C5435 - Diploma of Product Design

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Plan: C5435 - Diploma of Product Design
Campus: Brunswick Campus

Overview

Program details
Purpose of the Program
Articulation and pathways
Entrance requirements
External accreditation and industry links
Student expenses and charges in addition to fees
Library, IT and specialist resources

Program details

Award title: Diploma of Product Design
Qualification national code: 22622VIC
Nominal hours: 1750
Career: TAFE
Duration: 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Location: RMIT University, Brunswick Campus
Owning school: Creative Industries (515T)
Owning school URL: www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/college-of-vocational-education
CRICOS code: 114571F

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Purpose of the Program

Through your studies in the Diploma of Product Design you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to create designs for consumer products, capital equipment, experiences and systems. You will present your ideas through a combination of skills in visual and verbal communication, 3D models and computer software.

Starting from a project brief, you’ll learn traditional product development techniques while using the latest industry tools and practices to develop solutions to design problems. You’ll be guided through the process of developing new products (such as electrical enclosure, toys or kitchenware) resolving practical, manufacturing and sustainability issues.

As a graduate you can specialise in many diverse areas of product development. Areas include computer-aided design, product illustration, CAD drafting, product styling, home wares, model making, furniture and lighting, toy design, sustainable design systems, special effects for film and television. As a product designer you'll work as part of a design or manufacturing team. Many designers also undertake freelance work.

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Articulation and pathways

Successful Graduates of the RMIT Certificate IV in Design will be given guaranteed entry into the Diploma of Product Design without the need to undertake the selection task.

This pathway agreement acknowledges the design skills and knowledge obtained in the Certificate IV in Design qualification, and these students will be eligible for credits in the following three (3) units:    

  • CUAWHS312 Apply work health and safety practices 
  • CUADES303 Explore and apply the creative design process to 3D forms 
  • CUAACD311 Produce drawings to communicate ideas

Graduates of the Diploma of Product Design will have further pathway options into the following RMIT programs:  

  • Bachelor of Industrial Design (Guaranteed Pathway)  

Students who successfully complete the Diploma of Product Design and have a competent portfolio are guaranteed entry in the Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) with 2 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 96 credit points). 

  • Associate Degree in Design (Furniture) (Further Pathway with no Guaranteed entry) 
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Entrance requirements

RMIT University specific entry requirements: 

There are no minimum academic entry requirements. 

All applicants must submit the selection task 

Applicants who are seeking admission on the basis of an approved RMIT pathway will be able to indicate this in the selection task and submit. 

All other applicants must complete and submit the selection task requirements. 

Folio 

A folio of two or three (2 or 3) different pieces of your original and completed work. 

  • ‘Completed’ means there is a definite outcome/product, or it was made to demonstrate skill or interests related to design.  
  • Each piece should have a small selection of process work (approx. 1 or 2 pages), showing how it was made or developed. 
  • Each piece should also include a short summary describing the idea in the design, target audience and the design choices (eg. technique, media) you applied to achieve the outcome (40 words maximum per piece). 
  • No more than 9 images/pages in total. 

Your folio should reflect your design and technology attributes, problem-solving and technical skills in some or all of the following: 

  • 3-dimensional design 
  • Drawing and visualisation by hand and/or digitally 
  • Model-making 
  • Computer-Aided Design (CAD) 
  • Material exploration 
  • Colour, texture and form 

You can include work from secondary school, previous study and personal or work-related design experience (including sketchbooks), and the work can come from a variety of discipline areas (e.g. product design, model making, furniture, lighting, wearable design, illustration, photography). 

Your selection task will be assessed using the following selection criteria: 

  • Evidence of development and finished work 
  • Ability to provide context for your work 
  • Previous knowledge, skills and/or experience 

International Applicants:  

IELTS requirements: 

For international cohorts the following English language entry requirements are mandatory: 

IELTS – 5.5+ (no band less than 5.0) or TOEFL paper based – 530+ (TWE 3.5+) or TOEFL (iBT) overall score 71, minimum 17 in all sections. 

All applicants are required to present a portfolio of their personal work in art, design or media.

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External accreditation and industry links

In Australia there are no professional bodies that accredit programs in product design.

This program maintains industry links in a variety of ways.

As students in this program, you will have the opportunity to join the Design Institute of Australia (DIA)* as associate members. The DIA has a specific category for Industrial Designers and offers associate members professional recognition and information on all areas of Industrial Design through seminars and forums.

Please note that assessment in this qualification is not dependent upon membership of the DIA.

Our teachers bring to the program extensive industry experience and contact networks, and many are practising professionals. Their experience, when integrated into teaching and learning practice, enriches your learning environment.

A range of design practices are represented on the program's Program Advisory Committee which regularly gives feedback to the school on current trends in the product design industry, as well as the skills and knowledge needed to gain employment.

 *The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) is Australia's professional membership body for designers and design businesses. http://www.dia.org.au/index.cfm

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Student expenses and charges in addition to fees

Once you are enrolled as a student in this program you will need to allow for expenses other than university tuition fees.  Additional expenses may relate to the purchase of lecture notes, textbooks, stationery, consumables such as printer paper, fees levied by commercial internet service providers for internet access outside of the university campus, and other relevant costs.

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Library, IT and specialist resources

Library resources and services

As a student enrolled in a program at RMIT University you can access the extensive services, facilities and study space provided by the Library. You can access books, journals and other course related materials, such as DVDs, past exams, newspapers and
e-books. Through our document delivery service you can also request items from any library in the world.

Computers for study are available at every Library site, where you can access the Internet, myRMIT (www.rmit.edu.au/myrmit) or Library e-resources. If you have a laptop you can access the RMIT University wireless network in the Library.

Library staff can show you how to find information for your assignments or you can work through web-based tutorials or use our online Ask a Librarian service.
The Library is continually expanding our electronic collections to make it easier for you to get the information you need when you need it. All RMIT University students have unlimited access to quality electronic resources such as, e-books, e-journals and newspapers.

You can find more information on Library resources and services at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library

Online learning tools and content

You can access online learning tools and content for your program and associated courses at myRMIT www.rmit.edu.au/myrmit

Services available to you as a student at RMIT University

RMIT University provides a wide range of resources and opportunities to assist your learning and wellbeing so you can achieve your study and career goals.

Services are available face to face and online assisting with:

  • transition to tertiary study and learning
  • study skills, academic skills including literacy, mathematics and basic sciences if relevant
  • enabling assistance if you have a disability, long term medical condition or other form of disadvantage which may impact on your learning
  • career development and employment
  • living and wellbeing (including advice on health, housing and financial matters)
  • opportunities for scholarships, leadership and study abroad
  • opportunities for participating in arts, sport, recreation, fitness activities as well as student activism and university governance

We also offer a friendly and supportive environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
You can find more information at www.rmit.edu.au/students 

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