Final+Assignment


 * CCT360 Final Assignment – Client Website **

Due June 14th, 6pm, uploaded to a server, listed on the Major Assignment Links page on the class wiki and the write up sent as a .pdf to cct360spring11@gmail.com with your team names, and link to the site, in the body of the email.

RECORDED WEB ADDRESSES @ PODIUM

You **do not** need to create a new set of wireframes that reflect your final design.
 * Final Deliverables: **
 * ** A hyperlink to the completed client site, listed on the wiki page for major assignments, including the group names underneath **
 * ** 1000 word write up (in .pdf format) describing the organization and design of the content sent to cct360spring11@gmail.com **
 * ** The names, student numbers and preferred email addresses of both team members (for feedback and evaluation), and URL of the website in the body of the assignment email. **

// As of 6pm June 14th, 3% will be deducted for each day the assignment is late. There will be no exceptions to this policy unless a late assignment is accompanied by medical documentation. **Database issues or computer problems are not an acceptable reason for submitting late work.** //

The purpose of this assignment is five-fold:
 * Objectives: **
 * To implement a solution proposed via wireframe – it is unlikely you will design a site that exactly matches your wireframe, and that is fine. Understanding how the wireframe functions as a ‘draft’ is an important skill.
 * To provide an elegant design solution for navigation and content through the understanding of information architecture– these skills will be transferable to future design projects, web or otherwise.
 * To learn the Wordpress as a CMS platform, and how to work with CSS themes to change them according to your art direction for palette and design.(Here is the link to the CSS fix http://cct360spring11.wikispaces.com/cssfix )
 * To apply principles of fluid web typographical design in your web site design for your banner, headers and copy.
 * To understand how to have a professional client-designer relationship through providing deliverables as milestones throughout the process for the client to review, and agree upon by writing.

The Client website is worth 35% of the final mark. This breaks down into the following elements:
 * Client Website – Marking Guidelines **

// In general, the principles outlined in the IA reference text factor into this part of the mark. //
 * // 15% – Information architecture and general usability //**
 * Marking considerations: **
 * Is the site logically organized? Is movement through it intuitive?
 * Do primary and secondary navigation elements adequately reflect the contents of the site? Is any important content hard to find?
 * Is the landing page legible? Is there a clear hierarchy of information?
 * Are sidebars, the footer and header effectively used for housing secondary content?
 * Are there any innovative organizational strategies at play?

attractive and effective? Is the body text readable? to create effective outreach? // Working with CSS is not required but will be considered in this section of the evaluation. //
 * // 10% – Design (with 5% of this based on quality of typography, including the client’s name on the banner) //**
 * Marking considerations: **
 * Effective web type – is the site readable? Scannable? Are headers, subheads and pullquotes
 * Have you spent time designing the typography in your body, headers and banner? (Remember how you were showed Font Book to shift through the text to see its design.)
 * Does the client’s name on the banner have a distinct foreground/background relationship so that it
 * is easily read, and have typographical principles been applied to its design?
 * Have you applied your palette to match the four states of the links?
 * Use of image and video – is there a balance between image and text? //Media widgets and slideshows//
 * // can be utilized but are not required. //
 * Is the front page attractive and engaging? Would this site excite your client’s extended community
 * Do templates used across the site work well together?
 * Are the graphic standards in the design brief adhered to (or creatively challenged?)
 * Is the design solution ambitious? Innovative?

Within the space of 1000 words describe your design strategy for your client’s site. State how you’ve used Wordpress to implement your decisions and succinctly describe how you’ve organized and dealt with different content elements. Describe any major difficulties and how you’ve worked around these issues. Convince the reader why your approach is successful. Marking considerations: // This section is very important – be sure to justify your design and information architecture decisions succinctly. This text will be read before the site is examined and will inform all aspects of the marking. //
 * 10% – Write up **
 * Are design and information architecture decisions explained and justified adequately?
 * Is this text clear and coherent? How well edited is this text?
 * What decisions have you made regarding typographical design, content layout and colour design principles?


 * Wireframes - Appendix A**

As a general rule of thumb, I'd like to advise most of you to stick to 2-3 column layouts. Once you start planning 4 (or more) column wireframes, the likelihood of your finding an appropriate base theme to work from diminishes considerably.

If you want some basic info on the advantages vs. disadvantages of 2 vs. 3 column themes please see [] – the post is talking about blogs but the general rules of thumb apply to any context.

So please note these concerns. I'd like you all to keep your wireframes more conceptual at this stage and not have everybody worry about what theme they are going to use, but it would be a good idea to at least look at what is available in Wordpress. Note that you can use your CSS knowledge to change the visual aspect of the design as well.