Course Introduction: Design for Purpose

The Web is indispensable to the lives of most people today. From news and banking to schoolwork and friendships, it is difficult to imagine what our world would look like if the Web suddenly disappeared. With the rise of powerful platforms, web publishing is now easily within the reach of almost anyone with patience and basic computer skills. But what makes this powerful tool possible, and how are we called to use it?

As we interact with websites daily, we should ask who made them and how they knew where to start. The creators of these digital spaces are web designers. This course is designed to help you learn what "they" know and to equip you to become a creator in your own right.

A web designer's work is broad and interesting, crossing several disciplinary boundaries. These professionals must understand the technology that underpins the web, but more importantly, they must have an even better understanding of the people who access it. They contribute to communications strategy, apply principles of graphic design, and integrate practices of usability and accessibility into their work. They must understand the "business purpose" for a website while advocating for the people who need to use that site. In this, we are reminded to orient our work towards a higher purpose, focusing on that which edifies and serves others.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

While some small projects can be completed alone, larger projects are often too complex for one person. Many designers choose to specialize in an area like strategy, visual design, or user experience. This course will expose you to the range of knowledge and skills a generalist web designer is expected to be familiar with. We see a biblical precedent for this kind of God-given creativity and skill.

"He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers." - Exodus 35:35 (NIV)

No single course can make you an expert, but you will learn about the profession and acquire new skills and knowledge along the way. By the end of this course, you will be able to speak intelligently about the field and better understand which aspects of it might appeal to you. Ultimately, you will be empowered with the basic knowledge and expertise to craft your own sites. As you embark on this journey, let us commit our work to a standard of excellence.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." - Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

The textbook used in this class is 

Learning Web Design - A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics

Fifth Edition

by Jennifer Niederst Robbins

By Jen Simmons

If you travel to Silicon Valley and navigate between the global headquarters of some of the world’s most famous internet companies, you can head to the Computer History Museum. Wander through the museum, past the ancient mainframes and the story of the punch card, and you’ll eventually find yourself at the beginning of the Wide World Web. There’s a copy of the Mosaic browser on a floppy disk tucked in a book of the same name, a copy of Netscape Navigator that was sold in a box, and something called “Internet in a Box,” the #1 best-selling internet solution for Windows. Then there are the websites. Some of the earliest, most notable, and most important websites are on permanent display, including something called the “Global Network Navigator,” from 1993. It was designed by none other than the author of this book, Jennifer Robbins. Long before most of us had any idea the web existed, or even before many of you were born, Jen was busy designing the first commercial website. She’s been there from the very beginning, and has watched, taught, and written about every stage of evolution of the web.

Learning Web Design is now in its 5th edition, with a gazillion new pages and updates from those early days.

I am constantly asked, “What are the best resources for learning web technology?” I learned by reading books. Blog posts are great, but you also need an in-depth comprehensive look at the subject. In the beginning, all books were beginner books, teaching HTML, URLs, and how to use a browser. When CSS came along, the books assumed you’d already been using HTML, and taught you how to change to the new techniques. Then CSS3 came along, and all the books taught us how to add new CSS properties to our preexisting understanding of CSS2. Of course there were always books for beginners, but they were super basic. They never touched on professional techniques for aspiring professionals. Each new generation of books assumed that you had prior knowledge. Great for those of us in the industry. Tough for anyone new. But how in the world are you supposed to read about two decades of techniques, discarding what is outdated, and remembering what is still correct? How are you supposed to build a career from knowledge that’s so basic that you have no idea what real pros code in their everyday jobs?

You can’t. That’s why today when people ask me for a book recommendation, I have only one answer. This book.

This book you are reading now doesn’t require any prior knowledge. You don’t need to have made a web page before, or to have any idea where to get a code editor. It starts at the very beginning. And yet, unlike all the other books that start at the beginning, this one will get you to the good stuff, fast. Jen will explain every step you need, including some very advanced concepts. She’s packed this book full of cutting edge, insider knowledge from top experts.

I honestly don’t know how she does it. How can someone teach the basics and the advanced stuff at the same time? Usually you’ll learn those things years apart, with lots of struggling in the dark in the meantime. Here, Jen will lift you up from wherever you are in your journey, and take you farther. Every one of us—myself included, and I’m on the CSS Working Group (the group of people who invent new CSS)—can learn a lot from this book. I do every time I pick it up.

Pay attention to the notes in the margins. Read the websites she recommends, watch the videos. Jen is giving you a shortcut to a professional network. Follow the people she mentions. Read the links they suggest. These might be your future colleagues. Dare to dream that you will meet them. They are, after all, only a tweet away. It is a small world, full of real people, and you can become part of it all. This book will get you started.

—Jen Simmons

Designer and Developer Advocate at Mozilla

Member of the CSS Working Group

April 2018

From Chapter 4 onward, there are slides available that cover the material in the class text.  You are encouraged to study them.

All homework and project descriptions will be posted on this class website: 

http://webdesign.cgcseagles.org

Each student will have their own Dropbox or Google Drive folder/directory that will be used to store their homework assignments.

A calendar of when Chapters will be covered in class, and projected due date for assignments is provided in the Lesson Plan Calendar

There will be at least two grades given each week.  Your grade will be determined by a combination of marks received for

1. Exercise assignments, 

2. Quizzes, and 

3. Several web design projects, and in addition, 

4. Participation will be factored into your final grade. 

1. Read the Chapters of the Class Text.  <-- YOU HAVE TO DO THIS TO LEARN THE MATERIAL

2. Chapter slides are available for each Chapter.

3. Most of the Chapters in the text have Exercises you will be doing as homework assignments.  

4. The Chapter Exercises need to be completed by their due dates.   

5. The Lesson Plan Calendar outlines when the Chapters of the text will be covered in class, along with the Exercises you will be working on, and their due dates.

6. We will be reviewing in class the Chapter text or the Chapter slides.  You are also responsible for studying them on your own.

7. Some of the Chapter Exercises have the walkthroughs on this website to help you finish them.

8. We will be reviewing in class some of the Chapter Exercise walkthroughs.