COMPUTING AND DESIGN

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
96	80173 	S1  	D 	COMPUTING AND DESIGN      	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

Powerful tools for design and publication in a variety of media are being made widely available through personal computers and are increasingly used in education and other occupations. In an image conscious culture, knowledge and skills which enable use of such tools to promote personal and corporate image through good design are valuable assets. Conversely, poorly designed materials can be detrimental. Computer software can be both a tool for design and a product of design. Good design will make software easier to use and should be a criterion in its development and selection for educational or other purposes.

SYNOPSIS:

Students  will  be introduced to basic principles of design  including
placement  of elements and use of colour.  Hardware and software  used
for  computer  acquisition and production of text and images  will  be
examined  and  used  to  produce  a  variety  of  materials.    Design
principles will be applied in the use of computer based tools such  as
artistic graphics, desktop publishing and presentation tools.   Design
factors important in the development of computer based systems will be
examined with emphasis on approaches to human-computer interfaces  and
application of design criteria to the evaluation of computer software.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. outline basic principles of design and apply them to the analysis and preparation of visual materials using a variety of computer related media;
2. describe and discuss a variety of methods used for acquisition, storage, modification and presentation of computer-based images and apply them to a variety of problems requiring an understanding of design principles;
3. outline some principles of human-computer interface design and apply them to the development and evaluation of software systems.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Elements and Principles of Design                                     10.00
.  balance
.  colour
.  sound and motion

Computing for Design                                                  65.00
.  hardware and operating systems
.  typography
.  design software
.  image acquisition
.  file formats and conversions
.  output devices

Design for Computing                                                  25.00
.  human-computer interface design principles
.  effective screen design
.  design criteria for software evaluation

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Course booklet.

Floppy disks.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Apple Computer Inc. (1991a). "The basic elements of design". Cupertino:
Apple Computer Inc.

Apple Computer Inc. (1991b). DTP for schools (Version Beta) [HyperCard
stack]. Sydney: Apple Computer Australia.

Apple Computer Inc. (1991c). "Macintosh User's Guide". Cupertino: Apple
Computer Inc.

Brown, C. M. (1988). "Human-Computer Interface Design Guidelines",
Norwood: Ablex.

Claris Corporation. (1993). ClarisWorks Handbook, : Claris Corporation.

Cox, K., & Walker, D. (1990). "User-Interface Design". Hackett: Advanced
Education Software.

Craig, J. (1990). "Production for the Graphic Designer". (2nd ed.). New
York: Watson-Guptill.

Hicks, R., & Essinger, J. (1991). "Making computers more human:
Designing for human-computer interaction". Oxford: Elsevier Advanced
Technology.

Marchionini, G. (1991). "Psychological Dimensions of User-Computer
Interfaces", (Digest ED337203): ERIC.

McCain, T. (1992). "Designing for communication: the key to successful
desktop publishing". Eugene: ISTE.

Pogue, D. (1994). "Macs for Dummies". San Mateo: IDG Books.

Poole, L., & Gorham, J. (1992). "Understanding Apple Technology".
Cupertino: Apple Computer Inc.

Salkind, N. J. (1992). "Applying Macintosh: Solutions, ideas and tools".
New York: Macmillan.

Sherwood, C., & Buchanan, P. "Desktop publishing in schools". Mount
Gravatt: Griffith University.

Shushan, R., & Wright, D. (1989). "Desktop Publishing by Design".
Redmond: Microsoft Press.

Stanley, M. L. G. "Exploring graphic design: a short course in desktop
publishing". Eugene: ISTE.

Thompson, D. (1994). "Graphics and ClarisWorks: using graphics in
ClarisWorks for the Macintosh a step-by-step guide for teachers".
Warwick: Darling Downs Southern School Support Centre.

Webb, E., & Lovelock, M. (1990). "Looking good: desktop publishing".
Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.

White, J. V. (1982). Editing by design: "A guide to effective word-and-
picture communication for editors and designers". (2 nd ed.). New
York: R. R. Bowker Company.

White, J. V. (1988). "Graphic Design for the Electronic Age". New York:
Xerox Press.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	28
Tutorials/Workshops                           	14
Directed Study                                	120

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No	*F/S	Marks		Due		Description					Wtg(%)		LBL
1 	F 	        	22/03/95	FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT TASK               	        	Y
2 	S 	60.00   	17/05/95	ASSIGNMENT                              	60.00   	Y
3 	S 	40.00   	END S1  	EXAM                                    	40.00   	Y

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    Students will be required to use appropriate software for
preparation of assignments.
2    Data disks may be required to be submitted with assessment work.