Theme

Learning Intentions

Be able to identify the theme of digital media
Explain how the content influences the theme of digital media
Be able to design a theme for digital media

Success Criteria

I can explain the importance of a good theme
I can identify properties of a theme that make it useful

Themes in digital media

All types of visual digital media such as websites and desktop publishing require the developer to think about the theme of the media.
For example a website designer thinks about the theme before even bothering with any content.

The importance of theme

There are two major areas of development in digital media development:
- Content
- Design
Content and design are totally separate in media development and are often built separately.
Content will also influence the theme of the media.
For each of the following websites take a look at the theme being used and try to identify what the theme is the website has gone for.

what's the theme?

Visual metaphors

Visual metaphors can easily be established using images on a website but they can also be established with things like:
- Colour, layout, fonts, icons
- Interface elements such as forms, tabs, menu bars

what's the theme?

Green theme across the website, enforcing the original idea

what's the theme?

Newspaper-like columns, serif font, headlines on front page

what's the theme?

Gallery like layout, simple and easy on the eye

Why bother?

The theme of a piece of digital media is often the first thing that the user or consumer of the media will think about.
By having an effective theme, you can attract users to your media or, in the case of a website, you can keep them on or coming back to the website.
Theme also ties into the user experience, for example knowing where to find the main navigation of the website. Even with something as simple as a magazine, there are themes that are apparent and consistent across the magazine such as where to find the page numbers.

Design and draw a layout for each of the following websites:

A social media website
A website selling used cars
A website about a web developer based in Edinburgh
A website for information about rabbits
A website about the latest laptops

Task

Once you done that, have a look at the school's website. Over the next few lessons, you are going to be designing a new website for the school. Think of the theme that the school website should convey.

Presentation Overview

Theme

15:55 | 29-04-2024

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