Syllabus | CalArts Fall 2026

Course Summary
Toolkit
Domain and Hosting
#show-and-tell Slack Channel
Attendance
Resources

Course Summary

In this course, we will cover a broad spectrum of coding techniques that will enable you to create contemporary webpages. While discussions about design and usability are encouraged, our central focus will be on front-end development. Be prepared to write a lot of code.

The class will start with a review of the basics: how to properly write semantic HTML and contemporary CSS to create responsive and mobile-first web pages.

After that, focused mini-projects will allow us to tackle specific issues:

@media queries
Web typography
Accessibility
Creating layouts with flexbox and grid
CSS variables
CSS units, such as vh, vw, ems and rems
CSS transform, transition, and animation properties
Image compression
Favicons
Basics of JavaScript
Using AI technologies like Copilot to help us code while—hopefully—staying in control

I’m open to discuss anything else you might be interested in. Let me know!

For the final project, you will apply your coding knowledge to create a small website or web-based tool.

Prerequisites

A basic understanding of HTML and CSS. Ideally, you should have coded a website before and be comfortable using a text-based code editor. More importantly, you must have a real interest in web design, the urge to fiddle with code, and the ability to be proactive and figure things out.

Bring a Laptop

Ideally, bring your laptop to class every week. You’ll work more comfortably and effectively in an environment that’s customized to your preferences. If you don’t have access to a laptop, we’ll figure something out.

A word about AI

AI is nothing short of magical when it comes to coding, and I’m using it extensively in my own work. While we will use AI help in the latter part of this course, please do not rely on AI in the beginning. You need to truly understand the fundamental concepts before letting AI write your code. And when you do use AI, make sure to ask for explanations so you understand what the code accomplishes.

Please do use AI as a personal tutor as much as you like.

Toolkit

We will utilize the following tools in this class:

This class website (teaching.romanjaster.net/calartsfall2026) where you can access all presentations and assignments.
A Slack group for communicating among ourselves.
Visual Studio Code as our code editor.
Github Copilot for AI help. Students get a free account.
Figma for creating visual mockups.
Your own domain name.

Domain and Hosting

You should have access to your own domain name. If you don’t already have one, I can help you purchase one. You can use any domain registrar you like. If you don’t have a preference, use Namecheap.

All assignments will be hosted for free using GitHub Pages. You’ll connect each project to a subdomain of your own domain. For example:

project1.coding.yourdomain.com

By the end of the semester, you’ll have a small portfolio of projects created in this class.

#show-and-tell Slack Channel

Each week, one student will share a web discovery in the #show-and-tell Slack channel.

Find and share two things:

A tool or coding technique
Something useful, surprising, new, or novel.
A great website
A site that looks spectacular or works spectacularly. Please find a real website—built with HTML and CSS, responsive, accessible—rather than something that feels like a video game or is entirely built in p5.js.

See the resources below as a starting point.

Attendance

It is very important that class starts on time and that you attend every class. You can easily fall behind if you miss lectures and critiques in class.

This class has a strict attendance policy:
Class starts exactly at 9:10am

In the event that you miss a class, please review the class website and contact a class mate to find out what was covered. If you have remaining questions, you are welcome to contact me directly.