Teaching | The Art Institute of Atlanta

Updated 3.24.2008

Teaching | The Art Institute of Atlanta

Below are the syllabi and some example projects from courses I teach in the Interactive Media Design department at The Art Institute of Atlanta. We are one of the very few colleges who are currently and have been teaching Web Standards since 2002. Hear how our students are changing the Web industry in Atlanta, GA

History of Communication Media

A survey of major events and development in the history of media based communication is the focus of this course. The course explores the relationship between technology and media development and explores the impact motion media and mass communication have on society and the economy. Students explore the evolution and future trends of interactive media. The course uses in class and online discourse, guest speakers, panel discussions, and student research as methods of exploration of key topics.

Download Syllabus [PDF 240k]

Student Work
James Childers: The Printing Press | Josh Barber: WWII Encryption Game | Josh Barber: History of Encryption | Susan Litton: History of Television and Portrait of My Father

Findability

Students will explore search engine optimization methods (SEO), digital and analog marketing strategies to drive traffic to a web site, traffic analysis, listing services, search integration into a site, and theory surrounding search behavior. Students will investigate the relationships between Usability, Accessibility, Information Architecture, Marketing, and Findability, and will implement strategies for creating findable content.

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Nonlinear Narrative

Students conceptualize and develop a story line for a non-linear narrative and develop a storyboard. Further, they integrate interactive experiences within this narrative to create an immersive user experience. Selection and use of appropriate development tools and techniques are emphasized.

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Perceptual Interfacing Honors

Perceptual Interfacing is a course in which students create sculptures, performances, and installations using a variety of sensing technologies to control media via physical interactions. Motion, light, touch, and magnetism trigger audio and video responses.

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Student Work
Audio Zen (Flash), View Photos & Process | Sit and Spin DJ, Advanced Authoring, 2003 (QuickTime) | Surveillance, Advanced Authoring, 2003 (QuickTime) | Com-Union, A Digital Performance (Flash)

Dynamic Web Applications

Students apply user-centered design principles, database structures, and server-side scripting to design and develop content for server-based dynamic delivery. The course emphasizes design issues relating to the display of dynamic content on the screen and how that content is updated as well as delivered from databases.

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Student Work
Brian Dean: City of Canton CMS | James Childers: Breakthrough House CMS | Talyor Esteves-Pearce: Social Bookmarking Application | Zach Lang: Research Article "Let Them Eat Cake"

User-Centered Interface Design

Students learn the skills to design interactive interfaces, as well as examining communication and business goals, target audience, information architecture, media, and delivery platform. They explore guidelines for user-centered interface design and apply them to various interface design projects.

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Senior Portfolio

Prior to graduation, students present their work to a faculty panel for review before being allowed to enroll in Senior Portfolio. Once accepted, students develop an online portfolio featuring class, internship, and freelance work.

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Senior Project Design

Students choose to work on an advanced interactive media project. Students submit a proposal and concept prototype for the project. Emphasis is on content, design and technology research, formal written communication, quality, independent critical analysis, presentation and defense.

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Student Work
Josh Barber: Eskimo Web Application | Ann White: Key Seeker | Amber Abreu: PINES Catalog Usability Study | Peter Bault: Harmonic | Joe Kocovsky: 404 Audio

Senior Project Production

In Senior Project Production, students develop a project that they have defined and planned in Senior Project Design. Students prepare, present, and defend a project suitable for professional utilization. The course emphasizes production values, technical sophistication, quality assurance, evaluation of the effectiveness of the product, conceptual thinking, critical analysis, written communication, and presentation skills.

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Peter Bault: Harmonic | Joe Kocovsky: 404 Audio | Andre White: Fresh Mag

Fundamentals of Scripting Languages

Students develop basic programming concepts and skills and combine them with interface design skills. The course emphasizes integrating programming concepts with interface design for a client-side environment. Students are introduced to conceptualizing programs using flow charting.

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Student Work
Peter Bault: CSS Zen Garden Design | Lokin Crook: CSS Zen Garden

Interactive Design Concepts

This course identifies the components of the design process and explores research methods, emphasizing design solutions appropriate to a targeted market. Students strengthen and expand their concept generation skills through exercises in creative problem solving. The course also stresses the process of screen design development from roughs to comprehensives, layout and digital techniques, and the use of a grid system for multi-component screen layouts. Students employ HTML and CSS to implement the design concepts.

Download Syllabus [PDF 336k]

Study Abroad in Berlin, Helsinki, and Stockholm

In the Fall of 2004 I took 13 students from the Graphic Design and Interactive Media Design departments to Berlin, Helsinki, and Stockholm to study design and technology. We visited companies, schools, and museums that brought real-world perspective to the topics covered their classes. I worked with each student to define individual projects that they would research on the trip and complete when we returned home. In addition, students kept a blog posting photos, video, and audio clips as we traveled.

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Fundamentals of Interactive Design

This course introduces the history, terms, and technologies of the interactive design field. Students explore roles in the interactive media industry, significant organizations, and trends. They design, develop, and upload a simple web site using basic HTML constructs. Basic web site production stages and issues, such as naming conventions and file organization, are also covered.

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Advanced Authoring

Advanced Authoring teaches students to create interactive CD-ROM projects using Macromedia Director and Lingo. Students bring together audio, video, and text to deliver a rich user experience.

Production Team

This course focuses on the interactive design project management process, stressing the development of the project team as key to successfully achieving project goals. Students examine the main elements required in efficient planning and execution of an interactive project and study issues of copyright and intellectual property as they relate to project implementation. They participate in a team on a realistic, client-based project.

Aarron Walter