internet narrative medium: ecard exercise
Getting into coding is intimidating for many design students. This reluctance prevents students from seeing the full potential of this creative medium. This exercise requires students to build an ecard, a simple vignette that is customizable through quick manipulation of variables. They are sent through email, individualized for each recipient. Upon receiving the email, the recipient will be linked back to a website, with the variables already encrypted in the url string, thus receiving their personalized vignette. Students grasp the fundamentals of the medium, overcoming their fear through hands on experience.
James and BonBon Xmas is an example created by student Jay Sit. It allows the user to decorate a room and hide a bull dog. When the recipient of the ecard visits, the dog and greeting message would appear like jack in a box.