Unit 3: Applying the product design process

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this unit but previous experience in Design and Technology Units 1 and 2, or related Art and Design subjects is advised.

Scope of the unit

In this unit students will:

Investigate a client or end-user's needs
Prepare a design brief
Devise evaluation criteria
Carry out research
Propose a series of design options
Justify the choice of a preferred design option, develop a work plan, and commence production of the product, which will be completed and evaluated in Unit 4

This unit also examines how a range of factors influence the design and development of products within industrial/commercial settings. An industrial setting provides a marked contrast to that of a one-off situation in a small cottage industry or a school setting.

Areas of study 1

The designer, client and/or end-user in product development

In this area of study students examine the product design process and develop skills in writing a design brief, which is vital for the development of a viable solution. They focus on the role of the designer and the relationship between a designer, client and/or end-user/s of an intended product. They consider methods used to establish a client’s and/or an end-user’s needs and requirements for the development of a solution to a design problem or to meet a need.

Using problem-based design scenarios provided by the teacher, students identify appropriate product design factors and write a design brief. In the design brief, students outline the context and express the needs and requirements as constraints and considerations. They annotate this design brief and develop evaluation criteria, they identify research needs to learn how design ideas are informed by research.

Areas of study 2

Product development in industry

In this area of study students focus on the factors, processes and systems that inﬂuence the design and development of products within industrial settings. Students explore speciﬁc cases and the reasons why design and innovation is integral to value adding to products. In these case studies, they also examine how companies react to market demands and technological developments. Students look at the role of market research in determining consumer needs in relation to sustainability. They also examine market research and the Five Ps (people, product, place, promotion and price) of marketing in relation to the product development process.

Students investigate the use of computer-aided design and manufacture and emerging technologies used in industry. They develop an understanding of a range of issues relating to marketing, innovation, designing, research and development, obsolescence and sustainability in an industrial manufacturing context.

Areas of study 3

Designing for others

In this area of study students focus on working as a designer and applying the product design process to meet the needs and requirements of a client and/or an end-user. Students identify speciﬁc needs of the client and/or an end-user by referring to the product design factors and conducting research. Students prepare a design brief that governs their work for both this area of study and Areas of Study 2 and 3 in Unit 4. They examine appropriate techniques for recording and communicating data, information, visualisation of ideas, design options and working drawings and obtaining client and/or end-user feedback. They appropriately acknowledge resources and IP of others.

Students use creative and critical design thinking techniques throughout the product design process. Students develop evaluation criteria for the design options and a decision matrix to assign a numerical weighting to each of the evaluation criteria according to their degree of importance. The decision matrix is applied to each design option, to determine the preferred option. It is supported with a written statement to reﬂect decision making. Following justiﬁcation of the preferred option, students develop working drawings using appropriate technical language and conventions. Students also develop four- part evaluation criteria for the ﬁnished product and evaluation criteria for the design, planning and production activities.

Production planning includes: material testing or trialling, selection and procurement; selection of appropriate production processes, including some which are complex, their sequence and a timeline; risk assessment; and development of product speciﬁcations and identiﬁcation of quality measures. After commencing production, students document their progress and explain and justify production modiﬁcations.

These areas of study focus on the development of products within industrial/commercial settings, including:

Manufacturing industries and the role of manufacturing and enterprise in wealth creation and distribution
Industrial production processes
Market demand and technology push
Research and development
Computer aided design (CAD), computer aided manufacture (CAM)
Stages in the product cycle and people involved in the design and development of a product
Value adding
Production methods (one off, batch, volume production, mechanisation and automation)
Costs of production, including designing, research and development, selection and procurement of materials, manufacturing, energy requirements, quality of product, reliability and employment

Assessment

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks (School-assessed Coursework)	Marks Allocated
The Victorian Curriculum Assessment authority (VCAA) will supervise the assessment of all students undertaking Units 3 and 4. In Design and Technology, the student's level of achievement will be determined by school-assessed tasks, school-assessed coursework and an end-of-year examination.
Understand the role of a designer.	written report	6% of Study Score
Manufacture of products within industrial/ commercial setting.	written report	6% of Study Score
Develop a product for a client.	School-assessed Task design folio	25% of Study Score

Contributions to final assessment:

School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 will contribute 12% to the final assessment.
School-assessed task for Unit 3 will contribute 25% to the final assessment.

Reproduced by permission of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Victoria, Australia. Web Address www.vcaa.vic.edu.au