"'It's going to be raining tomorrow' is software" –Les Levine
This studio course is about making projects in the web browser. The class will cover foundational, front-end languages HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and introduce principles of web design including navigation, pacing, feedback, accessibility, and adapting to variable screen sizes and devices.
Throughout the semester, we will think about what it means to make work for the public realm, and consider the unique abilities of the browser to connect to an audience. Other questions include: what is the relationship of life online to embodied experience? What is the interactive and performative potential of websites? How do you use the internet mindfully?
In readings and discussions, we will talk about where the internet comes from, where it is today, and where it’s going—emphasizing its continued use by artists, designers, programmers, activists, and independent publishers of many persuasions.
Beyond technical skills, the course will look at the application of graphic design principles to the web, and support the development of original, surprising projects.
Rosa McElheny
rosa.mcelheny@yale.edu
Office hours on Mondays 6-8pm, or by appointment.
Andrew Connors, TA
andrew.connors@yale.edu
This class meets 13 times. Each class we will spend time doing one or more of the following:
This class is designed to teach the following:
The class will combine a series of short, in-class exercises with three longer-term conceptual projects. All work–exercises, projects, and any process materials such as written proposals, design sketches, or drafts–will be collected on each students' class website.
See the projects page for more details.
20% Project 1: Webzine
20% Project 2: Billboard
20% Project 3: Website for one
20% Class website
20% Participation and Diligence
Projects 1, 2, and 3 will be graded on their quality. Projects should take a stance (be poetic, memorable, critical, and clear) and be functional (achieve their goals and not break). They should be thoughtfully designed. This class prioritizes the invention of useful techniques and approaches over product design. Taking risks is encouraged as an essential part of exploration and ongoing thinking. Craft (in design, code, and presentation) is also important.
The class website is your class homepage. It should include all in-class exercises, reading responses, sketches, as well as projects.
Participation and diligence refers to your contributions in class, and to the final presentation.
Throughout the semester, we will use pre-existing language, images, and software as raw material while creating entirely new works. While making websites, we will learn which technologies could be appropriated and how to properly credit their inclusion.
From Academic Integrity at MIT: "Writing Code"
Writing code is similar to academic writing in that when you use or adapt code developed by someone else as part of your project, you must cite your source. However, instead of quoting or paraphrasing a source, you include an inline comment in the code. These comments not only ensure you are giving proper credit, but help with code understanding and debugging.
You should not simply re-use code as the solution to an assignment. Like academic writing, your code can incorporate the ideas of others but should reflect your original approach to the problem.
More than two no-shows will result in a failing grade. A no-show means you don't attend class, and fail to either tell me ahead of time, or propose a way to make up the session. Given notice, I can accommodate remote or hybrid classes. I'm also happy to meet outside of class, and understand that the pandemic requires extra flexibility. I just ask that you communicate with me about your needs.
Thank you Laurel Schwulst, Dan Michealson, Mindy Seu, Simone CutrĂ, Hilary duPont, Tuan Pham, Mengyi Qian, Orysia Zabeida, and Rok Hudobivnik (our TA!) for your help planning the course.
The course title, Software for People, is borrowed from composer and educator Pauline Oliveros, whose work inspires the class’s open-ended, user-oriented and attentive approach to designing for the web.