School of Architecture and Built Environment

Course Template

Department of Design and Visual Communications

B.A. Design and Visual Communications
Course DES132 Multimedia and Web, 3Crs : 2 Lectures + 2 Studios
Prerequisite ARCH111 Basic Design 1
.::. Course Description:

In this course students will study software and hardware packages used to create multimedia
productions and web pages. The course further addresses hands-on experience using hardware,
software to create 2D/3D graphics, sound, animation, and video. A discussion of the multimedia
market, copyright, and ethics in mass media is also included.

Module Description Week

Terminology and What is Multimedia? How it effects our modern life? These 1st
basic history questions will be answered through explaining basic history
of multimedia and exploring some of the terminology
related.
Photomontage and Working with images and basic image edits. 2nd
Image / Text collage
Overlapping images and texts 3rd
[Photoshop]
Project 1 submittal 4th
Stop-motion creation Understanding frame based animation 5th
[Photoshop/ Flash/
Working with storyboards and scenes 6th
stop-motion
software] Incorporation of sound with images 7th
Project 2 submittal 8th
Creating interfaces based on metaphor, icon - and object – 9th
Interactive multimedia based interface.
application
Creating structure and linkage of different pages and media 10th
[Photoshop/ Flash]
formats. Adding sound.
11th
Using ActionScript to link the interface with the rest of the 12th
structure
13th
 14th
Project 3 submittal 15th
Final Exams Period 16th
.::. Projects:

Project 1: [I was, I am, I will be] Collage based on photomontage, different media, light and sound.
Playing around the notion of reincarnations, each student will create a visual representation of
how [s]he perceive his/her past, current and future life. Surrealist and experimental approaches
will be encouraged. Project brief will be given in due time.

Project 2: [Thank You for the Music] Stop motion video based on images and music. Each student
will select a song or a music piece and create a video representation of it. The aim of this exercise
is challenge the commercial video clips and produce videos with high aesthetic values. Project
brief will be given in due time.

Project 3: [TBD] Interactive web application. Each student will design an interactive application
based on a theme that will be decided later. The application will contain images, text, sound and
video. The application will follow a metaphor that correspond to the theme and will contain a
navigational system to help the user explore the application. Project brief will be given in due
time.

.::. Learning Outcomes:

a) Knowledge and Understanding

1. Know how to use the software related [Photoshop and Flash]
2. Know how to use images, text, animation, video, audio and interactivity to create
multimedia projects.

b) Intellectual Skills
3. Understand the different applications of multimedia in our modern days.
4. Understand the history and development of the [WWW], the online culture, basic
functional and aesthetic qualities of websites and emerging societal and communicational
practices of the web.

c) Professional Skills
5. Use all the knowledge and skills attained [as mentioned above] in the process of designing
multimedia and web applications.

d) Transferable skills
6. Enhancing the student's verbal and visual communication of concepts, design approaches
and solutions.

.::. Teaching Methods:

This course consists of two studio sessions per week, these sessions are composed of:
[ ] Tutorials addressing the software covered in this course
[ ] Discussion sessions of given readings.
[ ] Studio time to work on the projects and assignments on going.
[ ] Discussion sessions between the students and the instructors about their work and design
development and any written or research assignments.
ALL Students will sign in to a social network created for them [ http://fusionists.ning.com/].
After signing in they will have to contribute to this network by videos, images, discussion forums,
etc. Their contribution will be assessed as their course portfolio and therefore is a MUST.
Also students will be using the Design and Visual Communication Department video channel on
ikbis [ http://ikbis.com/channels/GJU.Design ] to upload any video or animation they will create.

.::. Assessment:

The criteria of assessment are:

[ ] Creative approaches to the project requirements and the level of deviation from typical
design solutions.
[ ] The level of mastering the software and deploying it in the design process.
[ ] The general quality of the design in terms of concepts, developing, functionality, and
usability.

The grading system:

1. Studio Projects: 70 %
Project 1 10%
Project 2 20%
Project 3 40%

2. Assigned Readings, exercises and homework 20%

3. Student's Portfolio [His/ her profile at [Fusionists network]] 10%

Projects and assignments must be submitted on time. No late submittal is accepted except in
cases of emergency and meeting the instructor's and the Dean's approval.

.::. Text Books

:: Vaughan, Tay, (2008), Multimedia: Making It Work, McGraw Hill, 7th Ed.

.::. References

:: Adobe Creative Team, (2008), Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press.
:: Burrough, Xtine & Mandiberg, Michael, (2009), Digital Foundations, Intro to Media Design, New
Riders.
:: Elsom-Cook, Mark, (2001), Principles of Interactive Multimedia, McGraw Hill.
:: Iuppa, Nick, (2001), Interactive Design for New Media and the Web, Focal Press, 2nd Ed.

Instructor Arch. Rusaila Bazlamit, M.Sc. Design and Digital Media

Co Instructor Ms. Rima Darras, B.A. Graphic Design