Bachelor of Design (Product Design)
Bachelor of Design (Product Design)
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…
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
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
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education:
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent and
Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
or
Higher education study
Complete or partly complete a recognized higher education program at a recognized higher education institution
or
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Complete an award from a registered training organization at Certificate IV or above
or
Work and life experience
Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
English language requirements:
IELTS score of 6.0; TOEFL iBT score of 60 with Reading and Writing not less than 18; TOEFL paper-based test (PBT) score of 550 with TWE of 4.5; Cambridge CAE/CPE score of 169; Pearson’s test of English (Academic) (PTE) score of 50 with Reading and Writing communicative scores not less than 50; CELUSA score of AE4.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
The University of South Australia is a globally connected and engaged university with industry-informed teaching and research that is inventive and adventurous. Ranked in the world’s top 50 under 50^ and with 100% of assessed research rated at or above world-class*, the University is young, innovative and offers students the chance to gain real-world experience.Focused on life beyond the classroom, the University of South Australia offers a practical approach to teaching and learning. Degrees are designed in partnership with industry, giving students opportunities to gain the latest insights and trends and ensuring they graduate career ready.^Ranked in the World’s Top 50 Under 50 – Ranked #29, 2021 QS Top 50 Universities Aged Under 50 and Ranked #46, 2022 THE Young University Rankings*2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), 4-digit Fields of Research
