566.409 Web Design Foundations Assignment Brief

Assessment Mapping

After completing this assessment, the student will have met the following learning outcomes related to the graduate profile outcome.

Assessment Information

• This assessment is divided into multiple parts and is required to be completed individually. Each part covers specific tasks related to Business Analysis, User Experience and User Interface.
• This assessment must be completed individually.
• All responses, reports, and documentation must be your original work. The use of Generative AI tools (for example ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or similar systems) is strictly prohibited for this assessment.
• If AI-generated content is detected, the submission will receive a zero mark and will not be eligible for a resit or resubmission. The resit or resubmission opportunity applies only to students who fail due to academic performance, not to cases of academic misconduct.
• Only one submission is allowed. Once the assignment is submitted on Canvas, it will be recorded as the final and official version. No resubmissions will be permitted. Ensure the file is correct and complete before submission.
• The final submission must include the official assignment cover page as the first page of the document. Students must:
  • Clearly write their full names and student ID numbers
  • Sign and date the cover page
  • Submissions without a signed cover page will not be accepted and will be deemed incomplete and will be returned for correction if time allows before the due date, otherwise assessed as not submitted.
  • Use APA 7 format for all citations and references.
  • Follow all submission guidelines carefully to avoid penalties.
  • Final documentation should be well-structured with titles, subheadings, and bullet points and uploaded on Canvas as a single Microsoft Word Document.

You are required to describe your understandings:

• Business analysis in web design NOT build a website
• User experience design NOT create a user experience
• Interface design principles NOT create a user interface or design element

You will:

• Apply the concepts taught in this course to the given scenarios
• Write in your own words
• Present your work in a clear, logical, and professional structure

Resit / Resubmission

If you do not achieve a pass in this assessment, you will be offered one resit or resubmission opportunity, with a new due date set by the lecturer. The purpose of a resit or resubmission is to allow you to meet the minimum requirements to pass the assessment, not to improve your grade.

Important conditions:

• Any resit or resubmission is capped at a maximum of 50 percent.
• If your resubmitted work is assessed at a mark higher than 50 percent, your final recorded mark will still be 50 percent.
• This policy applies regardless of how well the resubmitted work is completed.

The resit or resubmission opportunity is provided only to enable students who did not initially pass to achieve a passing grade, it is not an opportunity to obtain a higher grade.

Part A: Business Analysis

Total: 40 Marks
Word Count: Approximately 700 – 800 words

Scenario

You have recently completed a Level 4 qualification specialising in web design and development at Manukau Institute of Technology.

After graduating, you secure an entry-level web designer role with Te Ara Matihiko, a Māori and Pacific led digital agency based in Manukau, South Auckland. The agency is known for its culturally grounded and user-focused approach, with strong emphasis on planning and analysis before any website is designed or developed.

As a junior web designer, you work as part of a project team that includes project managers, designers, and developers. One of your responsibilities is to support the early planning stage of website projects by helping the team understand the client, their users, and what the website needs to achieve.

Te Ara Matihiko has recently been approached by a new client, Moana Vibes Trust, a community organisation based in Ōtara, South Auckland.

Moana Vibes Trust supports Māori and Pacific young people aged 15 to 25 through youth mentoring, creative programmes, wellbeing support, and community events. Currently, the organisation does not have a dedicated website. Most information is shared through social media and printed flyers, resulting in limited visibility, repeated enquiries, and difficulty accessing accurate information.

The Trust now wants a new website that clearly communicates who they are, what they do, and how the community can engage with them. The website must be youth friendly, culturally respectful, mobile focused, and easy for staff to update. The organisation has a limited budget and no in-house technical expertise.

Task

Using the scenario above, describe the business analysis work that should be carried out before the website can be designed and developed.

Your response must:

• Demonstrate your understanding of the business analysis approach taught in this course
• Apply this approach directly to the Moana Vibes Trust project
• Be structured as a clear and logical planning process, from initial understanding of the client through to preparing the project for design and development
• Show how business analysis supports organisational needs, user needs, and culturally appropriate outcomes

Part B: User Experience

Total: 40 Marks
Word Count: Approximately 400–500 words

Scenario

As part of your role at Te Ara Matihiko, you are assigned to a new project focused on digital gaming and youth culture.

A group of young content creators aged 17 to 25 are launching a new platform called:

“LEVEL UP AOTEAROA”

Level Up Aotearoa is a gaming and esports focused website for young people interested in:

• Competitive and casual gaming
• Local tournaments and online events
• Game reviews, tips, and community content
• Streaming, content creation, and digital careers in gaming

The platform will also highlight local voices, including Māori and Pacific gamers and creators, in a natural and modern way.

The organisers want the website to be:

• Visually exciting and modern
• Easy to use on mobile devices
• Simple for first-time users to navigate
• Focused on community, creativity, and participation
• Suitable for a general audience (G/PG rated)

Before starting the design, your team asks you to review existing gaming and youth-focused websites to understand what creates a good user experience and what causes users to disengage.

Case Study Websites

Choose any two of the following websites:

PlayStation New Zealand – Gaming content, news, and community
https://www.playstation.com/en-nz

Xbox New Zealand – Games, events, and user experiences
https://www.xbox.com/en-NZ

Nintendo – Games, visuals, and accessibility focused design
https://www.nintendo.com

IGN – Game reviews, news, and interactive content
https://www.ign.com

GamesHub – Gaming news, reviews, and community focused content
https://www.gameshub.com

Task

Using the two websites you have selected, analyse and compare their user experience.

You must apply the user experience model taught in this course, using the following layers:

• Surface (visual design, colour, imagery, typography, first impression)
• Skeleton (layout, navigation, organisation, consistency)
• Functionality and Interaction (ease of tasks, responsiveness, feedback)

Your comparison must explain:

• How each website supports or frustrates young users
• How easily users can find games, news, or community content
• How design choices affect engagement and clarity
• How suitable each site is as inspiration for Level Up Aotearoa

Focus on how the experience feels to use, not just what the website contains.

Part C: Interface Design

Total: 20 Marks
Word Count: Approximately 400 words

Scenario

Following the planning and user experience work for Level Up Aotearoa, your team at Te Ara Matihiko is preparing to move into visual and interface design.

The platform is intended to be a modern gaming and esports website for young people aged 17 to 25, showcasing gaming content, community activity, and creative opportunities, while also giving space for local voices, including Māori and Pacific creators, in a modern and accessible way.

Your team asks you to evaluate how existing websites apply key interface design principles and how these choices affect user experience.

Task

Explain the importance of the following interface design principles:

• Layout
• Content awareness
• Aesthetics (the attractiveness of the website, colour/images together with layout and placement)
• Minimal user effort

For each principle, you must:

1. Explain why the principle is important for usability and user experience
2. Identify one website from the Part B case study list that demonstrates the principle effectively
3. Identify one website from the Part B case study list that demonstrates the principle poorly
4. Briefly explain why each example is effective or ineffective

Important: You must use only the websites listed in Part B. No other websites are permitted.

Your explanations must show how interface design choices influence:

• Ease of navigation
• Clarity of information
• User engagement
• Accessibility for different types of users