VCE Product Design and Technologies Study Guide

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, design principles, and sustainability concepts from the VCE Product Design and Technologies curriculum.

Product

A designed solution that takes the form of a physical, three-dimensional object.

Product design

A solution-focused approach that engages with the diverse needs and opportunities of individuals, society, and th

Designer-maker

An individual who designs and creates innovative and ethical solutions while learning about industry and teamwor

Double Diamond design approach

A framework to support students in employing Design thinking.

Divergent and convergent thinking

The two types of thinking overlaid on each 'diamond' of the Double Diamond design approach.

First Diamond (Double Diamond)

Purpose is to investigate and define a design need or opportunity.

Second Diamond (Double Diamond)

Purpose is to generate, design, and produce a product solution.

Critical thinking

A convergent strategy where evaluation, reasoning, and comparison are used to process and refine ideas.

Creative thinking

A divergent strategy used for ideation to stimulate the broadening of imaginative and unique concepts.

Speculative thinking

A process of synthesising information to hypothesise and consider the future appropriateness and ethical conseq

Design brief

A summary of research into a need or opportunity that clarifies the problem without solving it yet.

Sustainability Core Dimensions

Environmental, economic, and social.

Environmental dimension of sustainability

Ensuring planet resources are available for future generations by managing resource lifecycles and impacts.

Economic dimension of sustainability

Using resources efficiently to ensure continued economic growth and considering costs across a product's lifecyc

Social dimension of sustainability

Ensuring current and future generations have access to resources like human rights, education, and community c

Technacy

The holistic understanding and creation of technologies through problem-solving, experimentation, and communi

End users

The human or non-human 'consumers' for whom a product is intended.

Aesthetics

A factor of design that relates to a product's form, appearance, and feel.

Constraint vs. Consideration

Constraints are non-negotiable requirements, while considerations are flexible aspects to be taken into account.

Evaluation criteria

Developed from the project scope to justify the chosen concept and judge the finished product against the initial need.

Graphical product concepts

Visual representations of ideas through visualisations, design options, and working drawings.

Prototype

A physical or virtual model used to experiment with and refine product concepts prior to actual production.

Final proof of concept

Signal that a design is ready to move into the implementation and production stage.

Indigenous design (Aboriginal weaving)

Intrinsically connected to sustainability as it uses local materials harvested carefully to ensure regrowth and eventually returning to the earth.

Asymmetrical lift

The complex aerodynamic principle demonstrated by the design of a boomerang.

Product lifecycle

A design factor involving sourcing of materials, useful life, and the impact of disposal or reuse.

Intellectual property (IP)

Creations of the mind, such as copyright, patents, trademarks, and registered designs.

Universal Design

The design of products to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation.

Teamwork vs. Collaboration

Teamwork involves individual tasks toward a common goal, while collaboration involves working together collectiv

Unit 2 Primary Goal

To create inclusive products that support belonging, access, usability, or equity.

Lean manufacturing

A systematic method for waste minimisation within a manufacturing system without sacrificing productivity.

Circular Economy

An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources.

Cradle-to-cradle

A sustainability framework suggesting products should be designed for continuous recovery and reutilisation

Design for Disassembly (DfD)

A design strategy that allows a product to be easily taken apart at the end of its life for recycling or repair.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

A policy approach where producers are given significant responsibility for the treatment or disposal of post-consum

Planned obsolescence

A policy of planning or designing a product with an artificially limited useful life.

Types of Planned Obsolescence

Style, technical, and functional.

Anthropometric Data

The measurement of the size and proportions of the human body used to ensure products fit the user.

Ergonomics

The study of people's efficiency in their working environment, specifically how a product interacts with the human

Primary Research

New data collected firsthand from original sources, such as through interviews or surveys.

Secondary Research

The summary, collation, or synthesis of existing data and research conducted by others.

User-Centred Design

An iterative design process in which designers focus on the users and their needs in each phase of the design proc

Orthogonal Drawing

A two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object showing different views, usually the front, top, an

Isometric Drawing

A 3D drawing here all vertical lines are vertical and all horizontal lines are drawn at an angle of $30^{\circ}$.

Resistant Materials

Materials like metal and wood that are difficult to change physically.

Non-Resistant Materials

Materials like paper or clay that are easily manipulated.

Smart Material

A material that has one or more properties that can be significantly changed in a controlled fashion by external stim

Biomaterial

A substance engineered to interact with biological systems, often sourced from plant or animal prod

Strength

The ability of a material to withstand an applied load without failure or plastic deformation.

Hardness

The resistance of a material to localised plastic deformation, such as scratching or denting.

Toughness

The ability of a material to absorb energy and deform plastically without fracturing.

Batch Production

A manufa uring technique where products are created in specified groups or amounts, rather than one at a time o

One-off Production

The manufacture of a single, unique product designed for a specific client or need.

Quality Control (QC)

A system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample of the output against the specific

Tolerance

The permissible limit or limits of variation in a physical dimension or measured value.

CNC Machining

A manufacturing process where pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and m

Toile

A version of a garment made by a fashion designer to test a pattern, usually made from cheap fabric like calico.

Lifecycle Analysis (LCA)

A technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life.

Triple Bottom Line

An accounting framework with three parts: social, environmental (or ecological), and financial.

Cultural Appropriation

The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, or ideas of one people or society by me

Research and Development (R&D)

Activities that companies undertake to innovate and introduce new products and services.

Speculative Design

A design practice that uses design to help us rethink and imagine possible future scenarios.

Production Plan

A document detailing the sequence of steps, tools, materials, and safety measures required to create a product.

OHS (or WHS)

Occupational Health and Safety; the multi-disciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of peop

Justification

The action of showing something to be right or reasonable through evidence and reasoning.

Milestone

A significant point or event in a project used to monitor progress.

Iterative Design

Continuously cycling through prototyping, testing, and refining a product based on evaluation.

Seam

A line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together.

Fabrication

The process of constructing products by combining typically standardised parts through one or more individual pro

Market Research

The action or activity of gathering information about consumers' needs and preferences.

Rendering

The process of adding colour, texture, and shading to a drawing to make it look realistic.

Composite Material

A material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical propertie

Renewable Material

A natural resource which will replenish to replace the portion depleted by usage and consumption.

Durability

The ability of a material to remain functional without requiring excessive maintenance or repair when faced with th

Marking Out

The process of transferring a design or pattern onto a workpiece as a guide for subsequent manufacturing steps.

Laser Cutting

A technology that uses a laser to vaporise materials, resulting in a cut edge.

3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing)

A process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file by laying down successive layers of materia

Appliqué

A technique in which pieces of fabric, embroidery, or other materials are sewn onto another piece of fabric to crea

Upcycling

The process of transforming by-products, waste materials, or unwanted products into new materials or products o

Connection to Country

A spiritual and physical relationship with the land, sea, sky, and all living things within a specific geographic area.

Inclusivity

The practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded

Economic Sustainability

Practices that support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting the social, environmental, and cu

Function

The specific purpose or intended use of a product.

Quantitative Research

Research that focuses on gathering numerical data and generalising it across groups of people.

Qualitative Research

Research that focuses on gathering non-numerical data, such as opinions, feelings, and motivations.

Scheduled Production Plan

A timeline that includes production steps, estimated times, quality measures, and risk assessments.

SAT Score Contribution

The School-assessed Task (SAT) contributes $50$ per cent to the final study score.

End-of-year examination contribution

The examination contributes $30$ per cent to the final study score.

New and Emerging Technology examples

Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, or rapid 3D prototyping.

Stakeholder

Any individual or group that has an interest in or is affected by the design and production of a product.

Working Drawing

A technical drawing that provides all the information needed to manufacture or construct the product.

Materials Testing

A process used to determine the physical and mechanical properties of raw materials and components.

Simplified Triple Bottom Line

People, Planet, and Profit.

Cradle-to-Grave

A design model where a product's lifecycle ends in a landfill.

Accessibility

The quality of being able to be reached, entered, or used by as many people as possible, regardless of ability.

Mass Production

The production of large quantities of standardised products, typically using assembly lines or automated technolo

Discover (Double Diamond)

The first divergent phase of investigating and gathering data.

Deliver (Double Diamond)

The final convergent phase of finalising and evaluating the product.

Risk Assessment

The process of identifying potential hazards and analysing what could happen if a hazard occurs.

Branding

The process of creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumer's mind.