Syllabus

Publication Design

PUCD 4030 B FA08 3444

Instructor: Irwin Chen

E-mail: cheni@newschool.edu

Per the Universities request New School e-mail is to be used for all communication with the students and the school.

Phone: 347.248.9145

Course Description:

The publishing industry is in currently crisis. We are witnessing a momentous shift in the way media are distributed and created and as a result, the newspaper and the magazine (and print media in general) are re-evaluating their viability in a networked, always-on, on-demand world. The internet has been the key force that has brought about the winds of change, and at incredible speed. Thus, this class will explore these shifts by looking at how newspapers and magazines are increasingly using the web to publish, and how print is changing in its function and importance.

Course Prerequisites:

Type 1, Communication Design 1, Intro to Web

What you will learn in this class

Upon the completion of the class you should be able to:

• How to design and implement a grid structure and templates for dynamic content
• How to write semantically correct, accessible markup (HTML), ie, make web pages correctly
• Control typography, styling, and layout with CSS and basic Javascript
• A process for working collaboratively to develop a product, both online and in print
• Basic information architecture methodology

Class Procedures

• You must be in class, and must be on time. If a foreseeable emergency arises, please notify the instructor beforehand.
• Post your assignments at the beginning of each class, per the instructions given for the assignment.
• Be ready to discuss all assignments.

Grading Criteria

Grading will be based on participation in discussions, participation in the blog, and the quality of midterm and final projects.

• Attendance: 16%
• Assignments: 14%
• Midterm Project: 25%
• Final Project: 45%

Required Texts

• Thinking with Type, Ellen Lupton

Online Resources

Here are some links to resources on the web you will need for class:

Applications

Have these programs downloaded and installed on your computer. Luckily, they are all free!

• Web Browser: Firefox
• Firefox Extension: Firebug
• Text Editor: TextWrangler
• FTP Client: Cyberduck(for Mac)

Web Services

• Flickr (you will need a Yahoo! ID in order to join unfortunately)
• del.icio.us
• ffffound.com

Tutorials

• http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/3dboxmodel/
• http://www.brainjar.com/css/positioning/
• Positioning with CSS
• http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/visudet.html#containing-block-details

Typography

• CSSType
• Resources > Fonts This site gives a good listing of what default fonts are common to all major platforms.
• Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web An incomplete (but still handy) translation of Robert Bringhurst's classic for the web.
• CSS Reference

Positioning with CSS

• http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/3dboxmodel/
• http://www.brainjar.com/css/positioning/
• Positioning with CSS
• http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/visudet.html#containing-block-details

Writing

You will be required to post at least one blog post a week, to be completed before class. Each blog post will count as 1% of your grade.

Midterm

By Week 8, you will be required to submit your proposal for your final project. The guidelines for the Final Project will be as follows:

You will create one or more issues of your own publication, which may take the form of a physical object, a DVD, or some other media, but all publications must have an online component. Your proposal must clearly lay out what your publication will be about, what audience you would like it to reach (the demographic characteristics), the competitive landscape (what other publications cover the same field, if any). You may choose to work on this with a partner, or you may choose to collaborate with someone outside of the class. These details must be outlined in your proposal.

Final Projects are due on the last class, December 23rd, 2008. No late projects will be accepted.