SYLLABUS

DES 303
Advanced Digital Design

 USC Roski School of Art & Design
Fall 2025 
Harris Hall, Room 112D
Thursday 9:00 – 11:40 AM

Instructor: Breanna Browning
Office Hrs: By appointment
Email: breanna.browning@usc.edu

OVERVIEW SCHEDULE 
CLASS MATERIALS
RESOURCES



Arranged new -> old.  Homework assignments always due the next class period unless noted otherwise.


WEEK 13
November 20 In-Class In-class project check-in and technical help sessions. 

HomeworkComplete your final projects.

Refer to the Final Project Brief for deliverables.

FINAL PROJECT DUE THURSDAY DECEMBER 4 by 8:00 AM.
Please be on-time and ready to present your work for our final review (December 4). We will begin at 9:00 sharp.


Submission
Submit your project to this Google Drive. Your folder be titled Lasname, Firstname. 

WEEK 12
November 13 In-Class In-class workshop on web-based branching narratives using Twine.
Tutorial: Intro to Twine

1 on 1 project feedback/technical help sessions.   Homework For next week (our last class session before the final review on December 4 due to the Thanksgiving holiday) you should be prepared to present a draft/WIP version of your project. We will review all of the components required for the project: narrative, media integration, and interactivity. You do not need a final, polished version of your work (you still have time for this) — but you should be able to show a clear direction and executable vision for your work.

This checkpoint will be considered in your final project grade.


Submission
Submit your work to this Google Drive. Your folder be titled Lasname, Firstname. Submit your work before class next Thursday.

WEEK 11
November 5 In-Class In-class workshop on website builders and working with Cursor/Claude Code for web.
Tutorial: Intro to Website Builders (working with code on the web)

1 on 1 project feedback/technical help sessions.   Homework Make progress on your final project. Refer to the Final Project Brief for deliverables.

Submission
Submit evidence of your progress to this Google Drive. Your folder be titled Lasname, Firstname. Submit your work before class next Thursday.

WEEK 10
October 30
 In-Class Tutorial: Intro to Cursor (Vibe Coding, Web Experiments, GUIs)

Homework Experiment with interactive formats for presenting your work using Cursor. Refer back to your wireframes from last week and your brainstorming exercise thinking about strategies for interactivity. 

Submission
Submit evidence of your progress to this Google Drive. Your folder be titled Lasname, Firstname. Submit your work before class next Thursday.

WEEK 09
October 22
 In-ClassTalk: Interfaces As Mediators


Tutorial: Wireframes and Interface Thinking (Figma)

Homework Part 1: Thinking about interfaces 
Review the interface questions from today’s talk (the blue slides at the end). Answer, in paragraph or outline format, the relevant questions to help you refine and detail your approach to interactivity. 

Part 2: Wireframe
Create a wireframe for your project to begin shaping your ideas about interactivity. Start by drawing a few quick paper sketches that map out your main moments of interaction, then build a basic digital wireframe in Figma showing the structure and flow between them. Focus on layout and logic rather than visuals. 

Submission
Submit a single document to this Google Drive folder containing your writing (part 1) and a link to your Figma prototype (go to Share -> Copy link). Your document should be titled Lasname, Firstname. Submit your work before class next Thursday.

WEEK 08
October 16
 In-ClassTalk: Intro to Interactivity

 Homework Building on your proposal from Week 06, create a short 10-slide pitch deck that expands on the ideas you developed in today’s workshop. Use it to communicate your project concept, audience, format, and approach to interactivity, along with any updated visuals or references. Base the organization off the elevator pitch “formula.”

This deck should clearly present your direction and serve as the foundation for the interface and prototyping work we’ll begin next week.
 
Submission
Submit your work to this Google Drive folder. You will need to be signed in with your USC email account. Make a folder for your work titled Lasname, Firstname and submit your work there before class next Thursday.

WEEK 06
October 2
 In-ClassFinal Project Brief: Download PDF Homework Since we do not meet next week (Fall Recess), use this time to refine your project direction and gather some of the materials you might need. 

Part 1: Project Proposal
Prepare a short proposal (this can be flexible and provisional — it may evolve!) that includes:

  • Working Title (optional, but helpful)
  • Concept / Narrative (1–2 paragraphs: what story, idea, or experience are you exploring?)
  • Media (What types of media you plan to integrate?)
  • Interactivity (what kind of user/audience interaction are you imagining? You could have multiple ideas/options)
  • References / Inspirations (artists, projects, images, films, games, etc. that help frame your direction)
  • Format (Any other notes, interests, or ideas about the format you’re interested in)

Part 2: Material Collection
Continue collecting and organizing any assets, references, or resources you’ll need for the final. You may also want to continue working on your video edits, images, or parts of the project you’ve already developed.

Submission
Submit your work to this Google Drive folder. You will need to be signed in with your USC email account. Make a folder for your work titled Lasname, Firstname and submit your work there before class Thursday, October 16.

WEEK 05
September 25 In-ClassTutorial/Demo Session: Intro to Audio Homework Part 1: Add Audio
  • Collect at least 5 audio clips (generative, downloaded, or recorded). 
  • Record at least 2 sounds yourself (field recording, foley, or voice).
  • Begin editing your project with these sound elements.

Part 2: Video Edit  
  • Create a 30–60 second (minimum) edit that combines your video work with layered audio.
  • Be ready to present this work next week. We will share everyones progress with the class and have a group feedback session. 

Submit your work to this Google Drive folder. You will need to be signed in with your USC email account. Make a folder for your work titled Lasname, Firstname and submit your work there before class Thursday.

WEEK 04
September 18 In-ClassGuest Session: Editing Workshop with Matt Cluett.HomeworkUsing the introductory editing skills we covered (Premeire, After Effects) and the skills you learned in this week’s guest workshop with Matt, complete the following exercises: 

  • Refine your project idea/narrative: write 3-5 clear sentences describing your project direction
  • Write one paragraph about your plan/approcah to editing your content. This could be about what you want to accomplish/communicate, a storyboard/outline, etc. 
  • Edit at least 3 new video clips (around 30 seconds each) 

Submit your work to this Google Drive folder. You will need to be signed in with your USC email account. Make a folder for your work titled Lasname, Firstname and submit your work there before class Thursday.

WEEK 03
September 11 In-Class Tutorial: Intro to Video Editing and Motion Graphics  

Submit: Google Drive Homework This week you’ll keep building your video bank, combining both generative video and practical clips you record yourself. Think of this as still gathering raw material — sketching with motion. You’ll also begin experimenting with editing basics in Premiere/After Effects.

  • Generate at least 5 new clips (5–10 sec each) using GenAI tools.
  • Record at least 10 practical clips (5–15 sec each, minimum) with your phone/camera.
  • In Premiere Pro, edit together at least 3 clips (generative or practical) into a 15–30 sec sequence with basic cuts, one title, and a keyframed effect (like a fade or zoom). Export as Lastname_HW3_Edit.mp4. 


Submit all work (generative clips, practical clips, Premiere export) to this Google Drive folder. You will need to be signed in with your USC email account. Make a folder for your work titled Lasname, Firstname and submit your videos there before class Thursday.

WEEK 02
September 4 In-Class Talk: Motion (download pdf)



Tutorial: Introduction to Generative Video  
Homework This week you’ll begin building your own collection of video clips — a “video bank” that you can draw from as we move forwards. Think of this like gathering raw material or sketching. Your video clips should relate to the narratives/concepts you’ve started developing.

  • Prompting: First, write at least 10 prompts that translate the elements of motion (camera/view, light/environment, composition, rhythm/pace, in-scene movement) into clear generative instructions. Compile these in a text document. 

  • Testing: Use a generative image platform to test out your prompts. Refine as needed. Paste these image samples into your text document with the prompts.

  • Generative Video Bank: Use a generative video platform of your choice (e.g. Runway, Pika, Kaiber) to produce at least 5 short video clips (min 5–10 seconds each) based on your prompts. 


Please submit your homework to this Google Drive folder. You will need to be signed in with your USC email account. Make a folder for your work titled Lasname, Firstname and submit your prompts, images, and videos there before class Thursday. 

WEEK 01 
August 28

 In-Class Talk: Introduction / Course Framing (download pdf)



Tutorial: No pdf today. Refer to “Image Generation (basic)” on the Resources page. 
Homework

  • Narrative: For next week, begin developing the concept you will carry through the semester. Write a short paragraph (5–7 sentences) describing your initial idea, theme, or line of inquiry. This should not be a polished project proposal — think of it as an exploration of what excites you, what you’re curious about, or a question you’d like to pursue through making, and how it might evolve across text, image, motion, sound, and interaction.

  • References:  Alongside the paragraph, create a mood board of visual examples that speak to your concept. Use both AI-generated images (experimenting with different prompts and tools) and reference images you collect from other sources (artworks, objects, environments, found images, etc.). Aim for images that suggest the territory of your idea: what it looks like, feels like, and how it might grow.

Bring your digital or physical files to class next week and be ready to present your work. 
© Breanna Browning 2025