GDS 220 Graphic Design for the Web

Blogging Assignment: Award-Winning Web Sites
Instructor: Paul Young

 

Objective

To be inspired by award-winning web design. To become familiar with design firms and ad agencies that design web sites. To survey current trends in photography, illustration, advertising and design. To use blogs as a reflection tool.

 

Description

Research award-winning web sites by consulting print sources as a starting point. Collect screenshots and links to post to your blog. Links without a citation to a print source will not be accepted for credit.

Consider the following categories as a starting point (call numbers are listed for your convenience):

  • Graphic Design (NC 970-1890)
  • Web Design (TK 5105)
  • Illustration (NC 970-1890)
  • Photography (TR 6-822)
  • Advertising (HF 5821-6201)
  • Typography (Z 243-250)
  • Computers/software (QA 76.76)
  • Other

Pay particular attention to these periodicals (graphic design students are allowed to check out periodicals overnight*):

  • Adbusters
  • Baseline
  • CMYK
  • Communication Arts
  • Computer Arts
  • How
  • ID
  • Lürzer's Archive
  • PDN (Photo District News)
  • Print

Also pay particular attention to these annuals (current volume is on reserve):

  • Art Director's Annual
  • Graphis Design Annual
  • Society of Illustrators Annual
  • Typography: The Annual of the Type Directors' Club

Extra credit: If you stumble upon excellent web sites while browsing, feel free to include these as extra credit. However if you only use Internet resources for your research, you may receive a zero for this assignment.

*Note: The library does not allow periodicals to be checked out by students. However, under special arrangement with the Library director, graphic design students may check out periodicals overnight. This is a privilege that should not be abused. Please return materials promptly. If you have any problems checking out periodicals, please ask to see a librarian (student workers are sometimes not informed).

 

Procedure
  1. Visit Parkland library's reserve section, periodicals and/or stacks every week. Find the names of award-winning designers, photographers, illustrators, design firms or ad agencies who might have a portfolio website.
  2. Browse their website on the Internet and look for links to web sites they have designed or a link to the design firm who designed their site. Make screenshots of key pages to post on your blog.
  3. In your blog entry, write a brief review of the website and provide a web link. Feel free to comment on design, content, navigation, innovation, creativity (tip: consider using the same criteria from the Analyzing Web Sites lecture). You must also cite the print source where you found the initial link.
  4. Present your blog for team critique and feedback every week by posting your blog's web address as part of each week's Angel homework assignment (when prompted). Revise your blog as needed for grading at midterm and at the end of the semester.
  5. Read the post(s) of the team members in your assigned group. Post a comment on their blog and encourage each other to seek out high quality designs (blog comments are optional and are not graded).

Important: This is a graded assignment. Spelling, grammar, clarity of thought and adherence to assignment specifications will count towards your grade.

 

Schedule

Your initial blog post is due Wednesday at 11:55pm every week. You must also respond to your team members' posts by Saturday at 11:55pm.