Design & Technology
Course Summary
Design and Technology is a subject that teaches students how to utilise various production Technologies (Timber, Metals, Plastics, Digital Design tools, 3D printing, Laser cutting, etc.) to create new and innovative products. It is a great choice for students who are practical and creatively minded, as the subject is very open and allows for a lot of freedom in choosing the materials students work with.
In year 9, students complete three projects:
1. Timber Skills Project - where students learn about safety in the workshop and how to use all the common timber machinery and tools. They do this through creating a body surfing hand plane that can be used for some fun at the beach.
2. Bluetooth Speakers – Students design their own Bluetooth speakers using any material they choose. Students will learn how to use industry-level computer-aided design software, 3D printers, Laser Cutters and Metal folding machinery.
3. Accessories – Students will learn how to design accessories for humans or for an existing product. This will be a very open-ended assignment, with students identifying a need or opportunity for a new accessory to be designed in any area they choose. Products such as car accessories, jewellery, storage solutions, gaming accessories, phone cases, and camera mounts are examples of what may be developed.
In year 10, students complete two larger projects:
1. Minor Project – This is an open-ended design project in which students learn to identify a need or opportunity and go through the design process to develop and make a product to solve that need or opportunity. It is a smaller version of an HSC project, so students get a taste of what Year 11 and 12 Design and Technology is all about.
2. Smart Home - Students will learn about smart home devices and build a basic smart device they can use at home.
Design and Technology is a great choice for students considering careers in Design-Based fields (Architecture, Industrial Design, Product Development, Interior Design, etc), Engineering, Production (Metal Fabrication, 3D design, Trades, Cabinetry, etc).
The principles of design and problem-solving techniques that you learn about are very versatile and can be applied to any industry in the 21st century.