Syllabus

Core Studio: Interaction

PUDT 2100

Instructor: Katy Garnier
Email: classes [at] catherinegarnier [dot] com
Hours and Location: 12:00 – 2:40

Tuesday, Arnhold Hall 55 W13th 402
Thursday, Parsons 2 W 13th 1101

Course Description:

This course is an intensive project-based studio, focusing of the principles and elements of interactive and online media.  Students will produce projects with increasing complexity, focusing on historic precedents, information architecture, media integration and future developments.   Emphasis is on a critical awareness of new technologies, an articulated design process, creative engagement with the medium and principles of user experience.

Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of interface design principles
  • Prototype, build and test a website, based on principles of usability
  • Participate effectively within a collaborative workflow
  • Articulate the concepts and problems within their design process
  • Research and present the work of a pivotal new media artist or designer
  • Discuss key concepts within interactive media development
  • Creatively address new possibilities within interactive media

Grading:

    • 10% – Attendance and Class Participation
    • 10% – Blog, Mini-Projects, Writing Assignments
    • 20% – Collaborative Redesign Project
    • 20% – App Prototype Project
    • 10% –Research Presentation
    • 30% – Final Project

      Required Course Materials:

      • Sketchbook
      • Flash or external hard drive
      • A server account
      • WordPress blog

      Course Requirements:

      Come to class on time. Students arriving more than 20 minutes late may be marked absent.

      Attend all classes. Each week we will build on the work learned the week before. If you must miss a class, please let me know ahead of time. It is your responsibility to obtain any missed material from your fellow classmates, and to turn assignments in on time even if you are absent. Students missing more than three classes may fail the course.

      Turn in assignments on time. Work turned in late will lose one letter grade for every week that it is late. Work turned in more than two weeks from the due date will not be accepted. The four main projects may not be turned in past the day that the project is to be presented in class.

      Participate and Collaborate. Being a successful designer is not just measured in the quality of the work that you produce, but in your ability to articulate your ideas and collaborate with your colleagues. Your comments on the blogs, contributing to critique discussions,

      Academic Integrity. Plagiarism and cheating of any kind in the course of academic work will not be tolerated. Academic honesty includes accurate use of quotations, as well as appropriate and explicit citation of sources in instances of paraphrasing and describing ideas, or reporting on research findings or any aspect of the work of others (including that of instructors and other students). These standards of academic honesty and citation of sources apply to all forms of academic work (examinations, essays, theses, computer work, art and design work, oral presentations, and other projects). It is the responsibility of students to learn the procedures specific to their discipline for correctly and appropriately differentiating their own work from that of others. Compromising your academic integrity may lead to serious consequences, including (but not limited to) one or more of the following: failure of the assignment, failure of the course, academic warning, disciplinary probation, suspension from the university, or dismissal from the university.

      Required and Recommended Reading:

      You are not required to buy any textbooks for this course, but we will be reading excerpts from the following list, among others. These books are valuable additions to any designer’s library and I highly recommend buying them!

      Project Timeline:

      • Weeks 1 – 15: Blog Documentation
      • Weeks 1 – 5: Research Presentations
      • Weeks 2 – 9:  Collaborative Redesign Project
      • Weeks 10– 15: Final Project

      See the Course Calendar page for more details.

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