Learning Areas > Art, Design and Technologies
Head of Learning Area - Art, Design and Technologies: Mr Simon Carver
P: +61 3 9816 1569 E: simon.carver@carey.com.au
About the Learning Area
The Art, Design & Technologies Learning Area at Carey fosters creativity, innovation, critical thinking and practical problem-solving through rich and engaging learning experiences. In the Middle School, students can explore a range of subjects including Art, Design, Visual Communication Design, Food Studies, Design Technologies (Textiles), Design Technologies (Resistant Materials), and Design Technologies (Design Fabrication) developing a broad foundation of creative, technical and design capabilities.
Year 7 and 8 subjects are semester-long electives, providing students with opportunities to experience different disciplines, discover their interests and build foundational knowledge and skills across the learning area.
In Years 7 to 9, learning is grounded in a foundational pedagogy, where students develop essential skills, knowledge and processes across artistic practice, design thinking, food production and materials technologies. As students’ progress into Years 9 and 10, the curriculum increasingly emphasises experiential learning, providing authentic, project-based opportunities to investigate real-world challenges, explore personal interests and apply creative solutions.
All Year 9 subjects are year-long courses, allowing students to engage deeply with their learning, undertake sustained projects and investigations, and develop greater confidence, independence and expertise in their chosen areas.
One of the unique features of the Year 9 program is Storytellers, a year-long interdisciplinary elective that combines English and Media. Students explore how stories are crafted and communicated across a range of forms, including journalism, film, narrative fiction and digital media.
Across all subjects, students develop confidence as makers, designers, artists and innovators, learning to communicate ideas visually, think critically, embrace emerging technologies and collaborate effectively. The learning area equips students with the creative agility, technical expertise and entrepreneurial mindset needed for future study, employment and active participation in a rapidly changing world. A further feature of the Year 9 program, is the Middle school Artist and Designer in Residence. Students in this program select Year 9 Art and create an Artwork developed around a theme and specific medium working collaboratively with a practicing artist or designer. The Artist and Designer in Residence program is a unique culmination of the Middle school Art and Design learning continuum.
Pathways: Visual Arts, Visual Communication Design, Media, Product Design & Technologies, Digital Technologies, Engineering, Food Studies, Storytelling and Communication, and the broader creative and design industries.
Subjects within the Art, Design and Technologies Learning Area include: Year 7 and 8 subjects - Semester long subjects and Year 9 subjects - Year long subjects.
- Art (Compulsory in Year 7; Elective in Years 8 and 9)
- Design and Technologies (Compulsory in Year 7)
- Food Studies (Elective in Years 8 and 9)
- Visual Communication Design (Elective in Years 8 and 9)
- Design Technologies: Textiles (Elective in Years 8 and 9)
- Design Technologies: Metal (Elective in Years 8)
- Design Technologies: Resistant Materials (Elective in Years 8 and 9)
- Design Technologies: Design Fabrication (Elective in Year 9)
- Storytellers – Interdisciplinary subject – Media and English (Year 9)
