Academic Year 2022-2023

MULTIMEDIA DESIGN

Teachers

Elena Rotondi
Unit Credits
9
Teaching Period
First Period
Course Type
Characterizing
Prerequisites. The course requires knowledge, even basic, of software to operate in the multimedia field (software for 2D and 3D graphics, video editing, Web design, documentation, and presentation.) During the course, useful practical information will be given to represent the final project adequately and to fill any gaps.
Teaching Methods. The lessons will be structured so as to provide elements and ideas for personal reflection on the topics of multimedia communication. The lessons include practical exercises both for analyzing case studies and for designing multimedia artefacts in relation to a specific context and target.

The didactic work will be organized as follows:

Theoretical part: key concepts in the field of multimedia communications and the role of the mass media. Introduction and analysis of the design thinking method, human-centered design.

Practice activity: The goal to reach will be to generate multimedia artifacts using the design thinking method. The entire design process will be carried out together in a guided manner through the prototyping and testing of artifact ideas. The guided brainstorming in the classroom will start with the focus on the macro theme “From possession to access. The role of multimedia design in the transition from product to service design”. The classroom group will choose various thematic areas of intervention from where many lines of research will commence and which will be the basis from where the actual design will start.

Verification of Learning. The course involves the creation of a multimedia project (carried out preferably in a group) whose topic will be chosen following the research on a primary topic presented in class. In any event, it must be approved by the teacher. The teacher will follow all the development phases of the project with classroom reviews and email reviews for non-attending students. The final project will be presented by means of appropriate support (multimedia video, pdf presentation, etc.)and evaluated with the final exam and taking account of the real operational contribution given by each member of the working group.
More Information. The lessons will be supported by slides, analyses of existing projects, video materials and images. The course is project based and is based on the practical work done during the lessons. Because of the complexity required for the project implementation and in order to build into the system all the skills of the class group, each final project should be (preferably) a group one. By the first lesson of the course, students who are not attending the course must, in order to take the exam, contact the teacher via email to agree on the research topic and to fix the revisions on the various stages of the project (minimum two revisions via email or via Teams only during curricular hours). Non-attending students can otherwise work in group with attending students. In any event, each member of a working group will have to document his or her personal contribution to the project being presented for the final exam.
Objectives
The aim of the course is to provide tools and methods for analyzing, understanding and managing the multimedia practices taking place in the contemporary information space (infosphere). The course is also enhancing the different origins and approaches of the students who will be able to design according to their ability and specificity.

Discipline skills:

Knowledge and understanding:

The student acquires knowledge about the contemporary panorama of the media, their characteristics and their integration.

The student acquires the ability to analyze multimedia artefacts in relation to the reference context.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:

The student acquires the ability to produce multimedia contents which respond to specific communication objectives, in relation to a typical user (target, personas) and to a reference context.

The student acquires the ability to design multimedia artifacts with the design thinking method.

Transversal skills / soft skills

Judgment autonomy

The student acquires the ability to critically analyze a multimedia artifact, to choose which communication tool is the most appropriate to use in relation to the project objectives.

Communication skills

The student acquires the ability to communicate his/her project using and integrating the tools of multimedia communication.

Learning ability

The student acquires his/her own method of analysis, design and content generation through theoretical lessons and class exercises.

https://www.uniud.it/it/didattica/corsi/area-scientifica/scienze-matematiche-informatiche-multimediali-fisiche/laurea-magistrale/comunicazione-multimediale-e-tecnologie-dellinformazione/corso/regolamento-corso/all-B2/copy_of_2021-2022/view

Contents
The topic of the course will be the multimedia design and its contemporary evolution; the focus will be on the role that the media have in the “onlife” of users and how they are used i to transmit a message to a specific audience in the field of communication. We will also analyze how multimedia tools are used by companies to convey their values and the”brand speeches” (transmedia branding). Will be given space to the themes of content design, universal design, human centered design, introducing the application of the design thinking method for the design of multimedia artifacts. The lessons will thus be structured with a theoretical part and a practical part.
Texts
John Maeda, Le leggi della semplicità, Bruno Mondadori, 2006.

Dan Saffer, Design dell’interazione. Creare applicazioni intelligenti e dispositivi ingegnosi con l’interaction design, Bruno Mondadori, 2007

Nicola Bonora, Content design.Progettare contenuti web che fanno incontrare persone e aziende, Apogeo-IF-Idee editoriali Feltrinelli S.r.l. 2019

Luca Rosato, Sense-making. Organnizzare il mare dell’informazione e creare valore con le persone, UXUniversity, prima edizione maggio 2019