Product Design & Technology

Purpose and Structure

Product design is a solution focused approach to meet the diverse needs and opportunities of individuals, society and the environment. Students aim to improve welfare and quality of life through innovative and ethical solutions. Students follow a design process that encourages divergent and convergent thinking while finding a solution to a problem. They learn about the design industry, teamwork and innovative technologies. Students will research, design, trial, test and evaluate product solutions. As designers they safely transform materials into products using a range of materials, tools and processes.

Unit 1: Design practices 

This unit focuses on applying design thinking strategies to research and critique a need then work as a team to develop and communicate solutions to a design brief. Students develop, trial and test physical concepts and create and implement a production plan to produce and evaluate their designed product. 

Unit 2: Positive impacts for end users 

In this unit students examine cultural, social and/or physical influences on design. They develop an awareness of how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples design and produce products, how sustainable design practices care for Country, and how traditions and culture are acknowledged in contemporary designs. They learn to investigate and critique products using the factors that influence design, to make judgements about the success and failure of products. Students then apply this knowledge to design and make an inclusive product that responds to a need.

Unit 3: Ethical product design and development

In this unit students critique examples of ethical product design and innovation within industrial settings. They are also engaged in the design and development of an ethical product. Students research and discuss how designers and end users are influenced by culture. Prototypes and then the product are developed through a design process, which is influenced by a range of factors including the purpose or need, function, user-centered design, aesthetics, market need or opportunity, product lifecycle, ethical considerations, and materials, tools and processes.

Unit 4: Production and evaluation of ethical designs

In this unit students implement a scheduled production plan, using a range of tools, materials, processes and resources, to safely, effectively and efficiently make the product they designed in Unit 3. Students also use data to evaluate a range of products including making judgements about the success of each product and discussing product design in relation to entrepreneurial activity, innovation and sustainability.