Product Design & Technology

This study focuses on design and product development using a wide range of processes, materials and tools and fitting them to the chosen design. It aims to develop efficient organisation and work skills, as well as an awareness of the possible social and environmental implications of production and disposal of materials. This is a practical based subject. Students must pay for all materials. As the student designs their own project the cost is under their control, averaging $50-$75. Projects designed for client needs or a target audience are discussed with the classroom teacher and their suitability assessed. Average cost per project, which the client is expected to cover is $50-$150.

Unit 1: Sustainability redevelopment of a product

• Sustainable redevelopment of a product

• Producing and evaluating a redeveloped product

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Design and plan the redevelopment of a product with the intention of developing a different product with consideration of sustainability issues

• Select and apply materials, tools, equipment and processes to make a redeveloped product, and compare this with the original product

Unit 2: Collaborative design

• Designing within a team

• Producing and evaluating a collaboratively designed product

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Design and plan a product or range of products collaboratively in response to a design brief
• Justify, manage and use appropriate production processes to make a product safely and evaluate individually and as a member of a team, the processes and materials used and the suitability of a product or components of a group product/s against the design brief

Unit 3:  Applying the product design process

• Design for end-user/s
• Product development in industry
• Designing for others

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Investigate and define a design problem, and discuss how the design process leads to product design development
• Explain and analyse influences on the design, development and manufacture of products within industrial settings
• Document the product design process used to meet the needs of an end-user/s, and commence production of the designed product

Unit 4:  Product development and evaluation

• Product analysis and comparison
• Product manufacture
• Product evaluation

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Compare, analyse and evaluate similar commercial products, taking into account a range of factors and using appropriate techniques
• Apply a range of production skills and processes safely to make the product designed in Unit 3, and manage time and resources effectively and efficiently
• Evaluate the finished product through testing and feedback against criteria, create end-users instructions or care labels and recommend improvements to future products