The Design and Emerging Technologies course equips students to tackle real-world design challenges using advanced technologies and creative processes, emphasising innovation and sustainability, and preparing learners for careers in design, engineering, and technology. Building on this foundation, students apply the design cycle to projects ranging from physical products to CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting, focusing on modern tools such as robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing techniques. Students are encouraged to collaborate with stakeholders, explore ethical issues, and adopt industry-standard communication and project management strategies. Ultimately, the course serves as a foundation for tertiary study and employment in programming, web development, robotics, and industrial design.
Design processes
Product Design
Design for Manufacture
Innovation and Design
A design process is the central framework that designers use to create innovative ideas and solutions. This unit gives students the opportunity to apply a staged design process to develop design solutions. They will apply design thinking to a focus area, such as product, system, or environmental design. Student skills and understanding are developed through the design process: defining needs or opportunities, collecting information, developing ideas, analysing, planning, producing, and evaluating final solutions.
Designers play a vital role in shaping how we live through the products that surround us. This unit gives students the opportunity to develop a user-centred product while considering the social, ethical and environmental responsibilities of designers. It provides opportunities for creative thinking, the development of technical knowledge, and an understanding of design opportunities arising from technological change.
Design for manufacture explores how design solutions are produced using existing and emerging technologies. The focus of this unit is on production processes, prototyping, manufacturing, economies of scale, material properties and emerging technologies. This unit offers students the opportunity to design, make and evaluate design solutions using a range of materials, technologies and production processes.
Authentic innovation in design can be achieved by combining process thinking with new ideas and existing and emerging technology. This unit offers students the opportunity to explore futuristic design concepts within the focus areas of systems, product, or environmental design. Students will use their understanding of the design process, technical knowledge, and social, ethical, and environmental responsibilities to create, test, and evaluate this design solution.