Unit 10:  Website Design & Development


Unit code                            R/615/1633

Unit level                            QCF Level 4/ NFQ Level 6

Credit value                       15


 

Introduction

Wireless, public hotspots, mobile broadband and unlimited network connections means that accessing and using the internet to request, use and post information has never been so easy, or so important. As public, organisational and business demand increases, so does user expectation. Designers need to successfully use technology to deliver a high quality and consistent User Experienc es (UX) through friendly and functional User Interfaces (UI).  However, as the software and hardware evolves, so does the challenge of design.

This unit introduces students to the underpinning services required to host, manage and access a secure website before introduc ing and exploring the methods used by designers and developers to blend bac k-end technologies (server-side) with front- end technologies (client-side). To help ensure new designers are able to design and deliver a site that offers an outstanding User Experienc e (UX) supported by an innovative User Interface (UI) this unit also discusses the reasons, requirements, relationships, capabilities and features of the systems they will be using and gives them an opportunity to explore  various tools, techniques and technologies with ‘good design’ princ iples to plan, design and review a multipage website.

Among  the topics included in this unit  are: domain  structure, domain  name systems, web protocols, database servers, development frameworks, website publishing, content management, search engine optimisation, web browsers, HTML standards, CSS and CSS pre-proc essing (LESS, SASS), presentation models, responsive design, integrated development environments, user requirements, interface design, user experience, branding,  navigation, optimisation and validation.

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to explain server technologies and management services associated with the hosting and management of secure websites, categorise website technologies, tools and software used to develop websites, utilise website technologies, tools and

techniques with good design princ iples to create a multipage  website and create and use a Test Plan to review the performanc e and design of a multipage website.

As a result they will develop skills such as communic ation literacy, critical thinking, analysis, reasoning  and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining  employment and developing academic competenc e.

 

Learning  Outcomes

By  the end of this unit students will be able to:

LO1      Explain  server technologies and management  services associated with hosting and managing websites.

LO2      Categorise website technologies, tools and software used to develop websites.

LO3      Utilise website technologies, tools and techniques with good design principles  to create a multipage website.

LO4      Create and use a Test Plan to review the performanc e and design of a multipage website.