COLLABORATIVE DESIGN PRACTICE TASK 2

06/10/2025 - 07/11/2025
DAVIES ANNIKA ANGELA
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN PRACTICE
BACHELORS OF DESIGN IN CREATIVE MEDIA (HONOURS)
TASK 2: PROJECT IDEATION PROTOTYPE

---

INSTRUCTIONS

• Collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams
• Develop clear and effective creative briefs
• Create designs that align with the intended user experience
• Produce prototypes or mock-ups suitable for user testing of the tabletop game.

I was in charge of the resource counter.

initial resource counter 

I followed the inital candy colour palette and shape of the original design. I then decided to make the resource counter a circle instead to match our mascot and then I added grain texture and little dots to represent chocolate chips. I also added the mascot at the beginning and the end of each point tracker the at 0 the mascot and at 7 the mascot is really excited to represent accomplishment and reaching the finish line.

Junjie then refined my design and this was the outcome

---

REFLECTION

Experience

Throughout the process, I experienced a mix of frustration, curiosity, and eventual confidence. At the beginning, working with the original Ori concept felt limiting and slightly overwhelming due to the lack of structure and refinement in the design. My initial attempts focused on quick visual fixes, which left me feeling unsatisfied, as the design still didn’t fully represent the Sugar High concept. However, as I began exploring the cookie theme more deeply—through texture, shape, and mascot integration—I felt more engaged and creatively motivated. Seeing the board gradually become more cohesive and expressive gave me a strong sense of ownership and reassurance in my design decisions. The refinement stage, especially after peer feedback, felt rewarding, as it validated the direction I had pushed toward.

Observation

From an analytical perspective, the original Ori design lacked key design principles such as visual hierarchy, consistency, and thematic alignment. The uncontrolled use of typography, flat color divisions, and absence of storytelling resulted in a cluttered and disengaging layout. During my first design trial, I observed that surface-level changes like color and font application did not resolve these issues. Once I applied repetition, contrast, and shape consistency, and introduced texture and character-driven elements, the board became more readable and immersive. Junjie’s refinement further strengthened cohesion, demonstrating the impact of iterative collaboration.

Findings

This process reinforced that strong tabletop design relies on user-centered thinking and intentional visual systems, not decoration alone. Translating the abstract idea of “Sugar High” into tangible elements—such as cookie-like textures, circular counters, and expressive mascots—enhanced both usability and emotional engagement. I also learned that small details, including texture density, color tone balance, and facial expressions, significantly influence how users perceive progression and reward. Ultimately, the experience highlighted the importance of iteration, feedback, and trusting the design process to transform an underdeveloped concept into a cohesive and engaging game.