Required+Texts

//We have three required texts in CCT360. Each text is important for different reasons.// [|Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web (2nd Edition)]

Christina Wodtke and Austin Govella's //Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web// 2nd Edition (IA) is simply the best web design book that I have encountered. Although the projects we will be executing in CCT360 are limited in scope, a close reading of this text will help develop many extremely useful, foundational information architecture principles that will aid you with coursework here and within future web projects (i.e. CCT460) or information design. This is the core text of the course and it is expected that every student will read this text from cover to cover – material from these readings will factor heavily into the questions on the two take home quizes.

[|WordPress 3 Complete] (Note the eBook format for ~$20 USD)

Every web design course needs a CMS reference text – WordPress 3 Complete (W3C) provides a solid overview of designing and administering a WordPress site. We will be drawing from this text for in-class tutorials, but—more importantly—you will //need// to rely on this reference text for the themeing and final project assignments. Given we are a class of 40 students, you will get very little one-on-one assistance from the instructor and TA – so it is //expected// that each student works through this text and uses it to troubleshoot/architect their work with WordPress.

[|The CSS PocketGuide] (also available in eB00k format for ~$10USD)

CSS is very difficult to teach and the only real way to learn it is through practice and trial and error. We will be doing rudimentary tutorials on text and link styling, but each student will need to work beyond this for the themeing and final assignments. While [|W3Schools] provide an excellent free reference, this text is a steal at $20 as it is the most lucid, succinct and helpful CSS reference I have come across – it is a worthwhile investment simply for the amount of time it will save you.

//Additional Reference Text:// [|Fluid Web Typography: A Guide] A great overview of contemporary web typography. While we will be looking at some excerpts, students who are //very// interested in type and design may consider purchasing this reference text.