COLLABORATIVE DESIGN PRACTICE TASK 3

 23/09/2025 - 26/10/2025
DAVIES ANNIKA ANGELA
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN PRACTICE
BACHELORS OF DESIGN IN CREATIVE MEDIA
TASK 3: PLAYTEST & FINAL SUBMISSION

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INSTRUCTIONS

• Collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams
• Develop clear creative briefs
• Design solutions aligned with the intended user experience
• Create prototypes or mock-ups for user testing
• Ensure outcomes are suitable for a table-top game format

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

We did our initial prototype to see how the final card will look. I took initiative to print it out and assemble the gameboard, guide book and cards. 

This was just a rough prototype and it was just to see how to make and assemble the different elements.

initial prototype

I did research on places that could do print job and I found Arch prints which was rated 4.6 stars and we used that. 

we then moved to production by printing the packaging and game cards while actively resolving material and print-related issues. Once all components were finalized, we conducted our final playtest in Week 13. We then did a playtest , while Junjie coordinated the group and handled the video documentation.

User testing

Playtest Session with other Alumni's and teams

COMPILED FINAL ASSETS 

CLIENT PRESENTATION

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REFLECTION

Experience

Throughout the assembly and prototyping process, I learned that tabletop game design goes beyond visual aesthetics and requires practical, user-centered problem solving. For example, designing the resource counter sliding bar challenged me to think about mechanical functionality, material limitations, and smooth user interaction. This required iterative adjustments to ensure the component moved intuitively, reliably, and enhanced gameplay rather than disrupting it.

Observation

I observed that strong brand consistency plays a critical role in tabletop games, as players rely heavily on visual cues to understand rules, roles, and game flow. Every element—from the board and cards to tokens and counters—must visually reinforce the theme to create an immersive and cohesive experience. Even small inconsistencies can break player engagement or cause confusion during gameplay.

Findings

Through testing and refinement, I found that it is essential for the theme to be clearly and consistently communicated across the entire tabletop experience. A well-defined theme not only strengthens brand identity but also improves usability by making game mechanics easier to understand.

Additionally, user testing proved invaluable in identifying friction points, unclear interactions, and mechanical issues that were not obvious during the design phase. Observing real players interact with the game allowed us to refine both visual and functional elements based on actual behavior rather than assumptions.

Collaboration within the team was equally important, as working across different perspectives encouraged constructive feedback, shared problem-solving, and iterative improvement, ultimately leading to a more polished and player-focused final outcome.