This module aims to acquaint you with historical and contemporary digital media practices and design principles as a basis for developing media communication skills. You will develop visual thinking, software skills and an understanding of the range of digital media production by selectively experimenting with digital form and content. The module also provides you with the opportunity to bring knowledge from other modules and apply it to your digital artefact.
1. Tools /Output
2. Meaning / Visual Language (I)
3. Meaning / Visual Language (II)
4. Rich Media / Interactive, Audio and Motion
5. Participation / Dialogue
6. Trends
Lectures introduce students to concepts and digital design principles. In the seminars and technical workshops students work in media production groups to developed projects, exploring the aspects introduced in the lectures, as well as knowledge from their theoretical modules as a way to integrate theory and practice.
A series of fuve lectures at the start of teaching block one will provide foundations in the core theoretical areas of the curriculum and introduce students to major trends in digital media. Three crits and presentation sessions in Teaching Block 2 will help students identify directions and final concepts. These sessions will also help students prepare for their foundation portfolio submissions.
The module encourages active learning and provides the following common skills:
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 1 hour lecture | 8 |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 2 hour seminar /workshops | 22 |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 1 workshops | 11 |
| Guided independent study | Independent Studio Practice | 259 |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
There are three different assessments in this module, designed to reflect the learning across the module and student progression to level 5 media production projects. In addition, students are assessed formatively through a series of four crits /presentation sessions.
A1. Client briefs: 20% interim assessment.
This assessment will be focused on the students generating small/short digital projects from clear and concise ‘client briefs'. The ‘briefs' will be fictitious project specifications that will focus the students on delivering and producing a digital project from a specified piece of media: image, text, audio, video. The workshops leading up to this assessment deadline will be focused on providing the necessarily skills for the students to accomplish this assessment.
A2. (40%) production journals, including evaluation
A3. (40%) group project
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate some critical awareness of historical, current and future digital media trends. | Production journals |
| Discover and analyse the range of digital media communications (eg. mobile; interactive; social media; apps; music media; convergence) | Client briefs, group project |
| Explore and recognise visual communication, design principles, media production conventions and relevant technical applications. | Client briefs, group project |
| Demonstrate the ability to think theoretically, applying concepts from other modules to media productions interconnecting theory and practice | Client briefs, group project. |
| Develop key skills and engage successfully in group work. | Client briefs, group project. |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Client brief | 20 |
| Coursework | Production journal | 40 |
| Coursework | Group project | 40 |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS a requirement that the major category of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Burrough X & Mandiberg M., (2008) Digital Foundations: Introduction to Media Design with the Adobe Creative Suite, Peachpit Press, licensed under Creative Commons
Toynbee, J. and Gillespie, M. (2006) Analysing Media Texts. London: Open University Press
Adair, J. (1988) Effective time management: How to save time and spend it wisely, London: Pan Books.
Bellantoni J. &Woolman M. (1999) Type in Motion: Innovations in Digital Graphics, Phaidon Press
Berger, J. (1972) Ways of Seeing, London: Penguin, London.
Colson, R. (2007) The Fundamentals of Digital Art, AVA Publishing
Fletcher A. (2001) The Art of Looking Sideways, London: Phaidon Press Ltd
Gibbs, T. (2007) The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design. Lausanne: AVA Academia
Lupton Ellen. (2004) Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students, Princeton Architectural Press.
Macquillan, M. (2000) The Narrative Reader, London: Routledge.
Macluhan, M. (2001) Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, London: Routledge