Purpose

The purpose of this assessment task is to:

Understand major theoretical aspects and core values of events (Why, Who, What, Want);

Assess the significance and importance of design elements of events; and

Evaluate from a patron’s experience (yours) reflecting upon both negative and positive drivers of the visitor experience.

 Assessment Structure

PLEASE NOTE:

This assessment requires you to attend an actual event (paid or unpaid) within your town, city or community. The reflection is based on a lived experience that cannot be reflected vicariously.

Instructions

To get started on your assessment task, please follow the instructions below:

Identify an event taking place within the first two weeks of the Block in your community, town, city. Access to this event you have selected may be either paid or unpaid, it may be a community event, sports event, arts or cultural event or other major special event or festival (please refer to the Assessment Event Guidance and Links document for suggestions contained within this section).

Identify and explain the core values of this event. You need to consider (The Why, Who, What, Want) so refer to event theorists either Goldblatt or Brown and Jones (2004, pp 59-60) in terms of explaining what are the core values of the event you attended.

Consider the design elements that have contributed to the theme and the atmosphere of the event you attended. Refer to design elements that are discussed through class seminars in week 2 and outline how each of these contributed to the event experience. (Design elements can be but are not limited to, colour, venue, layout, access and egress, sound, texture, theming, entertainment, special effects, props, ticketing, signage, staff uniforms). You are expected to use a range of reference sources from your text books or readings to demonstrate you knowledge or why specific elements in design were used and for what purpose. 

Lastly, writing in a ‘first person’ account you need to explain your experience of the event. You need to consider your thoughts, expectations, feelings and actual experience as a patron of the event. Think about all the “moments of truth” the interactions with either staff or elements of the event design and how that made you feel. You are expected to be as detailed in your reflection and need to convey what you believed contributed to your positive or negative experience.

Lastly, you need to identify where the event could have been improved from an event design perspective in your opinion

Your reflective event analysis needs to be completed in Arial or Times New Roman 12pt and 1.5 or double spaced. You are expected to cite a range of reference sources in discussing the design elements (Point 3.) and none in your personal reflection (point 4.).

The document should be uploaded in a  .doc or.docx) format by the due date prescribed in the Assessment Dropbox.

Assessment Criteria

The following levels of criteria will be used to grade this assessment task: (IMPORTANT)

Criterion 1: Event core values. (5 W)

Criterion 2: Event design elements.

Criterion 3: Reflection on the event experience.

Criterion 4: Theoretical resources.

Criterion 5: Report style including adhering to the guide, spelling, grammar and reference formats.