Unit 3 Student guide introduction

The topic of this week is Building a Client Website

Download Unit 3 Student Guide

View the Fireworks Adobe Video Library

In this unit, you and your partner will work on a project to build a website for a client. Everyone builds the same site so don't think too hard about the design. The idea of this work is to learn how to apply design principles rather than the actual layout and look of the website. The client is a non-profit seeking the first website. Your team needs to interpret the client’s needs in designing the navigation, the look and feel, and the content flow. The client determines which site most closely meets those needs.

Keep in mind that the focus of this unit is working on a team and designing for someone else. The main emphasis is the design-team process for website development, the team-client interaction for incorporating feedback and changes throughout the development of the site, and the application of techniques that make the site design and content easily reusable and revisable.

To learn more about the design techniques, visit this site on Adobe.com. Adobe’s Website Production Management Techniques (read the information under Define on the
right side of the page for information on defining goals and objectives, creating a project plan, and establishing requirements).


Activities:

3.1 Defining a client website project
3.2: Planning a client project
3.3: Structuring a client website
3.4: Designing a client website
3.5: Reviewing and revising to client specifications
3.6: Implementing a reusable design
3.7: Building a client website
3.8: Testing a client website
3.9: Launching a client website

Week 2 - Unit 2 continued

You need to continue working on unit 2 this week, everyone. You've make progress but you're still a long way from completing this guide. Don't spend time working on projects that won't help you achieve your goal of finishing the assignments from this unit.

The download Unit 2: Student guide now.

Starting your portfolio - week 1

This week, you'll begin the work required to create your Electronic Portfolio. You need to complete the following tasks:

1) Sign up for a web hosting account on Freehostia.com
2) Download the lessons found in your student guide.
3) View the video at Adobe's Video Library for this week. Scroll down and view Adobe Fireworks.

Portfolios communicate accomplishments, works in progress, or personal history. Designers use a portfolio to showcase their previous work when applying for a job. Traditionally a portfolio is a large book or leather case containing design samples. With the Internet, portfolios can be electronic, easily and quickly sharing a designer’s work with anyone in the world.


In this unit, you will create the elements of an electronic portfolio with Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 and Adobe Fireworks CS3. You will build a website that features work you've completed as well as future work. While creating your portfolio, you will need to plan, implement, and test your website design; and reflect on and evaluate your work. Incorporating graphic design techniques is essential in
this unit. The presentation of an electronic portfolio can be just as important as its content. Please focus on these elements as you work during the next week.

Getting started with Adobe Cerification for Dreamweaver

Ok, there's a lot to learn over the semester, yes. But, it's not hard and you can definitely do this!

The first semester of Digital Design (Units 1–4) develops skills that lay the foundation for producing web-ready communications: graphic design principles, storyboards, web development, shared project management skills such as interviewing and project scheduling, peer review, and redesign. Project activities focus on developing effective communications that can be deployed on the web. Students
develop a variety of graphical images, an electronic portfolio, and a client website. A great deal of flexibility is implied in the curriculum.

We're going to use a lot of Adobe software including:

Adobe Fireworks
Adobe Flash
Adobe Dreamweaver

To get started, visit Adobe Video library.

Adobe Dreamweaver certification start

This course is quickly approaching the break! I'm excited to see the progress your making in learning about Adobe Dreamweaver and the broader topic of certification. Gaining your certification in Dreamweaver is a grest accomplishment but you need to put your best effort into the process. Coming to class ready to work, working quickly and precisely on assigned activities is an important aspect of this effort.

Ms. Wade and I are working with you. We are prepared to offer any degree of support required to help you prepare for the certification. Let us know what you need to become successfully certified Dreamweaver designers.