南澳大学

This practical degree will equip you with the skill set needed to design and create products that people use every day, such as electronic devices, domestic appliances and homewares, medical devices, sports equipment, user interfaces, furniture, and more.

Product designers need to consider human factors, usability, aesthetics, manufacturing technologies, materials and environmental sustainability in their designs, and this comprehensive, practical degree will have you doing just that. During your studies you will develop fundamental practical skills through design studio classes, model making and prototyping.

You will learn in our state-of-the-art workshops that are fitted out with digital fabrication equipment such as laser cutters, CNC routers and 3D printers, and virtual reality systems. There are opportunities for you to practice skills learned in real-world workplaces when you complete professional placements as part of your study. There is also the opportunity for you to complete some of your studies overseas.

What you'll learn

There is a lot of ground to cover in this degree, starting with a fundamental understanding of the elements and principles of design. Much of this study takes place in the purpose-built design studios located on-campus. You will study basic skills and concepts relating to areas such as sketching and visualisation techniques; design history and theory; human centred design; computer-aided design; and creativity. During your second year you will broaden your knowledge, covering topics such as:

ergonomics and human factors
advanced 3D computer modelling and manufacturing
sustainable design concepts and methods
materials and processes
manufacturing and engineering principles

In your third year there will be a focus on design for usability, high volume manufacturing and sustainability, and user experience, and you will be able to select a range of electives to tailor your study to your individual interests.

Your career

Job prospects in this field are looking good, with very strong growth in employment expected nationally1. You can increase your employment prospects when you continue your studies with a Master of Design, specialising in Industrial Design.

Careers to consider:

product designer: develop new designs in a broad range of industries including consumer electronics, domestic products, medical products, transportation and app design
3D computer modeller: develop designs into 3D models and technical drawings using specialised software in a broad range of industries
furniture designer: develop design concepts, experiment with different materials, liaise with clients and build sample models for either mass produced furniture prototypes or one-off exclusive pieces
technical illustrator and animation: design and create visual representations for use in marketing content, technical publications and manuals