and typeface characteristics, use and tone. Students will increase their sensitivity to how microtypography and visual hierarchies help to present content more effectively. Students will put what they have learned into practice through a series of typographic exercises and assignments.

A continuation of the ideas explored in Colour Theory, examining further the notion of colour in design. This course explores both the formal and conceptual application of colour as it pertains to a range of design forms. Students will continue to develop formal skills focusing on colour and composition, however, projects involve advances conceptual thinking and require independent research.

This course is based on principals of interactive design and focuses on the planning, organization and design of content, as well as usability issues and current trends. We will explore the four main areas of study that are necessary for interactive design: users, content, navigation and interface. Students design and produce a working website.

This course encourages students to find inspiration, while ensuring their ideas are well-anchored in rationale. Students will explore various techniques for generating design solutions, beginning with the identification of the problem by creating a design brief, and moving through the process of conceptualizing and refining solutions until they are ready for implementation.

Adobe Dreamweaver will be introduced into the design workflow established in Web 1. Students will build on the skills they developed in Web 1, deepen their understanding of the web design process, and expand their knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Introduces students to the world of digital video editing in Adobes Final Cut Studio. Students will learn proper file management for Final Cut Studio projects, master basic strategies for video editing, and, using a combination of found and student-made footage, produce various short films through the term.

Students will continue to explore the principles of typography established in term one, while still deepening their understanding by breaking the rules. Coursework includes dynamic projects designed to challenge the students abilities.

Students will be taught the basic tools, concepts and vocabulary of project management, and will be exposed to a typical industry production cycle through hands on initiation, development and execution of a media design group project.

Students will continue to develop their creative process as they work on defining their personal brand. This course encourages the student to dig deep, discovering what sets them apart as designers, and use that knowledge to effectively promote themselves to clients and employers.

A strong portfolio is a critical asset for designers. This course will help students to refine their portfolio and understand strategies including strategic portfolios for different clients, as well as strengthen their understanding of their personal design philosophies.

This course will explore WordPress as a CMS and blogging platform. We will also look at career possibilities for a developer with WordPress knowledge.

Advanced development with interactive media programming including scripting technologies and open source programming languages. Students will focus on rich media interaction and rich content web delivery in a variety of client focused projects.

Building on skills learned in Final Cut Studio 1, students will delve into working with and animating type, and adding keyframing, masking and motion tracking into their workflows.