Design and the Web
On this page
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 Computer-marked assignment (CMA) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
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.
Course content
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 is devoted a computer-marked assignment (CMA) 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-course project to design a website.
This course is part of the Maths, Computing and Technology Faculty’s Relevant Knowledge programme.
It is ideal preparation either for the Certificate in Web Applications Development (C39), which is a suite of six courses starting with Web applications: design, development and management (TT280), or our new 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. Students already familiar with web publishing, and wanting an in-depth course on HTML, XML, etc. might consider the more advanced course, Web applications: design, development and management (TT280), more suitable.
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.
Qualifications
T183 is an optional course in our
- BSc (Honours) Information Technology and Computing (B13)
- Certificate of Higher Education in Humanities (C98)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change. It is up to you to ensure that you are properly informed about the circumstances in which the course can count towards these qualifications. You should think carefully about fitting 10 points into a programme of study that consists mostly of 30-point and 60-point courses.
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 booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course 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.
Course materials
What's included
Access to the course website; course specific CD-ROM, 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 online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 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 that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
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 eCMA system to submit your mid-course computer-marked assignment (CMA) and the online eTMA system to submit your end-of-course assessment (ECA).
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 and October 2010. We expect it to be available twice a year in May and October.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
This is my first web design course and I really enjoyed it. A very good introduction to web design. I ...
Read more
A very enjoyable course for a complete novice on web design. The software provided for this course is simple to ...
Read more
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
Browse the prospectus
Request a print prospectus
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.