CUVDES404A
Research and apply techniques in product design

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to research and apply techniques for the design of products. It involves interpreting work briefs, organising resources, testing ideas, and refining approaches to a range of design challenges. The unit covers the design process to the point of producing prototypes of products.

Application

Individuals who generate product design ideas apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. Products could be diverse and may include items, such as soft furnishings, furniture, toys, decorative objects and kitchenware.

Skills associated with producing the final product can be found in units related to specific disciplines, e.g. carpentry, woodworking, ceramics, glasswork, textiles or furniture making. These units can be found elsewhere in CUV11 Visual Arts, Craft and Design Training Package, or in other Training Packages, such as LMF02 Furnishing; MSA07 Manufacturing; LMT07 Textiles, Clothing and Footwear; and CPC08 Construction, Plumbing and Services.

At this level, research, experimentation and ongoing refinement are used to produce a range of design work where an individual is beginning the process of finding an individual style. Work is undertaken independently with supervision and guidance as required.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Interpret product design briefs

1.1 Interpret the specifications of design briefs

1.2 Take user or client requirements into account when making decisions about designing products

1.3 Clarify issues about specifications, parameters and constraints with relevant people as required

1.4 Research and evaluate information pertinent to briefs

2. Organise resources for product design

2.1 Identify resources required to develop prototypes of products, including work space, materials, tools and equipment

2.2 Prepare and care for resources according to requirements

2.3 Follow storage and inventory procedures

3. Test product design approaches

3.1 Produce preliminary visual representations

3.2 Identify possible approaches and establish criteria for selecting final approach

3.3 Select appropriate materials, tools and equipment and test approaches and techniques

3.4 Evaluate testing processes against criteria and select the approach that best meets the requirements of briefs

3.5 Critique own work and seek feedback as required

3.6 Refine and document the approach to product design based on testing and evaluation

4. Make prototypes of products

4.1 Evaluate the need for object fabrication

4.2 Select and organise materials, tools and equipment for fabrication according to design approach

4.3 Safely make the prototype or sample ensuring consistency with design concepts and briefs

4.4 Respond positively to feedback and refine work as required

4.5 Present prototypes within agreed timeframes

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to engage with others about approaches to product design

initiative and enterprise skills to experiment with techniques for product design

learning skills to refine and improve a range of techniques

literacy skills to:

interpret design briefs

research product design information

numeracy skills to calculate material requirements and costs associated with producing products

self-management and planning skills to plan work tasks

technical skills to evaluate, adapt and integrate a range of techniques into the design and prototyping of products

technology skills to search the internet for information to assist with the design of products.

Required knowledge

role of experimentation in designing products

work and ideas of other product designers in one or more areas of product design

formal elements and principles of design as they relate to product design in general, as well as to the design of specific products

techniques, materials, tools and equipment and their application to product design and manufacture

common formats and features of briefs relating to the design of products

history and theory of design in relation to product design

intellectual property issues and legislation and their impact on the design industry

sustainability considerations for product design

OHS requirements for the design of products in the relevant context.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

test and use a range of approaches and techniques for the design of products in response to a brief

produce a prototype of at least one product

apply knowledge of the processes and techniques used to design products.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

briefs on which to base the design of products

equipment and tools used to produce prototypes of products.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of design or prototyping work in progress, including exploration of, and experimentation with, techniques

evaluation of items designed by the candidate

questioning and discussion about the candidate’s intentions and the work outcome

review of portfolios of evidence

review of third-party reports from experienced practitioners.

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

BSBDES401A Generate design solutions

BSBDES402A Interpret and respond to a design brief.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Specifications may refer to:

medium

purpose

style

target users of products.

Briefs are usually prepared by a commissioning body or organisation and may be:

diagrammatic

verbal

visual

written.

Products may include:

architectural fixtures and fittings

furnishings

furniture

hardware

household and garden products

kitchenware

tableware

toys.

Parameters and constraints may refer to:

budgeting and financing requirements

conditions for use of products

cost of production

number of items

setting

timeframes.

Relevant people may include:

clients

colleagues

industry practitioners

managers

mentors

supervisors.

Information may be about:

considerations, such as:

contractual

copyright

ethical

legal

technology

design standards

health and safety

industry standards

material characteristics and capabilities.

Work space needs may include:

dust extraction

lighting

process-specific space needs

ventilation

wet and dry areas.

Materials may include:

acrylic

binders

cardboard

clay

extenders

fabric

fibre

glass

glazes

inks

lacquers

latex

leather

metal

nails

oxides

paints

paper

plaster

plastics

pulp

resins

rubber

sand

screws

sheet metal

spun fibre

stains

stone

wire

wood and wood-based products.

Tools and equipment may include:

bobbins

brushes

ceramics equipment

computer hardware and software

hand-printing equipment and digital printers

hand tools

hooks

kiln and kiln furniture

loom

measuring tools

moulds and casting equipment

needles

pins

power tools

receptacles

sewing machine

smithing equipment

soldering iron

spatulas

welding equipment.

Preliminary visual representations may involve:

computer-aided drawing

mock-up

sketching

technical drawing.

Approaches may encompass:

aesthetic and stylistic considerations

choice of medium and materials

design solutions

parameters of the brief.

Criteria may include:

access to materials, tools and equipment required for making products

access to specialist fabricators

consistency with product briefs

ease of manufacture

personal affinity with medium and materials.

Strategies to test techniques may involve:

exploring techniques by making practice pieces, test pieces, mock-ups or samples

testing materials by applying stress tests and colour tests.

Techniques may include:

binding

cabinet making

carpentry

casting

ceramics and glass forming

digital imaging

fusing

knotting

leatherwork

metalwork

moulding

photography

printing

sewing

smithing

weaving.

Process followed to refine the design approach may involve:

adjustment to design considerations

adjustment to design solution

adjustment to use the extended capabilities of the techniques.

Process used to document the approach may involve:

final drawings

illustrations

material samples

models

photographs

plans

specifications for fabrication

written rationale or description.


Sectors

Design – design process


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.