Product Design and Technology: Design Engineering

Elective Unit

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Course Description

This subject focusses on developing an understanding of social, economic and environmental consequences of design choices and decision making.

Design Engineering involves students understanding the operation of new technologies and apparatus to improve the lives of others in product development. Systems used include computer aided drawing (CAD), computer aided manufacture (CAM), Rapid 3D prototyping and Laser Technology.

Students pursue research to understand how they may solve a design dilemma. Students use CAD to plan and communicate their solutions and learn how to manage the production process through strategic planning including the estimation of material quantities and project management systems. Students build prototypes and reflect on the entire project, considering their and the end users perspective to evaluate the journey.

Students examine a range of design factors that influence the development and manufacture of products including:

Human needs
Product purpose and function
Visual and aesthetic factors
Materials and their structures
Production processes and new technologies
Economics related to design and technology
Environmental and ecological impacts
Innovation through product design and technology

The study of Design Engineering - Product Design and Technology may provide a pathway to a range of related fields including industrial and product design, engineering, furniture, jewellery, architecture and building construction (Management).

Essential Questions

How do I operate new technologies to improve the life of others?
What current systems can be developed and improved using new and emerging technologies?

Areas of Study

Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) - Communicating and Manufacturing Ideas

Design brief development, research, visualisations, model making, production planning, working drawings in CAD, 2D and 3D prototypes.
Using 2D modelling software- Adobe Illustrator and 3D modelling software- Fusion 360, to design products to be constructed using laser technology, Rapid 3D prototyping (3D printing) and CNC machinery.

Product Evaluation

Examining the effectiveness and efficiencies of certain design and production routines.
Presentation and explanation of product attributes.

Sustainability

Understanding how sustainability models are used in product design and engineering- LCA, C2C, DfD, EPR.

New and Emerging Technologies

CAD, CAM, Laser Technologies, robotics- how they are used in Product Design and Engineering to improve production of products.

Assessment