Web Design
Capstone Project

For the Capstone Project students will build a website that showcases and demonstrates the Web design skills they have acquired in the classes that make up the Web Design Certificate. This website will be designed and built for a real or fictional client of your choice. Satisfactory completion of the Web Design Capstone Project is required to receive the Web Design Certificate.

• Build a site to meet a client's needs and expectations
• Provide appropriate documentation of the process
• Make proper design choices
• Build the site with structural XHTML and Cascading Style Sheets for presentation/layout
• Publish the site at a Web hosting service

• Properly structured XHTML code validated using the W3C validator (XHTML: Levels 1 and 2)
• Use of linked and embedded style sheets, with minimal or no inline styles, using appropriately defined selectors and validated using the W3C validator (Cascading Style Sheets: Levels 1 and 2)
• Selection of appropriate font (Designing Effective Websites)
• Content written for the audience using suitable language, spelling and grammar checked (Designing Effective Websites)
• Effective color scheme that fits the topic and audience (Designing Effective Websites and Web Graphics with Photoshop)
• Properly optimized content-relevant graphics (Web Graphics with Photoshop)
• Primary text is optimized for search engines (Search Engine Optimization)
• Outline of a plan for a usability test (Designing Effective Websites)
• Selection of domain name and Web hosting service (Designing Effective Websites and XHTML: Level 2)

• Flash or other multimedia. If these are used they must be appropriate in size and an enhancement to the content. (Flash: Level 1)
• JavaScript. If this is used it must be well-written and used effectively within the content of the site. (Scripting for Web Designers)
• Meeting Section 508 accessibility requirements. Be prepared to justify why or why not accessibility features were implemented. (Web Accessibility Workshop)
• Students choosing to build their site using a content management system must also demonstrate the required XHTML, CSS and Dreamweaver skills.

• The website must be written in English. It can be translated into another language, if needed, but the primary site must be written in English.


• You will need to either select or make up a client. Examples of possible clients include your family, friends, organizations where you are a member, or classmates.


• If you choose to do a portfolio site for yourself, you must have at least one completed website project to include in the content. Also, on a portfolio site, you cannot interview yourself. You will need to have someone else interview you and provide you with the documentation from this interview.


• Redesigning an existing website is a legitimate topic for a project.


• The website must be a minimum of five pages with at least one single level of navigation. It is expected that larger sites will have more complex navigation.


• The website may be either hand-coded or built using an editor such as Dreamweaver.


• Multimedia or advanced interactivity is not required. If you choose to include these, you will be evaluated on their appropriate use and their technical accuracy.


• It is expected that students will be working on the site as they take classes, adding to the functionality and design as new skills are learned.


• DO NOT wait until you are taking the Capstone Project class to begin your site. The class assumes that you are mostly done with the project. The class focuses on the skills of presenting the website as if you are working with a client.


• Students are required to publish their sites for instructor review 48 hours before their final presentation.