Program Overview

---

Introduction to the University Program

The Australian Catholic University (ACU) offers a range of programs for students, including undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The university is committed to providing a holistic education that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth.

Study at ACU

ACU provides students with a comprehensive education, offering various courses and programs across different disciplines. The university's faculties include Education and Arts, Health Sciences, Law and Business, and Theology and Philosophy.

Faculties and Courses

• Faculty of Education and Arts
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Law and Business
• Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
  • The university offers a range of courses, including:
    • New courses
    • ACU Online
    • Course types explained
    • Course guides
    • Core Curriculum

Admissions and Pathways

ACU provides various pathways for admission, including undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The university also offers alternative entry programs for students who may not have met the traditional admission requirements.

Admission Pathways

• Undergraduate students
• Postgraduate students
• Short courses and individual units
• Education pathways
• Admission pathways
  • Find your pathway or entry program
  • I have completed military service
  • I am Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

Research and Enterprise

ACU is committed to research and enterprise, providing students with opportunities to engage in innovative and impactful research projects. The university's research focus areas include:

Research Focus Areas

• Research community
• Research facilities and capabilities
• Graduate Research School
• Collaborate with ACU
  • Innovate and research
  • Join us on campus
  • Connect with students
  • Engage our candidates

International Students

ACU welcomes international students, providing a supportive and inclusive environment for students from around the world. The university offers various programs and services to support international students, including English language support and cultural adaptation programs.

International Student Support

• ACU
• Access International Course Guide online
• Download student guides
• Student and alumni stories
• International student scholarships
  • How to apply
  • Study undergraduate
  • Study postgraduate
  • Study research
  • Study English

Student Life

ACU provides a range of services and facilities to support students' academic, personal, and social needs. The university's campuses offer a vibrant and inclusive community, with opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities, sports, and cultural events.

Student Services

• Experience uni before you start
• Student stories
• ACU Thrive
• Campus facilities
  • Food, drink, and recreation facilities
  • Learning and teaching facilities
  • Sports, health, and wellbeing facilities
• Student safety
• Student services
  • Academic skills development
  • Campus ministry
  • Career development services
  • Connect2Uni
  • First-year students
  • Counselling services
  • Disability support
  • Medical centres
  • Student advocacy
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student services
  • Student Veterans Support Program
• Library
• Clubs, activities, and student associations
  • Student associations
  • Clubs and societies
  • Creative and cultural activities
  • Leadership opportunities
• ACU Sport
  • Gyms, fitness classes, and facilities
  • Sports clubs and activities
  • UniSport
  • Social sport and sport facilities
  • Elite Athlete and Performer Program
• Gain work experience
• Student accommodation
  • Rental Advisory Service
  • Student Accommodation Scholarships
• Graduation

Locations

ACU has several campuses across Australia, including:

Campus Locations

• Ballarat
• Blacktown
• Brisbane
• Canberra
• Melbourne
• North Sydney
• Rome
• Strathfield
• ACU Online

About ACU

ACU is a public university that is committed to providing a holistic education. The university's mission is to foster intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth in its students.

University Mission

• Faith and Values
• Working at ACU
• Giving to ACU
• Contact us

TECH306 - Product Design Innovation

This unit focuses on the development of advanced design and manufacturing processes, with an emphasis on user-centered design and design thinking.

Unit Overview

• Unit rationale, description, and aim
• Learning outcomes
• Unit content
• Assessments
• Teaching strategy

Unit Content

• Design thinking theories
• Product design analysis
• Product design factors
• Life cycle thinking
• User-centered design
• Sustainable design strategies
• Innovative case studies and design contexts
• Conducting Workplace Health and Safety Risk Assessments
• Technologies Workshop Safety

Learning Outcomes

1. Synthesise broad and deep theoretical and technical knowledge to discuss attributes of designed products
2. Devise creative thinking strategies for iterative design contexts
3. Develop a user-centered brief for product redesign using high-quality communication techniques
4. Demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgment, and responsibility in the design, illustration, safely manufacture, and evaluation of a prototype that has been developed using iterative design processes

Assessment Strategy

• Hurdle Task: Technologies Workshop Safety Induction
• Assessment Task 1: Design Analysis Task
• Assessment Task 2: Reflective Report
• Assessment Task 3: Product Redesign and Folio

Learning and Teaching Strategy

A student-focused, problem-based learning approach is used in this unit. Students encounter concepts and principles of design and design theory through interactive lectures, and develop advanced solutions to user-centered design problems using a design thinking methodology and a user-centered design approach.

Representative Texts and References

• Darbellay, F., Moody, Z., & Lubart, T. (2017). Creativity, design thinking, and interdisciplinarity. Springer Singapore.
• Fry, T. (2009). Design futuring: Sustainability, ethics, and new practice. Berg.
• Gruijters, K., & Hinte, E. (2016). Food design. Terra.
• Peters, S. (2014). Material revolution 2: New sustainable and multi-purpose materials for design and architecture. Birkh酳ser.
• Quinn, B. (2010). Textile futures: Fashion, design, and technology. Berg.
• Runco, M.A. (2014). Creativity: Theories and themes: research, development, and practice (2nd ed.). Academic Press.
• Sweetapple, K., & Warriner, G. (2017). Food futures: Sensory explorations in food design. Promopress.
• Thompson, R., & Thompson, M. (2013). Sustainable materials, processes, and production. Thames & Hudson.
• Verganti, R. (2016). Overcrowded: Designing meaningful products in a world awash with ideas. The MIT Press.
• Zampollo, F. (2018). Food design thinking: The complete methodology. Francesca Zampollo.