Course Title: Develop products incorporating mechanical/electrical features

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: GRAP6374

Course Title: Develop products incorporating mechanical/electrical features

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C5382 - Diploma of Product Design

Course Contact: Robin Blood

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4683

Course Contact Email: robin.blood@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 180

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to design and produce a product incorporating mechanical/electrical features from a brief, applying a range of advanced techniques and materials. It includes the ability to contribute to the product design through the research and development of design options, planning the design process and providing visual concepts to the clients before realising the prototype. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU22263 Develop products incorporating mechanical/electrical features

Element:

1. Develop the design concept

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Evaluate the potential for a functional innovative product design that incorporates mechanical/electrical features for a targeted market 1.2 Determine financial, physical and human resources and timeframes required for developing design concept to production stage  1.3 Consider sustainability, intellectual property and copyright, and legislative requirement impacts for the product 1.4 Collaborate with others to refine parameters of the product design concept

 

Element:

2. Undertake research to inform the design

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Source and access relevant technical information relating to the product design concept
2.2 Assess information for relevance and applicability
2.3 Liaise with relevant specialists in relation to technological options
2.4 Access information on available electrical or mechanical devices to requirements of brief

Element:

3. Develop innovative options

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Determine a range of technologically innovative options to meet the parameters of the brief
3.2 Apply relevant principles of functionality, ergonomics, aesthetics and sustainability to development of the design options
3.3 Evaluate environmental and ethical factors on the selection and use of resources
3.4 Establish criteria for selecting mechanical or electrical features required to develop the design options
3.5 Refine and finalise the preferred design option based on ongoing experimentation and analysis of technological options

Element:

4. Plan the design process

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Identify all components required to produce the design option
4.2 Assess technical, resource and workspace requirements associated with production
4.3 Consult with any specialist services required to produce the design options
4.4 Develop the project plan that incorporates compliance with relevant regulatory and legislative requirements

Element:

5. Deliver visual concepts to client

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Present the product design and proposed timelines for production to client, including rationale for any changes
5.2 Respond to feedback and make changes to the design as required
5.3 Confirm production plan and timelines with client

Element:

6. Realise working prototype

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Develop the prototype using appropriate facilities, tools, techniques and materials
6.2 Refine prototype based on ongoing experiences with the production of work
6.3 Use safe working practices throughout the production of the prototype
6.4 Prepare documentation and specifications to accompany final design model
6.5 Confirm that intellectual property and other legislative requirements have been met


Learning Outcomes


This unit applies to product designers who design and produce products that incorporate mechanical/electrical features. As part of the conceptualisation and design process, product designers undertake research and explore design solutions to meet marketing, manufacturing and financial requirements to achieve the ideal design of a product. They consider both functional and aesthetic aspects and pay attention to ergonomics. They select components and materials and decide on assembly and manufacturing details. They prepare visual concepts to assist in the decision-making process and models and prototypes to demonstrate and test products and support marketing efforts. This work could be carried out independently or as part of a product development team


Details of Learning Activities

In this course you will learn about product design incorporating mechanical and electrical features through practical application and demonstration. You will also get the opportunity to design and produce a product prototype of your own incorporating mechanical and/or electrical features.


Teaching Schedule

Note: The course schedule may change throughout the year to accommodate student and task requirements

Course ScheduleSemester 1: 2020
Week Topic Readings and Activities Assessment

Week 1

 

Introduction to the Semester
Introduction to Assessment Task briefs and the design components.
Task 1 and 2

Begin Project scope brainstorming  and research on target market and design direction  

Week 2

 

Task 2: Technical Package and time management Task 2: Character profile and design influences  

Week 3

 

Presenting your ideas. Digital presentations, Page layouts.
Getting 'Physical' with your design.
Task 3: Brief and introduction to Alessi Products
Task 2: Mood Boards, mockups and visuals
Task 3: What is Alessi. Who are you designing for
 

Week 4

 

Task 2: Presentation 1

Task 3: Character Profile and Product Scenarios.
Brainstorming session. Come ready to discuss Who Alessi is and Who you want to design for.


Task 3: Character Profiles and Product Scenarios due.
Task 2: Presentation 1

Week 5

Task 2: Refinement and detail design. Presentation feedback Task 2: detail design process  

Week 6

Task 2: Detail design to prototype
Task 3: Consultation and preparation for presentations
Task 2: detail design process, mockups and analysis. CAD documentation  

Week 7

Task 2: Model Fabrication and project progress review

Task 3: Presentation

Task 2: detail design process, mockups and analysis. CAD documentation.

Task 2: Progress review. Bring work to date for feedback and review with peers and Instructors.

Task 3: Presentation 1

Week 8

Task 2: Model Fabrication progress. CAD documentation. What to include

Task 3 Consultation and presentation review

Task 1: Final Automata concept presentation
Task 2: Continue with detail design and prototype.
Task 3: Refine chosen idea
 

Week 9

Task 2 and 3 Consultation Task 2:  Finalise mockups. Preliminary A1 poster design for review.  
Mid semester break

Week 10

 

Task 2: Final presentation and project review
Task 3: Preparation for preferred concept review.
  Task 2: Final presentation. Project due for assessment

Week 11

 

Task 3: Commence product model.
Preliminary documentation review
Task 1: Mechanical design progress check
Task 3: Concept presentation and review to class. 
Task 3: Preferred concept review

Week 12

 

Preparing Engineering Drawings and Documentation Task 1: Model making progress check
Task 2: Product Model Progress check
 

Week 13

 

Project consultation Task 1 and 3 model making  

Week 14

 

Project consultation Task 1 and 3 model making  

Week 15

 

Project consultation

Task 1 and 3 model making,

CAD, folio compilation, packaging, audio visual.

 

Week 16

 

Task 1 and 3 completed Projects due: Presentations and submission of design folio Wednesday and Thursday
Task 1 and 3: Final Presentation and submission of product models/prototypes and folio of work.
Task 1 and 3: Final presentation


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include:

EXAMPLES
- Practical tasks, a major project
- direct observation including exploration of and experimentation with techniques
- written and/or oral questioning and discussion to assess knowledge and understanding
- completion of a design journal and/or portfolio including personal reflection and feedback
- direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence
 

 

The RMIT student charter summarises your responsibilities as a student as well as those of your teachers. http://mams.rmit.edu.au/kh6a3ly2wi2h1.pdf


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1. Practical project

Due:  Week 8

Assessment Task 2. Practical project

Due:  Week 11

Assessment task 3. Practical project

Due: Week 16


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview