Getting lost in the technology

I  use the ipad for the course content in VIS 332 (Graphic Design 3) and VIS 334 (Design Production 3) which just wrapped up. The students spent the semester learning the skills to create websites. The last project was a responsive design that would change layouts for desktop, tablet and mobile. This involved fluid grids, flexible images, media queries, and dynamic content. It was challenging for them especially since the content had to be the same but the layout changed with the different device.  It requires more project planning (sketching, wireframing and prototyping) than students like to do and working with HTML as early as possible (using Photoshop for creating assets rather than full layouts) something students also don't like doing.

The projects were submitted the first week of December and were disappointing. The layouts were incomplete, unbalanced and didn't function properly.  The next class, I gave them a 4 hour assignment to use all the content they had amassed for the website and create a collateral print product. It was quite surprising. They came up with better print layouts in 4 hours then the 12 hours of class time they had for the websites. Many of the print designs appeared to have more design elements and layout strategies then their websites. The following class I did a critique showing them the print designs and the web designs side by side.  When I asked them why they were different, they said that they were more comfortable designing for print. They thought better in print. They got lost in the technology.

"So use that. Start with what you know."  

With every new design project that is assigned, I told them to start with what they know.  Design a collateral product for print before starting the web design project. Have an interactive experience to design? Just make up a "fake" collateral print product, then use those design elements and decisions made for the print project in the  the project planning, wireframes and prototyping for the website design and construction. Don't design the layout for the website, Start with what you know. I actually think I saw some lightbulbs.

The tablet was useful for this project because the students got to see the site they were constructing on the device. We also viewed them on some phones. But this project was not just about the use of technology because it is easy to get lost in technology. I found that this is true and not only applies to my design lesson but could be applied to a lot of situations and circumstances.  The answer? Start with what we know and then use technology to enhance the experience.