Skip to main content
Unit outline_

DECO1016: Introduction to Web Design

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit introduces students to the web technologies they will need to design and prototype web-based user interfaces. In this unit students will prototype screen-based designs using scripting and markup languages such as HTML, CSS. This unit provides foundational skills in web-design that can be used to implement and communicate design ideas using various media and platforms, such as desktop computers and mobile devices. On completion of this subject students will be able to program dynamic web-based user interfaces and interactive designs. Students will engage with principles of web layout and common design patterns used in web-based interfaces.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

DECO1012

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Joel Flanagan, joel.flanagan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Samuel Gillespie, samuel.gillespie@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Tutorial quiz [EFT] Quiz
Early Feedback Task assessing the topics covered in lecture videos.
2% Week 03 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment [A2] Coding Challenges
Code Repository
10% Week 05
Due date: 28 Aug 2024 at 23:59
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO4
Assignment [A3] Web Proposal
Video presentation
30% Week 08
Due date: 18 Sep 2024 at 23:59
25-30 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment [A4] Web Prototype
Code Repository
40% Week 13
Due date: 30 Oct 2024 at 23:59
35-40 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial quiz [A1] Weekly Quizzes
Weekly quizzes assessing the topics covered in lecture videos.
18% Weekly 15 minutes each
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

  • EFT Quiz: Students will complete a multiple choice quiz based on the topics introduced in the lecture videos.
  • Weekly Quizzes: Students will complete multiple choice quizzes each week based on the topics introduced in the lecture videos.
  • Coding Challenges: Students will use their knowledge of HTML and CSS to solve a series of coding challenges.
  • Web Proposal: Students will generate a proposal, presenting a design solution to the given brief. The proposal should be a video presentation, displaying background research and concept ideation.
  • Web Prototype: Students will implement their proposed designs as an interactive web prototype using the techniques and technologies introduced in the tutorials. The prototype should take the form of a website, coded using HTML and CSS. Students are also required to submit design documentation, containing design justifications and further reflections on any iterations made based on feedback.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Mapping the web Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Introduction to Web Languages Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 03 HTML: Content Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 04 CSS: Styles Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4
Week 05 Planning, Process and Proposals Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Design Principles and Patterns Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Layout and Responsive Design Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 08 User Input Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 09 Accessibility Considerations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 10 Prototyping, Testing and Documentation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 11 Transitions and Animations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4
Week 12 Web Optimisation and Conversion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Web Wrap-up Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance of all timetabled activities is mandatory. Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for each unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Unit Coordinator, Program Director or Associate Dean of Education.

Submission of Assessments: Students are required to submit all assessable tasks. Failure to submit any required task will result in an incomplete assessment and may lead to a failing grade for the unit. In the case of serious illness, injury or misadventure, a student may apply for special consideration.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. assess the structural and navigational requirements of web sites and mobile applications
  • LO2. conduct research to explore, inform and critique multiple perspectives on a design problem/solution
  • LO3. demonstrate a practical understanding and application of user interface design principles and methods, within an iterative, increasing-fidelity design process
  • LO4. develop web sites and mobile applications using modern web design techniques and technologies
  • LO5. evaluate the performance and user experience of a web design solution

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Through collaboration with the previous unit coordinator and other faculty members, the unit has undergone minor changes to the content. This is to reduce the overlap of content taught in later units. Those topics are still introduced so that students are prepared for later units, but they are treated with less emphasis and the relevant assessments now require less apprehension of those topics. This addresses the primary actionable point emerging from the USS feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.