1. stanford e281: dmedia | winter 2012 | syllabus

2. stanford e281: dmedia | winter 2012
Details
dmedia is a class in 3 parts. Projects will give you a chance to develop skills and understanding in
communication design, interaction design and designing for user motivation. In addition, our point of
view is that media can be used to positively benefit society: the class will use the lenses of aesthetics
and ethics to evaluate digital products and experiences we create.
Prepare to get your hands dirty in the digital domain building prototypes to elicit meaningful user
feedback. Each part of class ends with the presentation of your personal response to a project-based
assignment. Throughout the class we will lean on design practice to iterate our way to successful
solutions.
Guest speakers may include: Ben Blumenfeld, Lead Communication Designer at Facebook, Don
Norman, IDEO Fellow, Author of The Design of Everyday Things & Emotional Design, Aaron Walker,
Author of Designing for Emotion and Lead UX Designer at MailChimp.
Time & Place
Thursdays 3:15-5:05p
d.school studio 1
(building 550, 2nd floor)
Applications Due Wed January 4th 12 at Midnite
Email: dmedia2012@gmail.com
Links to Student Work
- Project inspiration has turned into VC backed startups like storify.com & motionmathgames.com
- Alumni are influential media figures at AT&T, NPR, WNYC, Public Insight Network, Google, Disney
and Mozilla
- Alumni have launched their own studios like liftprojects.com and work at top firms like IDEO and
Cooper
- Student final projects from 2010 include Robots Reboot, MotionMath, and Templates in Time.
- Student assignment projects from 2010 include coarse reader, sexbox, social email, twitter
translator, the makeup game, and a personal media gadget visualization
- Student final projects from 2009 include BitWisdom, Sentio
- Student assignment projects from 2009 include Everywhere Everywhere, a morning mission
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3. stanford e281: dmedia | winter 2012
project
01 Show Me
We’ll take 2 weeks to explore the history of social media. Students will produce
an information visualization to communicate one trend in social media and its
affect on society.
You’ll learn the basics of visual communication and how to convey information in
a compelling way.
The assignment is due Thursday, January 26*
project
02 Move Me
In this 3 week project, we will resourcefully design and build physical and digital
prototypes and iterate your way to an engaging and easy to understand mobile
game.
You’ll learn about physical & digital prototyping, game mechanics, and how to
receive and translate user testing & feedback.
The assignment is due Thursday, February 16th*
project
03 Motivate Me
In this final 4 week project, we’ll apply lessons from visual and interaction design
to focus on activating user emotion, such as hope, fear, pleasure, pain, social
acceptance and rejection, to motivate measurable action for social good.
You’ll learn how to identify, target, and test emotional responses using a
functional digital prototype, with an end-to-end experience.Concepts covered :
designing for emotion, persuasion, digital intimacy, and ultimately behavior
change. You will also apply the basics of metrics and analytics to prove that your
designs succeed in driving behavior.
The assignment is due Thursday March 15th*
*Note: days leading up to due dates will likely have higher levels of work outside of class.
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4. stanford e281: dmedia | winter 2012
FAQ
Can I work Yes. (or No.)
on my own Students will be allowed to explore their own personal project in
the context of assignment #3 if:
project? --- The personal project can fit the scope and time constraints of
assignment #3
--- The personal project is focused on create a positive social
impact
If it doesn’t fit the above, or if you don’t have a project you are
working on currently. We will provide assignment options.
What skills Many ask us what we mean by “digital fluency.” Simply put, we’d
like you to have experience producing creative work using a
and tools computer.
do I need? Programming skills not required but can be put to use.
Experience with particular software products is also not required,
but some fluency with at least one visual design tool is extremely
helpful (e.g. Illustrator, In Design, Keynote, etc.)
Grading & You may choose to receive a letter grade or S/NC.
Attendance Attendance to all classes is mandatory (there are only 10 sessions)
Auditing: This is a project based / active class. Unfortunately, we
can’t service students who can’t participate in the entire class.
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