Course information
Design and Emerging Technology offers students a range of career pathways in design in fields such as engineering, fashion, furniture, jewellery, textile and ceramics, at both professional and vocational levels. Students will also be able to understand how the selection and use of technologies contributes to a sustainable and improved future. Students studying technologies will learn about the design process and its application. Students will develop research skills, computational thinking and a range of communication skills. They will refine their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills including collaboration, project management and be able to reflect on their own learning. Students will have opportunities to use design thinking and apply creativity through structured, collaborative and project-based learning, solve problems, develop practical skills and apply critical thinking in the development of new ideas. Students will consider and use global perspectives, identify ethical issues related to the technologies in relevant industries and the sustainability of solutions as they manage projects from beginning to end.
Course pattern
Available as a Minor or Major.
Suggested Minor course
Semester | Unit |
|---|---|
1 | Design Processes |
2 | Product Design |
Suggested Major course
Semester | Unit |
|---|---|
1 | Design Processes |
2 | Product Design |
3 | Design and Manufacture |
4 | Innovation and Design |
Design Processes
A design process is the central framework that designers use to create innovative ideas and solutions.
This unit gives students the opportunity to apply a staged design process to develop design solutions. They will apply design thinking in a focus area such as creating products, systems or environments. Student skills and understanding are developed by using the design process to define needs or opportunities, collect information, develop ideas, analyse, plan, produce and evaluate final solutions.
Product Design
Designers play a vital role in shaping the way we live through the design of the products that surround us. This unit gives students the opportunity to develop a user centred product while considering the social, ethical and environmental responsibilities of designers. It provides opportunities for creative thinking, the development of technical knowledge and understanding design opportunities that are brought about by technological change.
Design and Manufacture
Design for manufacture explores the way in which design solutions are produced using existing and emerging technologies. The focus of this unit is on production processes, prototyping, manufacturing, economy of scale, material properties and emerging technologies. This unit offers students the opportunity to design, make and evaluate design solutions using a range of materials, technologies and production processes.
Innovation and Design
Authentic innovation in design can be achieved by combining process thinking with new ideas and existing and emerging technology. This unit offers students the opportunity to explore an area of futuristic design concepts within the focus areas of systems, product or environment design. Students will use their understanding of: design process; technical knowledge; social, ethical and environmental responsibilities to create, test and evaluate this design solution.