L2 - Design Final

appropriateness of your design

How is your design is fit for purpose and end users? How has your design considered; 

• End User Considerations

• Relevant implications

• Use of suitable conventions

1. Introduction

• Briefly state what the digital outcome is (e.g. a 2D platformer game, promotional animation, 3D model, website, etc.).

• Mention who the end-users are and the purpose of the outcome.

• State that the evaluation will justify how the design addresses:

  • • End-user needs

    • Design implications (social, cultural, environmental, legal, etc.)

    • Appropriate conventions (technical and visual)

2. End-User Considerations

Justify how the design meets the needs of the intended users.

Justify = explain why that choice is the best fit for the users, not just that you made it.

• Who are the users? (e.g. teenagers who enjoy puzzle games)

• What do they need/want? (e.g. intuitive controls, attractive UI, quick loading times)

• How does the design meet those needs?

  • • Use evidence from testing or feedback (user surveys, playtests, etc.)

    • Reference specific features and explain why they suit the user (e.g. “I used bold icons and colour-coded buttons to make navigation easier for visually impaired users.”)

3. Relevant Implications

Justify how the design considers broader implications (required for Excellence-level work).

What implications did you have to consider that apply to your outcome:

• Cultural: Did you represent a culture respectfully in your design? Why was that important? Example: "I used Māori motifs in the animation and checked with a cultural advisor to ensure respectful representation."

• Legal: Did you follow copyright rules? Did you use royalty-free assets? Why does that matter? Example: "I avoided copyrighted images and used royalty-free assets to meet legal requirements."

• Social: Does your outcome avoid harmful stereotypes? Does it promote a positive message? Does the outcome influence behaviour, relationships, or communication? Example: "My poster promotes positive mental health among teens by using inclusive imagery and uplifting messages."

• Ethical: Is your product safe and responsible to use? Is the content appropriate and responsible? Example: "I removed violent content from my game to ensure it was suitable for 12–14 year olds."

• Accessibility: Have you considered users with impairments? Can people with disabilities use or interact with the outcome? Example: "I added alt text to images and used high contrast colours for users with visual impairments."

• Intellectual Property: Did you create original content or use others’ work legally? Example: "All graphics were drawn by me, and I credited the font creator under Creative Commons licensing."

• Privacy: Are you collecting any user data or using personal information? Example: "The website does not collect personal information, ensuring user privacy is protected."

• Usability: Is the outcome easy and intuitive to use? Example: "I used icons and consistent navigation menus so users could quickly find what they needed."

• Functionality: Does it work as intended? Are features reliable? Example: "The game's pause and save features were tested thoroughly to ensure they worked on all levels."

• Aesthetics: Does it look good and appeal to users? Example: "I followed a blue and orange complementary colour scheme to create visual interest and energy."

• Sustainability and Future-Proofing: Is the outcome efficient, environmentally responsible, or designed to last? Did you minimise waste or energy use? Example: "My 3D model was designed with minimal supports to reduce plastic waste in printing."

• End-User Considerations: Have you addressed the needs, preferences, and context of your users? Example: "Because my target audience is 10–12 year olds, I used simple language and fun sound effects."

• Health and Safety: Is the outcome safe to use or consume? Example: "I ensured my interactive display used rounded edges and low-voltage components to reduce risk."

Example:

“I used Creative Commons music in my game to avoid copyright issues, which is important because distributing a game with unlicensed music could lead to legal problems. I also credited the creators on the title screen.”

4. Use of Appropriate Conventions

Justify the use of industry-standard or audience-appropriate conventions.

Conventions vary by outcome, but some examples:

• Animation: Frame rates, timing, transitions, lip sync

• DFM: Sustainable material use, clear measurements

• 3D Modelling: Clean topology, UV mapping, correct scale

• Graphics: Layout rules, hierarchy, typography, colour theory

• Games: UI standards, control schemes, difficulty curve

• Websites: Responsive design, navigation, alt-text

For each convention:

• Name it

• Say how you used it.

• Justify why it improves the design or helps the user
  
  

Example:

“I used a consistent sans-serif font across all pages because it’s easy to read on screens and aligns with modern design conventions. This helped maintain a professional and clean look.”

5. Conclusion

• Reflect on the success of the design overall.

• Mention how user feedback or testing confirmed the design choices.

• Comment on any improvements you would make if you did it again, based on what you’ve learned.

Tips for Students:

• Use sentence starters like:

  • • “This was important because…”

    • “This meets the needs of the user by…"

    • “An implication I considered was…”

    • “This convention was appropriate because…”

• Include real examples from your design 

• Be specific, not vague. Avoid saying "I just liked it" — explain why it works.