Design for Social Responsibility
Overview
This unit develops an understanding of user-centered design through the subject theme of ‘Social Responsibility’, focusing on user-centered design for aged care, health care, childcare and users with disabilities, other special needs or cross cultural projects. Engineering communication and project management skills will be developed that are necessary for the design and development of products for specific contexts, taking particular note of the impacts of design on the social, economic and environmental realms.
Requisites
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Use the engineering sciences of Design for Manufacture in project-based problem solving (K1, K2, K3, S1)
- Conduct design research and projects using User Centered Design strategies (K4, K5, A3)
- Apply appropriate material, manufacturing and prototyping processes to product design (K3, S1, S2, S3)
- Research and liaise with community user groups to achieve innovative solutions that address social need, changing demographics and the requirements of specific user groups (K4, K5, A1, A2)
- Analyse designs in relation to the social, ecological and political implications and responsibilities of the designer (K6, A1, A2)
- Apply effective project management skills to work individually and as a member of a team (S4, A3, A5, A6, A7)
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Studio | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Various | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Independent Learning | 6.50 | 12 weeks | 78 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Individual/Group | 35 - 45% | 4,5,6 |
| Assessment | Individual/Group | 55 - 65% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Content
This unit is comprised of 2 delivery modes as follows.
Social Responsibility Specialist Module:
- User centered design
- Ethical issues
- Empowering cultures
- Design for social change
- Research and analysis techniques
- Social, Environmental and Economic analysis and awareness
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Design Studio:
- Design for Manufacture
- Engineering specifications, 3D CAD data, engineering drawings, assembly drawings, and ergonomic
- analysis
- Project Planning and developing proposals for manufacture and assembly
- Product life cycle, concepts of value-adding, distribution
- User Centered Design
- Design for specific contexts, understanding user needs and their application to design and engineering projects
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Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.