§-Design and Technology syllabus

Design and Technology syllabus, dot point by dot point

Every dot point in the NSW Design and Technology syllabus, in syllabus order, with a focused answer for each. Open any dot point for the answer, exam-style questions and links to related points.

Designing and Producing

Module overview →

How do CAD, CAM and other computer based technologies support the design, communication and production of a quality solution?

Use computer based technologies in designing and producing, including computer aided design, computer aided manufacture, simulation and digital communication, and evaluate their advantages and limitations

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How do marketing and project management contribute to the success of a design solution and the completion of a Major Design Project?

Apply marketing and management principles to a design solution, including market research, promotion, time and finance management, and quality control

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How do designers reduce the environmental impact of a solution across its whole life cycle, from materials to disposal?

Apply sustainability principles to the design and production of a solution, including life cycle thinking, material and energy choices, waste reduction and design for the environment

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How do designers identify and control risks to keep the production of a design solution safe and compliant with work health and safety requirements?

Apply work health and safety principles to the design and production of a solution, including hazard identification, risk assessment, control measures, safe operating procedures and relevant standards

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How do designers plan and control finance, time and resources so a project is completed within budget and on schedule?

Manage finance, time and resources in a design project, including budgeting, costing, scheduling, resource allocation and monitoring progress against the plan

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What ethical and social responsibilities do designers have, and how do they choose technology that is appropriate to its users and context?

Consider ethics, social responsibility and appropriate technology in designing and producing, including legal obligations, inclusive design, and the social and cultural needs of users

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How does the project development and realisation section document the research, idea development and production that turn a brief into a finished solution?

Document project development and realisation, including research, idea generation and development, experimentation, modelling, and the safe and skilful production of the final solution

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How does the design process structure the development of a product, system or environment from identifying a need to a realised solution?

Apply the design process to develop a quality solution, including identifying needs, research, generating and developing ideas, planning, producing and ongoing evaluation

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How do research and communication skills support good design decisions and present a solution clearly to users and markers?

Conduct and document research and use a range of communication techniques in designing and producing, including sketching, technical drawing, modelling, referencing and presentation

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How do designers select materials and apply tools, techniques and quality control to produce a quality solution?

Select and use appropriate materials, tools, techniques and processes to produce a quality solution, applying knowledge of material properties, processing methods and quality control

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How do students develop and document a Major Design Project, including the project itself and the supporting portfolio, to satisfy NESA requirements?

Develop a Major Design Project consisting of a product, system or environment and a supporting portfolio that documents the design and production process

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How does the project proposal and project management section of the folio establish a clear need and a workable plan for the Major Design Project?

Develop a project proposal and project management plan, including identifying the need, writing the design brief and criteria, and planning time, finance and resources for the Major Design Project

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How do designers evaluate a solution against criteria throughout the design process and judge whether it meets the identified need?

Evaluate a design solution against the criteria to evaluate success, using ongoing and final evaluation methods to judge fitness for purpose and inform improvement

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Innovation and Emerging Technologies

Module overview →

What are the different types of innovation, and what stages does an idea pass through on its way from concept to widespread adoption?

Identify the types of innovation, including product, process, marketing and organisational innovation, and explain the stages an innovation passes through from idea to diffusion and adoption

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How do designers and innovators protect their ideas, and why is intellectual property central to the success of an innovation?

Explain how intellectual property is protected through patents, trademarks, copyright, registered designs and trade secrets, and analyse the role of IP in the success of an innovation

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What is the relationship between creativity, invention and innovation, and how do designers turn a new idea into a successful innovation?

Distinguish between creativity, invention and innovation, and explain how creative thinking and risk taking move a new idea through development to a successful innovation

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How do market, technical, financial, organisational, social and political factors combine to determine whether an innovation succeeds or fails?

Analyse the factors affecting the success or failure of an innovation, including market, technical, financial, organisational, social, environmental and political factors, and judge which were most significant

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How do globalisation and collaborative, multidisciplinary teams shape the way modern innovations are designed and produced?

Analyse the influence of globalisation and collaborative design on innovation, including multidisciplinary teams, global supply chains, outsourcing and cross cultural design considerations

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What can students learn from studying designers and their work about the qualities, methods and influences that lead to successful innovation?

Examine the work of a range of designers, analysing the personal and professional qualities, design methods and influences that contribute to their success and to innovation

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How do emerging technologies drive innovation and what are the social, environmental and economic consequences for designers and society?

Analyse the relationship between emerging technologies and innovation, including the social, environmental, ethical and economic consequences of new and developing technologies

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How do designers analyse a case study of an innovation to explain the factors behind its success and its impact on Australian society?

Undertake a case study of an innovation, identifying the factors underlying its success, the ethical issues involved, and its impact on Australian society and the environment

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How does an innovation change Australian society, the economy and the environment, and how do designers weigh the benefits against the costs?

Discuss the social, cultural, economic and environmental impact of an innovation on Australian society, evaluating both positive and negative consequences

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