New Media Quick Course:

Web Design Boot Camp

Saturday & Sunday, November 7–8, 2009 in Chicago

Translate your design skills to the Web by understanding the essential building blocks. In this two-day course we’ll demystify the Web 2.0 toolbox and help you build a compelling, news-driven package from scratch.

We will focus on HTML/CSS (the foundation of the Web) and integrating widgets from Google, Twitter, Flickr and more. Flash will be discussed, but the focus is on the other 90% of tools that foster online storytelling — and strategies for getting stuff done.

If it seems overwhelming, we’re here to prove it’s not. Before the course, we’ll survey participants and adapt to interests and experiences. This course is a good fit for anyone at the beginner level (and print designers looking to transition, in particular), so no worries if <em> and <div> are new ideas. Intermediate users are also welcome — a spectrum of topics will be covered and we can work one-on-one with you.

Register now

RSVP via Facebook

Questions? E-mail Stephen Komives
or Denise M. Reagan.

Apply for a Foundation training grant

Previous attendees said: “This was great and really played into my strengths as a designer.”
“They did it in a language we could understand and at a pace that encouraged questions and clarity.”
“Insanely helpful and beneficial.” … “Exactly what I needed as a launching point.”

Instructors:

Tyson Evans

Tyson Evans is an interface engineer at The New York Times. Previously, he was new media design editor at the Las Vegas Sun.

David Wright

David Wright is a senior interactive designer at NPR. Previously, he was a senior site designer at USA Today.

Schedule:

November 7–8, 2009

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday

  • 9:00 Registration
  • 9:30 Introductions
  • 10:00 The state of news design online
  • 12:30 Lunch on site
  • 1:30 Understanding the Web’s acronym soup
  • 2:30 Making progress independently of your IT department or other restraints
  • 3:00 Hands-on with HTML & CSS (and how they’re not that different from InDesign or CCI)

Sunday

  • 9:00 Brainstorming: Web design strategies on news-driven deadlines
  • 10:00 Planning session for projects
  • 12:30 Lunch on site
  • 1:30 Final project: Building a smart and powerful site in response to breaking news