A birds eye view of our Multimedia Design Program
As of this writing (08/18/2022), the Multimedia Design (MME) Program at Nashville State Community College is undergoing evolution. The program currently covers the following topics:
- Multimedia Design (pre-production). Thinking through the project and being able to create the documentation (outlines, copy, flowcharts, wire-flow diagrams, scripts, storyboards, etc) that describe the project to all team members.
- Imaging Editing
- Basic Photography
- Design Fundamentals
- Audio Production and Editing
- Video Production and Editing
- Portfolio and business items
- HTML and CSS for Designers
- Web Animation
Coders vs Designers
With the ever expanding availability of full-stack boot camps emerging, and the availability of online courses (private, non-degree seeking), the pressure is on the MME to focus more on content creation and less on the technical side. The argument is our program is a visual design program and therefore the emphasis should be on teaching how to solve visual design problems. Creating a solid portfolio is the emphasis. Agreed. Degrees don’t get people design gigs. Solid portfolios do. No argument.
However, I’m making the case for continuing to educate students on how to create and apply those design concepts using the language of the web. Yes, I’m talking about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Our content is distributed via the web. We read web content using a browser (user agent). Our degree program is Visual Communications. I want to remind everyone that sighted people are not the only ones consuming our content. Every web designer knows (or should) know this. That is why our videos have to include transcripts, pdfs, and closed captioning. It’s why we add alt tags to images.
HTML, since it is not concerned with styling, takes care of the accessibility aspect of online content. It structures the content so that screen readers can help a consumer with visual challenges parse the content. The MME Web Animation course course currently covers that concept. Since we are animating HTML elements using CSS and GreenSock, we can create a more enjoyable experience for sighted viewers through transitions, animation, fades, and other visual eye candy. All the while the basic HTML structure has not changed.
I propose that as we move forward in our discussions about what the MME program will cover, accessibility remains applicable. Both visual and non-visual elements require design are important for creating and delivering the content to our audiences.