Comm. 5510: Advanced Web Design Introduction Required Texts ...

Comm. 5510: Advanced Web Design
Instructor: Ray Dahl – ray.dahl@gmail.com
Phone: 801.647.9550
Meets: Tuesday 6:00-9:00 pm; LNCO 2950
Office Hours: By Appointment only
Introduction
This course challenges you to communicate visually using the web. Our emphasis is on the act of
designing aesthetically pleasing and usable web messages for specific user groups.
Due to the strict enrollment limit and the number of students on the wait list, REGISTERED
STUDENTS MUST ATTEND CLASS ON THE FIRST DAY IN ORDER TO RETAIN THEIR SPOTS
IN CLASS. Students who miss the first day forfeit their positions and must drop the class or risk
earning a failing grade for the class. Those on the wait list will be added as space allows, according to
COMM major status and number of credits toward graduation.
Prerequisite: Comm 3550 and completion of COMM 3510 or another “for credit” web design course.
Required Texts
• Designing with Web Standards (3 rd Ed.) by Zeldman
• The Elements of User Experience by Garrett
• Web Design in a Nutshell by Robbins (recommended) or
• Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Guide by Goodman (recommended)
Other Requirements
• Email account
• Persistence in the face of adversity
• Web site hosted by the U within the first week of class
• Creative thinking and attention to detail
• Beginning Photoshop and DreamWeaver ability
• A USB flash drive
Topics
•XHTML, CSS and JavaScript
•Developing semantically informed web pages
•visual communication: layout, color, form, texture, figure/ground relationships, consistency
•effective, user-friendly design: courteous navigation, download times, cross-platform
compatibility; usability testing
•understanding vocabulary of New Media

Notes
•This course emphasizes use of the three core interface design languages (XHTML, CSS and
JavaScript). This is a code focused class. No prior programming experience is required.
•If you are completely comfortable with application-based computing and learn technical
concepts easily, you will probably do very well in this course as long as you keep up with the
assignments
•Students are discouraged from taking this course simultaneously with other production/design
courses due to the heavy workload typically associated with such courses
Critical Thinking & Learning by Doing
This course is designed to allow you to actively struggle with hands-on exploration of web design. This
material is best learned by doing, you will learn more thoroughly by completing exercises that require
you to work with the concepts, theories, and facts. Media design is often risky, messy, and timeconsuming.
Ultimately, it is highly satisfying.
I view my students as critical thinkers with existing and emerging knowledge. I assume you desire new
methods for organizing and expressing your creativity and analyses. During the semester I expect you
to take in information for analysis, synthesis, and criticism. I expect you to cogently express your
analyses verbally, graphically, electronically, and in writing to your classmates and myself. In order to
be successful in this class, you will need to work productively and ethically on your own and with other
students.
Attendance
Due to the strict enrollment limit and the number of students on the wait list, registered students must
attend class on the first day in order to retain their spots in class. Students who miss the first day forfeit
their positions and must drop the class or risk earning a failing grade for the class. Those on the wait
list will be added as space allows, according to COMM major status and number of credits toward
graduation.
Due to the workshop nature of the course, attendance is critical to your success. Being tardy and/or
absent will negatively impact your ability to keep up with the concepts presented in class. The natural
consequence of missing class time will be poor performance and poor grades. Common courtesy to
classmates and the professor demands on-time arrival, and hard work during class.
Students who participate in officially sanctioned University activities (e.g., marching band, debate,
athletics) will be permitted to turn work in early and/or make up assignments without penalty. Official
absences must be documented at least one week prior to the absence.
Professional Civility
All class members are expected to behave professionally and treat others with civility. Cellular phones
must be turned off or silent during class. Students are expected to wait until after class to place and
receive calls. Racist, homophobic, and sexist behavior/comments directed at class members are
unprofessional and therefore inappropriate. Unprofessional behavior will be politely but immediately
and firmly addressed by the professor.
The Classroom
Our workspace is full of expensive and fragile equipment that we have the privilege of using. No

drinking or eating will be allowed during class - please do not make me remind you. Be respectful of
your tuition dollars at work -- do not foul your own nest! DO NOT ALLOW NON-CLASS MEMBERS
INTO THE LAB. Unnecessary and/or inappropriate use of our machines increases the risk of downtime
and your inability to complete your projects on time.
Integrity
Strict standards of academic honesty will be enforced. Academic dishonesty will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent possible. The Student Code is published in the University course schedule. Students have
specific rights in the classroom as detailed in the code. The code also specifies proscribed conduct that
involves cheating on tests, plagiarism, and/or collusion, as well as fraud, theft, etc. Students may
receive sanctions for violating one or more of these codes. Cheating and plagiarism will result in
appropriate penalties, such as a failing grade on a specific assignment or in the course and/or expulsion
from the course. Students have the right to appeal such action to the Student Behavior Committee.
Incompletes
Incompletes will not be granted.
Copyright
Work produced in this class is copyrighted by the student. Continued attendance to this course
constitutes permission for your work to be used by the professor as examples in courses, public
lectures, academic publications, and other not-for-profit, fair-use practices.
Registrar's Message
The Registrar cautions you that withdrawing from a course and the other registration issues are the
student's responsibility. The last day to drop the class is Wednesday January 19, 2011 and the last day
to withdraw without tuition penalty is Friday March 4, 2011.
Requests for Reevaluation
The burden of proof in any disagreement over evaluation of student performance rests with the student.
If you desire reevaluation of a grade for an assignment or activity you must submit your request and
rationale in writing. Your request must identify the specific change requested and provide a reasoned
argument and evidence in support of that change. Any request for reevaluation must be made within
one week of receipt of the original evaluation.
Content Accommodations
The University recognizes that students’ sincerely-held core beliefs may make it difficult for students to
fulfill some requirements of some courses or majors. …It is the student’s obligation to determine,
before the last day to drop courses without penalty, when course requirements conflict with the
student’s sincerely-held core beliefs. If there is such a conflict, the student should consider dropping the
class. A student who finds this solution impractical may request a content accommodation from the
instructor. Though the University provides, through this policy, a process by which a student may make
such a request, the policy does not oblige the instructor to grant the request, except in those cases when
a denial would be arbitrary and capricious or illegal.

Note from Instructor on Accommodation: All readings in this course are required and considered to be
an integral part of instruction. While you may exercise your privilege to request an accommodation
under University Policy, I will not grant any content accommodations.
Disability Accommodations
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people
with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be
given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will
work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.
All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification
to the Center for Disability Services.
The Student Handbook is a good resource to consult. See www.acs.utah.edu/sched/handbook/toc.htm
for details on these or other student issues
Graded Assignments
Skill Building Modules = 30% An extension of the in class presentations and weekly reading where
you will add a page to your site showing mastery of the presented techniques. There will be three skill
building modules assigned during the semester.
Mid-term: Project brief = 30% (Due: 1 March 2011 )
Final site delivery = 30% Post your completed site for review by the course instructor and the client
Present site to Client = 10% Present your finished product to the client. (26 April 2011)
Regarding late work: Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the week assigned. If your
work is not complete and ready for review at that time you will not be eligible for full credit for that
task. You will be allowed one week to complete the work with a 50% deduction in points available.

Arthritis Program Project Brief (30% of final grade)
The project brief is a multiple document project planning tool. Prepare the following documents and
deliver them as a cohesive package. Due in class on 1 March 2011.
• Statement of purpose: A brief document describing the goals, purpose and function the
proposed site. (1-2 pages)
• Audience analysis: A document describing in broad terms the intended audiences for the
project. Describe the types of audiences that the site is designed to cater to. For each identified
audience create a detailed persona to represent the primary users for of the site. Limit yourself
to two or three personae. (4-6 pages)
• Site Architecture: A document detailing the content that will be delivered on the site. Describe
the rational behind the site organization. Include a site map which presents the information
hierarchy. (2-3 pages)
• Design guide: This document presents detailed layouts for the home page and content pages.
Include with the mockups a narrative describing the theme, metaphor and rational behind the
design. (3-5 pages)
Project: Arthritis Program Web Site
(30% of final grade)
The Utah Department of Health arthritis education program needs a new web site. We will be
managing the redesign. Participants in the class will be broken into design teams. Each team will be
responsible for designing and developing a new site for the arthritis education program. Our client will
select the design that meets their organizational constrains and best fulfills the goals for their program.
The site will conform to the following general criteria:
• Designed with a DreamWeaver template managing the look of the site
• The template must be compliant with the state Department of Health style guidelines.
• Using an original theme developed by your team
• Valid XHTML 1.0
• Valid CSS 2.0
• Original graphic design that conforms to the department of health style guide
• Maximum page size 200Kb (Including all XHTML, CSS, scripting and images)
• No broken links

Schedule
Date Topic Reading Assignment Due
1 January Introduction Garrett Ch 1
Zeldman Ch 1 & 5
18 January XHTML review
DreamWeaver Fundamentals
25 January CSS review
Meet the Client
1 February Francine Goitz - Product Planning
JavaScript introduction
8 February Persona Design
CSS 3
15 February Dave Broschinsky - Affinity
Diagramming
22 February Kip Henrie - Graphic Design
DreamWeaver Templates
1 March Client Visit
Tables
Garrett Ch 2
Zeldman Ch 6
Garrett Ch 3
Zeldman Ch 8 & 9
Garrett Ch 4
Zeldman Ch 15
Garrett Ch 5
Zeldman Ch 10 & 12
Garrett Ch 6
Garrett Ch 7
Zeldman Ch 13 & 16
Anderson Ch 11
Cederholm Ch 7
8 March Forms HeadFirst Forms
15 March Form Validation
22 March Spring Break
29 March Laura Dahl - Writing and Editing
for the Web
5 April Accessibility Zeldman Ch 7
12 April HTML 5
19 April Lab Night
Syllabus Module Due
Layout Module Due
Site Brief is Due
Zeldman Ch 14 Form Module Due
26 April Present finished sites to client Site presentations to
client