Multimedia Communication and Design

Code:

CC079

Acronym:

CMD

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Communication Sciences

Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Communication and Information Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Communication Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CC	22	Study plan	3	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Understand the role of multimedia communication design in the representation of information, and its relevance for understanding this information. Apply the structural concepts of Visual Communication Design to the context of multimedia communication. Explore the areas of study of visual communication in multimedia communication. Reflect on the relationship between hypermedia features and visual language. Understand the role of Communication Design in exploring narrative genres, and their application in the various multimedia products. Reflect and analyse, from a critical viewpoint, on the main functions of multimedia communication design, in its informative, didactic, communicational and artistic component. Develop projects, combining technical knowledge and design concepts in a creative and theoretically sustained way.

Learning outcomes and competences

Applying the language of visual communication design to the design and implementation of effective interfaces from the point of view of multimedia communication.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Mastery of vector and matrix image editing/creation software and interface prototyping tools.

Frequency of curricular units with competencies in the area of visual communication designa.

Program

- Introduction to Multimedia Communication Design. Definition of the concept. Relationship between design, technology and culture. - Morphological elements of design and exploring them in the new media: configuration, colour, Scaling elements of design. Visual codes. Study visual codes in the multimedia context: typography, iconography, graphics and image (illustration and photography). - Sequence codes. Study of sequence codes: image in motion and hypertextuality. - Visual communication design in dynamic and interactive supports. - Interactivity: exploring interactivity, new depth, indicators of interactivity. - Interface: applying the subject’s theoretical contents to interface design: visual identity, digital signs and signals and dynamic iconography. - Multimedia discourse and hierarchy of contents in multimedia documents - image, text, graphics, video and sound. - Relationship between design and the user – integration, dialogue and accessibility; navigation; information organisation – hierarchy, relations and function. Multimedia as support and process to configure information.

Mandatory literature

William Lidwell; Universal principles of design. ISBN: 978-1-59253-007-6
Lal Raj ; Digital Design Essentials , Rockport Publishers, 2013
Everett N. MacKay; UI is communication: How to design intuitive, user-centered interfaces by focusing on effective communication , Morgan Kaufmann, 2013
Peter Bonnici; Visual language. The hidden medium of communication, Roto Vision SA, 1999
Ellen Lupton ; Type on screen , A Design Handbook, 2014
Mads Soegaard, Rikke Friis Dam; Interaction Design Foundation Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction , The Interaction Design Foundation., 2015
Steve Krug ; Don’t Make Me Think. A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability , New Riders, 2014

Complementary Bibliography

Dan Saffer; Designing for Interaction: Creating Smart Applications and Clever Devices, New Riders, 2007
Williams, Robin; The Non-Designer’s Design Book , Peachpit Press, 2015
Steven Johnson; Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms the Way We Create and Communicate, Basic Books, 1997
Helen Sharp, Yvonne Rogers, Jennifer Preece; Interaction Design. Beyond Human-computer InteractionInteraction Design. Beyond Human-computer InteractionInteraction Design. Beyond Human-computer Interaction, Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2019
Rudolf Arnheim; Arte e percepção visual: uma psicologia da visão criadora: nova versão, Pioneira Thomson Learning, 2005
Edward R. Tufte; The Visual display of quantitative information. ISBN: 0-9613921-0-X
Edward Tufte; Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative, Graphics Press, 1979
Edward R. Tufte; Beautiful evidence. ISBN: 0-9613921-7-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Software

Figma
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe XD

keywords

Technological sciences > Architecture > Design > Computer-aided design
Technological sciences > Architecture > Design > Graphic design

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	67,00
Frequência das aulas	45,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

1.1. Mandatory attendance of 75% of classes except in cases provided for in general law and FLUP regulations;

1.2. Mandatory execution and deliverance of all assignments within the timeframes defined by the teacher. Failure to do so will incur a penalty of having the work evaluated with zero;

1.3. A final score (see classification formula) of at least 9.5;

1.4 The teacher reserves the right to differentiate the grades between students of the same workgroup, depending on the members' perception and evidence of effort;

1.5 Ther rules in the Observations field are also applied.

Calculation formula of final grade

- Continuous assessment: Class participation (10%) + Written work (30%) + Group work (60%).

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students covered by a special statute must inform the subject professor of their status as students undergoing special assessment by October 31 of the respective academic year.
- The teacher establishes with the student a work plan without prejudice to the rights and benefits specified in the respective legislation;
- The student must schedule meetings with the teacher to discuss the work proposals if it is impossible to attend the regular class schedule;
- The work developed must always be accompanied by the professor of the discipline; otherwise, it will not be valid as an evaluation element.

Classification improvement

It can be done by a “Recurso” exam and is subject to the evaluation components applied to the continuous assessment. 

Interested students should contact the teacher in good time to receive information on the elements to be delivered on the exam date.

Observations

Assignments developed within the scope of the course are only considered for evaluation purposes when accompanied by the teacher.