Design and the Web
On this page
This ten-week online course shows how design principles can be applied to the creation of web pages and websites. It explores the elements of web page design, text, colour, images, and assembling them as layout. The course also covers usability issues such as navigation, access, interactivity, and designing virtual experiences. Creating your own website can be great fun – you’ll publish a website within a week of starting the course. You’ll use a web page editor, which we explain how to use in detail. Tuition is via an online forum; here you can seek help and advice, and exchange opinions with fellow students.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | T183 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
The course is intended for three types of student: those who know little or nothing about design or the creation of websites; those who may know a lot about design but little about the creation of websites; and those who may know a lot about creating websites but little about design. Expert web designers may find the level very elementary, but still find the discussion of design principles illuminating.
The course aims to:
- teach design theory and principles and show how they apply to the web
- teach some basic technical skills enabling novices to publish their own websites
- teach you how to critique web pages and websites from a design perspective
- let you experiment with design principles to create well-designed websites.
The course is made up of ten lessons, with each lesson lasting eight to ten hours. The course is quite an intensive study experience. If you miss a week, especially near the beginning of the course, you may find it hard to catch up.
Lesson 1 outlines how the web works and shows you how to make and publish a basic web page. Having novice students publish their own web page in the first lesson illustrates the philosophy behind the course – i.e. the belief that design involves a combination of theory and practical hands-on activities.
Lessons 2 and 3 introduce the elements of web page design and the principles of graphic layout.
Lessons 4 and 5 cover colour and images, give you hands-on experience of a basic graphics package, and explain image formats and optimisation of download times.
Lesson 6 includes an interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) to help you to gauge how well you have done so far.
Lessons 7 and 8 cover the design of whole websites and the issues of usability, including navigation, access, interactivity, and designing virtual experiences.
Lessons 9 considers how websites can be made interactive, accessing the power of the web.
Lesson 10 is an end-of-module project to design a website.
Design and the Web is ideal preparation for our Level 1 design course, Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101). For more information see YouTube for a short video about U101.
Entry
This is emphatically not a course for ‘techies’. Its tone is friendly and accessible. The course will appeal to a variety of people. We expect some students to be complete novices in web publishing, complete novices in design, or both. You will encounter a certain amount of technical material, but everything is explained from first principles. The course uses a basic web authoring tool and avoids HTML coding.
Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning to help you progress to courses at Level 2. If you have any doubt about the level of study, please seek advice from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
Although you need not have had much experience with a computer, you will need to install software and get an account with an internet service provider (ISP) before the course begins. You also need to be able to manage your computer files competently and to use basic software such as a word processor and web browser. If you don’t feel comfortable about doing that on your own, you might want to take a basic introductory course at a local college before you start the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course requires extensive use of the internet and electronic communications. If you use special hardware or software you must, well before the course begins, find out whether it will work with the course software. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Access to a website with additional online resources, including downloadable software. Access to the online OU library.
You will need
You should be prepared to spend significant amounts of time online (at least three hours a week). This may mean extra charges to your telephone bill unless you have a package which provides unlimited access to the internet.
Computing requirements
This course includes computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note you may have difficulties completing this course with a Linux computer as some of the web tools do not have a Linux-compatible version.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
The course is taught entirely online. You will not have an individual tutor, but you can use the online forum to ask for help and advice about any aspect of the course. The online forum will be overseen by experienced academic moderators. You are strongly encouraged to participate in the forum because it is an excellent source of support and information.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your end-of-module assessment (EMA).
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May 2012 when it will be available for the last time.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | T183 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
Brilliant course! It helped develop my skills so that I can now build a website. I'll be honest and say ...
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This was my first OU course that I completed as part of the YASS scheme, and thoroughly enjoyed it! Im ...
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Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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