Session Four: Message Making
The objective of this session is to gain an understanding of message delivery and audience interpretation. To gain awareness of how visual imagery with various stylistic approaches can alter meaning and perception. To understand how the relationship between content and narrative sequence can affect the message.
The goal of this session is to give the student skills to create messages that are in alignment with their sites purpose. Discussions will help the student to discern which visual devices are appropriate and why. To provide the student with a method of developing original artwork that is appropriate for their message.
Assignments
Create three web images:
Web audit and questions:
The goal is to look at how the style of images and their relationship with text create meaning. Following are questions on the web audit sheet.
Name:
URL Address:
o Upon entering the site were you able to tell what message the author was delivering?
o Did you think their use of graphics was effective in delivering their message?
o Was the sequence of content delivery important to understanding the message? Would you change this in order to improve the sites purpose?
o Do you think the overall content supported the message? If not, describe how could they improve their content?
o How do you rate this sites message delivery (1 being terrible and 10 being great) and discuss why.
Complete the following sections in the required text: (optional)
These exercises are designed to complement your tool building skills. They offer additional design building skills
that will enhance your ability to create stronger sites.
Web Design Essentials, second edition; Dennis, Anita and Giudice, Maria; Adobe Press (Peachpit Press), 2001
Chapter Five:
Pg. 92 Using Actions to Automate Tasks
Pg. 96 Using Droplets to Automate Tasks
Pg. 98 Using Layer Sets to Manage Files
Chapter Six:
Pg. 106 Understanding Blending Modes
Pg. 108 Understanding Channels
Pg. 110 Understanding Alpha Channels
Pg. 118 Glossary of Terms
Additional Resources
Recommended textbook for this course:
Adobe PhotoShop 6.0: Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press (Peachpit Press), 2000
Adobe Illustrator 9.0 Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press (Peachpit Press), 2000
Designing Web Graphics.3, third edition, Weinman, Lynda, New Riders Publishing, 1999
Message Making
Medium is the Massage, by Marshall McLuhan and Quentin, 1967
Online Stock Illustration Resources
http://www.google.com/imghp
http://www.illo.com/
http://www.sisstock.com/
http://spots.images.com/
http://www2.images.com/
Online Photography Resources
http://www.photodisc.com
http://www.gettyimages.com/
http://www.tonystone.com
http://www.corbisstockmarket.com/
