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.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-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
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual/Group 35 - 45% 4,5,6 
AssessmentIndividual/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

 

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

 

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.