August 20th: Introduction to the Course

Announcements

• University Career Center's Fall Career Expo
  [Link seems to be broken]

Information Design and Digital Publishing

Tonight we have the following fun things to go over:

• Syllabus and course requirements

• Class Interviews

• Webpages

Information Design for the 21st Century

Let's go over the syllabus and discuss the course requirements. Please ask questions when they come up. In this class you will create documents using the various software we have in the computer lab. However, the primary goal of this class is not to teach you how to use these software packages. The recommended books are just that--recommended. You have to decide whether or not it's worth investing in them. The required design books will be our primary focus in this class: effective design, unlike technology, has a longer shelf life.

The following Adobe products should be used to complete your assignments:

• Dreamweaver
• InDesign
• Photoshop

Additionally, you'll be using MS Word (or another word processor) to type memos and reflections about the assignments you do. Don't blow off that step! Reflection is a way to get you to be conscious of the design choices you make.

Go to the syllabus, so we can go over it together in great detail. Because we're trying to conserve resources, I won't be printing the syllabus out for you. In fact, I'll do my best to go paperless, but I'm not sure I'll make it 100%.

Class Interviews

We'll use Moodle this semester for a few things such as reading quizzes and discussions. Tonight I want us to get comfortable with (or just get on) Moodle. Please interview a person in class that, if possible, you don't know from a previous semester. Report the following back to class (in Moodle2):

• Name

• Year (don't put 2013--junior, senior, grad, etc.)

• Major/Minor

• Hometown(s)

• Job/Future Job

• Favorite Book (most recent book...)

• Favorite Movie (good movies can be found here)

• Favorite TV Show

• What do you expect in ENGL 4182/5182?

  • Do not say an 'A'.
  • What do you want to know about Information Design?
  • If you want to learn software, there are easier ways, so this class isn't for you.
  • Actually, just own up to it. If you're just taking this because it's required, just say so. Why hide it? But don't expect me to accept it...

Maintain a Webpage all Semester

Some of you are already experts at this, and some of you are brand new. I want you to create a webpage for this course. Let's try to get one up today.

Next Week's Readings

Make sure you read Chapters 1 and 2 in Document Design before coming to class next week (8/27). These chapters serve as an introduction to information design and digital publishing. While the material may seem like "common sense," don't think that you can dismiss the reading. The concepts might seem obvious, but the vocabulary and theory behind the ideas are important. Also, your exams will cover the reading in this course as well as "information design fundamentals."