design for the web course info
summary
- course for adults, you must be at least 19 years old by the time of enrolment
- part-time course – classes are 2 full days per week (days TBC) for 1 academic year
- application is done via interview when you will be asked to present a portfolio of creative work (traditional and/or digital) and show a keen interest in webdesign as a future career
- course fees vary, depending on income. You may be eligible for concessions – find out more by contacting student advice:phone: 020 7510 7510 OR email: advice AT tower.ac.uk
what you study
This course is focused on delivering webstandards based design – meaning you will write clean code by hand to produce your sites and work on ensuring your design and structure are as accessible as possible. The aim is to give you solid practical skills which allow you to start your career as webdesigner – whether you choose to work within a webdesign studio or go freelance.
The course takes you through all aspects of webdesign from brainstorming initial ideas, developing site maps and flow charts, creating presentation mock ups from roughs to editing and preparing images and graphics for the web. You will learn how to hand code – using the latest recommended techniques while learning about designing for the web.
how you study
✫ term 1
main project: 1st site online by christmas :)
The first term will focus on teaching you handcoding. With a lot of practical exercises and a lot of homework – you will practise and apply your coding skills to various web projects. You will also learn about techniques used to create and edit suitable images and graphics for your website. Our time will be mainly spent coding ;)
Subjects such as colour theory, layout principles and typography will go hand in hand with your projects and you’ll start presenting your ideas and concepts for feedback. You will have completed your first small site by the end of term.
✫ term 2
main project: real client site
Term 2 will go deeper into hand coding and look at more advanced techniques as well as professional site set up – compliant with the web standards and following accessibility guidelines. You will also learn how to work with jQuery – all using progressive enhancement which will ensure your sites will work well with or without Javascript enabled.
The main focus of this term will be your first official real client project. You will learn how to deal with clients, take the brief, present proposals – learn how to deal with feedback and finish off by putting the final site online.
✫ term 3
main project: your own online portfolio site
The last term is all yours. Teaching carries on but prompted by your input and requests – the main goal is for you to produce your own portfolio website, ready for promotion by the end of the course. Sessions will be more flexible and allow time to complete this final major project.
course aim
- to give insight into web design and involved principles
- to develop reflective and analytical skills in relation to personal creative work
- to give insight into the work patterns which exist in the web design industry
- to give an overall understanding of the main features of the software used in the industry
- to develop confidence in using software to realise design work
- to teach an understanding of web standards and accessibility guidelines
- to develop and collate a body of work for inclusion in professional portfolio – displayed online
the qualification
The course is validated by the nationally recognised organization Open College Network. On completion of the course you will be awarded a OCN Access Certificate in Art & Design, credited for the units you achieved.
Successful completion of the course is dependent on you attending 80% of classes and achieving 16 unit credits. Continous assessment will take place throughout the year in individual tutorial sessions.
course handbook
This is the handbook for this year’s course. It contains information such as contact details, room protocols and of course the complete listing of modules and units as well as assessment criteria.
