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Assignment 1: Banner Ads

Description: This assignment is to get you thinking about movement and communication on the Web. Banner ads are notoriously known for their distracting animation and employment of techniques to lure Web visitors into clicking.

In this assignment, however, your main objective is to create 2 different banner ads that communicate the same message. (In many creative fields designers present several different "looks" or designs that present a single concept or message, so the client can choose which one they like best.) This message can be a public service announcement ("don't smoke," "visit your local library,") or a traditional advertisement ("fly Brittish Airways," "Drive a Volkswagon,") as long as the focus is on using animation elements to communicate your message. Later in the course you will re-design a full fledged Web site, so if there is a particular company, organization or product that you are interested in, you can use this assignment to create promotional pieces for your site.

Specifics: Both banner ads should be 468 x 60 (standard size for a Full Banner) and each can be no larger than 30k.

Related Links in this Site:

Communication >> Motion Graphics >> Animation
See the class lecture on animated GIFs and banner ads

Software >> ImageReady >> Animated GIFs
How to make an animated GIF using ImageReady

Details: Place this image in a Web page using either Dreamweaver or HTML. Concentrate on using elements (font, colors, images, graphics, etc.) that will help communicate your message. Do not try to say too much, or you will garble your message. Each GIF should be 468 x 60 and smaller than 30k.

Include a 1-2 page documentation summary. This should address the following questions:

  • Who is the target audience? Be specific: more on targeting an audience

  • What is the Purpose of Banner Ad? (What is the purpose of this banner ad; what are you trying to get someone to do?)

  • What is the message to be communicated?

  • Creative Brief: Your ideas, How your design visually communicates the message you are trying to get across.
Grading Criteria: Use of animation to communicate message. Is it precise? Has the message been reduced to its smallest possible number of segments?
 40%
  Design and aesthetics, attention to detail, spacing, rhythm and tempo, type and font. 30%
  Technical ability: does it work, has it been successfully uploaded and linked to from your course site 30%

Due Date: 2/3/03

This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade.



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