Bachelor of Design (Product Design)

This practical degree will equip you with the skill set needed to design and create products that people use every day, such as electronic devices, domestic appliances and homewares, medical devices, sports equipment, user interfaces, furniture, and more.

Product designers need to consider human factors, usability, aesthetics, manufacturing technologies, materials and environmental sustainability in their designs, and this comprehensive, practical degree will have you doing just that.

During your studies you will develop fundamental practical skills through design studio classes, model making and prototyping.

You will learn in our state-of-the-art workshops that are fitted out with digital fabrication equipment such as laser cutters, CNC routers and 3D printers, and virtual reality systems.

There are opportunities for you to practice skills learned in real-world workplaces when you complete professional placements as part of your study.

There is also the opportunity for you to complete some of your studies overseas.

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent AND

• Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
• Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
• Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points

Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

Recent secondary education ATAR profile

OR Higher education study

• Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
• Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above

OR Vocational Education and Training (VET)

• Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above

OR Work and life experience

• Qualify for Special Entry, or
• Complete a UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
• Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past

Essential requirements for admission

Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

Deferment

This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.

There is a lot of ground to cover in this degree, starting with a fundamental understanding of the elements and principles of design. Much of this study takes place in the purpose-built design studios located on-campus. You will study basic skills and concepts relating to areas such as sketching and visualisation techniques; design history and theory; human centred design; computer-aided design; and creativity. During your second year you will broaden your knowledge, covering topics such as:

• ergonomics and human factors
• advanced 3D computer modelling and manufacturing
• sustainable design concepts and methods
• materials and processes
• manufacturing and engineering principles

In your third year there will be a focus on design for usability, high volume manufacturing and sustainability, and user experience, and you will be able to select a range of electives to tailor your study to your individual interests.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). Typically there are 15 contact hours a week, with the expectation of 30 hours a week of self-directed study.

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

Our teaching staff are highly trained industry professionals who bring with them years of experience. They have strong industry links and many hold professional positions with organisations including the Design Institute of Australia, Adelaide Design Network and others. For students this means links to industry and the opportunity to build important networks. There is the opportunity for you to further build on your industry network when you undertake work placements.

UniSA offers an extensive range of career-related events and workshops online, on campus and around Adelaide to develop your skills and increase your knowledge.

Your career

Job prospects in this field are looking good, with very strong growth in employment expected nationally1. You can increase your employment prospects when you continue your studies with a Master of Design, specialising in Industrial Design.

Careers to consider:

• product designer: develop new designs in a broad range of industries including consumer electronics, domestic products, medical products, transportation and app design
• 3D computer modeller: develop designs into 3D models and technical drawings using specialised software in a broad range of industries
• furniture designer: develop design concepts, experiment with different materials, liaise with clients and build sample models for either mass produced furniture prototypes or one-off exclusive pieces
• technical illustrator and animation: design and create visual representations for use in marketing content, technical publications and manuals

1Australian Government, Job Outlook 2020.

Applying to study with us:

• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help, we're here to assist. We provide a full range of support services, including:

• academic counselling
• personal counselling
• social support services, including family support and nearby childcare

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.

As a design student, you will have access to:

• state-of-the-art on-campus design studios created specifically for product design students
• workshops with an extensive range of traditional machines and tools, as well as a digital workshop that includes 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC routers.