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Capstone Project

Objective

Demonstrate your skills by completing an in-depth project for a non-profit or commercial client or developing a project of your own.

Description

There are two sets of requirements for a Capstone project, depending if it is for a client or developed on your own. Below are the requirements for a Client project.

The project must fulfill the client’s objectives and goals using the most appropriate media for the intended audience.

  • The project may use one or any combination of the following elements: audio, video, mobile or desktop application, an online presence or distribution which might include a YouTube channel, website and/or social media, a digital sign or kiosk, AR/VR application, etc. If none of these seem to fit the project you have in mind then ask for advice. Do not ask obvious questions: yes, a podcast could be audio or video. Think.
  • The project may be for the purpose of marketing, fundraising, customer service, external or internal communication, training or education, culture, entertainment, e-commerce, etc.
  • Some projects may involve working with a partner. Consider Group Project dynamics when choosing a partner.
  • You are ultimately responsible for all aspects of the project including proposals, budgets, schedules, designs, and delivery of the finished product.
  • You may be compensated for your work on a project but that is not required.
  • You should leverage the talents of others to complete portions of the project for which it is unrealistic, within the timeline of the project, for you to acquire the skills (software programming, video recording, graphics, etc.) necessary to complete the project. You must reach acceptable, documented compensation arrangements with other people if they execute elements of the project on your behalf. Compensation may be in-kind or material. Written and signed agreements detailing the compensation must be provided as part of the package of final deliverables.
  • Your project has a “virtual” budget of between $5,000 and $10,000. You will use your Task List to determine the time required for each aspect of the project. You must document any outside expenses incurred (stock photos, web hosting, software licenses, etc.) in the course of completing the projects.

A self-developed project is a little different. You’ll cover many of the same bases as a Client project, but you’ll be reporting to to…You. I’ll have some examples of design documents for you to look over.

Project Deliverables

The project must include:

  • Project Profiler – a document that you use to gather information from your client about the project and their organization
  • Creative Brief – Details the project concept, audience, media choice, schedule, and budget.
  • Project Schedule and Task List – The Schedule is a list of activities and milestones required to complete the project. The Task List determines the activities and effort needed to create the schedule.
  • Proposal Template (SEE template for an up-to-date list of sections.)
    • Client Description
    • Project analysis
    • Audience description
    • Overall project objective – what the audience should know, do or feel when consuming the finished media.
    • Documented design for the project to your client’s specifications.
    • Project production plan based on the design within the parameters of the agreed-upon schedule and established budget.
    • Content creation and acquisition plan (text, image, video or audio, etc.)
    • Project Schedule.
    • Project Budget.
  • Project milestone sign-offs from the client. (See your Schedule)
  • Diary of all meetings with clients and service providers
  • Signed agreements with all service providers (If used)
  • Instructor access to all in-progress and finished materials of the project for evaluation.
  • Overview Presentation of the project for evaluation
  • The finished proposal for the evaluation panel must be printed and bound, not stapled or placed in a pocket folder. You must include pages with your presentation slides and a copy of your résumé. Number of copies TBD (approximately five)

Use of Copyrighted Materials

All materials used in a project must be either supplied by the client, created by you specifically for the project and therefore owned by the client or obtained specifically for the project. Copyrighted material may only be used with written or emailed permission of the copyright holder(s). If you use your personal material for your client you should either grant them the rights or negotiate a fee for use. Other allowed materials include Creative Commons and Public Domain materials used with proper attribution.

If you decide to use copyrighted materials under the Fair Use guidelines, you must provide written justification to the instructor describing the use of the material, and the instructor will make a determination of your usage; the instructor’s negative determination is final. Since all of your project material will be published publicly there is the risk that your interpretation of Fair Use and that of a copyright holder or court will differ.

Due Dates

  • See Schedule for DUE dates

Evaluation

Your completed project will be evaluated by the instructor and a panel of professionals. You will present the project in professional attire, explain its audience and objectives, and review the project documentation and design. You will present the project and explain how those elements translated into the completed project. The instructor and the panel will score each project using a rubric that will determine the score on your major field test and for your complete Capstone project.

Total points available: 1600

Assignments

  • Semester Reflection – 75 points

All Projects

  • Project Schedule / Task List – 100 points
  • Capstone Project – 350 points
  • Capstone Presentation – 150

Client Projects

  • Project Profiler – 50 points
  • Creative Brief – 75 points
  • Project Proposal – 75 points

Development Projects

  • Design Document

The following are the evaluation criteria for the elements of your project:

  • Meets or exceeds the stated project objectives and goals to solve the identified problem.
  • Adheres to the proposed schedule and budget.
  • Uses appropriate design principles for the audience and objective.
  • Executed to professional standards.
  • Presented in a professional way for evaluation.
  • Project materials printed and bound
  • Dressed in business attire for the presentation.