Must have completed the Post Graduate Diploma

Access to studio space and lecture/seminar room with blackout and digital presentation hardware. Access to digital storage. Computer workshop facilities and appropriate software.

The learning activity centres on the production of a technically innovative multimedia product developed through original research. Your approach to this product is individually negotiated with your project supervisor and due to the ever changing nature of interactive multimedia some negotiated projects may be focused toward research while others may be focused toward the artefact.

Research planning
Develop a research plan for the project which will identify likely sources of relevant information and any existing products which form a starting point for your screen prototype.
Identify recent research theories in your chosen area and methods of developing these current theories.
Develop a plan for user testing your product at staged assessment points throughout the project.

Practical investigation
Assess the technical content of your project and identify the key elements for in depth development.
Gather and co-ordinate any external technical input required and test any unique multimedia features.

Participation
Individual tutorials with your supervisors to ensure a coherent development of the project.
Group seminars with the current masters group to ensure a cross fertilization of ideas and to clearly identify objectives.
Relevant meetings with school supervisors and external agencies. These meetings may be in an asynchronous as well as a synchronous environment.

This module enables you to demonstrate the practical and academic studies accumulated during the course in relation to the wider industrial and social context. You will be encouraged to explore the boundaries of multimedia design and to experiment within a range of screen based delivery systems. Your final artefact will be the product of a negotiated brief and will need to display an awareness of current research and technical expertise in your chosen area of study and must be supported by market research and testing. Industry or team based projects will be encouraged to give projects a more direct focus on market needs and industrial work methods.

1. A written report (approximately 6000 words minimum) which details the broader technical and social context of the project together with relevant market research and user testing. This report includes design and function specifications, and a review of the literature associated with design and content. [Learning Outcomes 1,4,5]

2. A viable screen based multimedia product which clearly displays the range of content, graphic continuity and navigation principles.
[Learning Outcomes 2,3]

3. An oral presentation of your work, where the goals and applications are clearly explained and defined. [Learning Outcome 4]

The weighting of the report and the artefact is individually negotiated between the student and the supervisor, with the report never being less than 40% nor greater than 70% of the total mark.

Presentation is weighted at 10% of the total mark.

Designing and developing multimedia - Larry Elin, 2001
Allyn and Bacon ISBN: 0-205-31427-9
Managing Multimedia, Book 1 - Elaine England and Andy Finney, 2002 Addison-Wesley
ISBN: 0-201-72898-2
Managing Multimedia, Book 2 - Elaine England and Andy Finney, 2002 Addison-Wesley
ISBN: 0-201-72899-0
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - APA, 2001 APA ISBN: 1557987912