Week 9

               The goal of the instructional unit is to allow students to experiment with design, and use visual and audio cues to express their own unique views. It is important to teach students some of the fundamental elements and principles so that they can experiment effectively. The following elements and principles are fundamental to most visual images whether they are moving or still. In addition, these elements and principles might impact the student portal:

Design Elements	Purpose
Space	The space element is like drawing paper or a canvas for a picture.  The students will be able to design and organize the different visual components of their message (characters, background, colors, text, and font) when they understand the available space to compose their message.  Also, the impact of negative space (subtlety) vs. positive space (lively) will influence student images as well as the design of the student portal.  Too much data will appear cluttered and thus hard for the students to navigate within the portal.
Shape and Size	The prominence of an item within an image identifies the importance of the item in telling the story.  Therefore, the use of close-ups will be discussed. Also, use of a portrait vs. landscape frame also influences the size of an object in an image.  The shape and size of text and images used in the student portal will also provide examples of how to use some of the element. However, tutorial videos provide more comprehensive examples.
Value	The concept of light and dark plays a role in setting the mood or reinforcing an emotion.  Knowledge of this element allows students to experiment with color schemes, shading, etc.
Design Principles
Focal point	Like text communication, visual messages can contain extemporaneous information that don’t contribute to their message or story, so being able to focus the layout of the image or the moving image is important.
Perspective	The use of perspective can have an artistic effect desired if the student wants to communicate a sense of depth for effect or help the viewer focus on key elements.

I will also strive to use provide examples of these elements in the construction of the student portal. The use of Space, Focal Point, and possibly Rhythm could be explored in the portal to provide examples of creativity. However these elements need to be implemented in a way that is not to wrought with design effects because the goal of the site is to provide necessary data to ease the instruction of new concepts.  If there isn't a clear flow and order to the portal, the students might be lost. 

References

Golombisky, K., & Hagen, R. (2010). White Space is not Your Enemy: A Beginner’s Guide to

               Communicating Visually through Graphic, Web & Multimedia Design . Focal Press: New

               York, NY.

Krause, J. (2004). Design Basics Index: A Graphic Designer’s Guide to Designing Effective                               Compositions, Selecting Dynamic Components & Developing Creative Concepts . HOW 

               Design Books: Cincinnati, OH.