Self-assembly of submicron particles into colloidal crystal structures offers a rapid, tunable and scalable process for creating spatially periodic templates for nano-fabrication, micro-lens arrays and photonic crystals. Theoretical calculations have shown that colloidal crystals from non-spherical particles could allow robust and complete photonic bandgaps to open at lower refractive index contrasts, allowing a wider range of materials to be accessible for fabrication. In the present work, 2D structures with a high degree of positional and orientational order from mushroom-cap, pear and peanut shaped colloids were fabricated via convective assembly. Structure-optical property correlations were made using SEM and optical diffraction spectroscopy. The ordered assembly process will be explained with respect to particle concentration, solvent surface tension at the drying front, and geometric packing efficiency. The structures were modeled using the diffraction grating equation. Structural phases were examined with thermodynamic models from Monte Carlo simulations. Transitions between isotropic and ordered phases were followed using the simulated osmotic pressure versus density curve and by visualization of the equilibrated system from the simulations.