Do you have an eye for form and function? Like to build things? Then combine mechanical engineering with industrial design to become a product design engineer.
Product design engineers design and develop manufactured products that are functional, ergonomic, beautiful, and well-engineered.
This double degree course integrates the technical and project management skills of an engineer with the creativity and manufacturing know-how of an industrial designer. As a product design engineer, you might design cars, hi-tech appliances, furniture, tools, industrial equipment, prosthetics or robots. Whatever your specialty, your goal is the same; to make well-designed and well-engineered products.
The product design engineer boasts a wide range of practical, creative and problem-solving skills. Graduates can apply these skills to specialist areas such as display design, consumer product design, packaging design and ergonomics. They can choose from a variety of industries including aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, petrochemical, robotics or electronics.
A major design project in your final year lets you showcase your newly-acquired skills.
NOTE: For learning outcomes and other relevant information of this double degree, refer to the single degree entries:
The requirements below detail what you must study in order to complete this double-degree course and receive the awards.
Units are 6 points unless otherwise specified. You must complete 240 points:
1. 144 points must be completed in Parts A, B, C, D and E (Level 1 only) as described below in E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) component specialising in mechanical engineering.
Refer to E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) single degree entry for the details of mandatory professional recognition requirements.
2. 96 points must be completed in Parts A, B and C as described below in F2002 Bachelor of Design component specialising in industrial design.
Engineering component (mechanical engineering specialisation)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is a specialist course that develops through four themes that combine to underpin engineering practice: fundamentals and foundational skills, design, knowledge and applications, and professional practice.
Part A. Engineering fundamentals and foundational skills (12 points)
These will develop your understanding of natural and physical sciences, mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences that underpin all engineering disciplines.
You must complete:
If you have not done the equivalent of VCE Specialist mathematics and/or VCE Physics then you must also complete foundation unit/s below in mathematics and/or physics:
Note: If you have to do one foundation unit, you do not complete the Level 1 elective from Part E below. If you need to take both foundation units you also do not do the elective, but in addition you will need to overload in year 1 or 2 and increase the total credit points needed for this double degree by 6 points.
Part B. Engineering design (18 points)
This will develop the engineering techniques, tools and resources for the conduct, design and management of engineering design processes and projects, both in the industrial setting and in the development of research experiments.
You must complete:
- ENG1001 Engineering design: Lighter, faster, stronger
- ENG1002 Engineering design: Cleaner, safer smarter
- ENG1003 Engineering mobile apps
Part E. Level 1 elective study (6 points)
If you need to do one or both foundation units, you do not do this elective, otherwise you must complete one of the following:
- CHE2161 Mechanics of fluids
- CHM1011 Chemistry I or CHM1051 Chemistry I advanced
- ECE2041Not offered in 2018 Telecommunications
- ECE2072 Digital systems
- ENE1621 Environmental engineering
- ENG1021 Spatial communication in engineering
- ENG1051 Materials for energy and sustainability
- FIT2085 Introduction to computer science for engineers
- MAE2405 Aircraft performance
- MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science
- MEC2404 Mechanics of fluids
- PHS1002 Physics for engineering
- RSE1010 Natural resources engineering
- TRC2001 Introduction to systems engineering
Part C. Mechanical engineering knowledge and application and Part D. Professional practice (108 points)
Part C will provide in-depth knowledge of the specific engineering methods of mechanical engineering and will integrate the specific engineering methods and discipline knowledge into practice. You will develop skills to identify and apply knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.
Additionally, your studies will focus on your understanding and application of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in your discipline.
Part D will develop your skills in readiness for the engineering workplace. You will develop skills in effective team membership and team leadership, the use and management of commercially relevant data, and the legal responsibilities of engineers. This study will integrate the theme 'Engineering knowledge and application' with your specialist field of engineering.
You must complete:
Design component (industrial design specialisation)
Bachelor of Design is a specialist course that develops through theme studies in history and theory, drawing foundation, and design studios specific to each of the specialisations. These will come together in the form of a graduand exhibition normally developed during the final two studio units in the course.
Part A. History and theory studies (30 points)
History and theory units will equip you with the skills necessary to research design issues, and enable you to contextualise your own practice and communicate ideas and strategies. Through the prism of history, you will begin to situate the place of design in society by referencing pivotal art, design and architecture movements. Later units address issues of culture, society and specific design themes.
You must complete:
- AHT1101 Introduction to visual culture in art, design and architecture
- TDN1002 Design and the avant-garde
- TDN2001 Sociologies of design
- TDN3001 Research for design
- TDN3002 Design strategy and professional practice or TDN3003Not offered in 2018 Design criticism
Part B. Drawing foundation (6 points)
This will assist you to develop the practical and intellectual skills required by art, design and architecture students in the discipline of drawing.
You must complete:
Part C. Design studios - industrial design specialisation (60 points)
This is the component of the course through which you will develop key skills and concepts particular to your design discipline.
In the industrial design studio units you will undertake a focussed exploration of the range of issues, skills and techniques vital to the realisation of user-centred design. Through industrial design projects, you will learn about topics such as visualisation techniques, ergonomics, materials, production methods and technologies.
You must complete:
- IDN1001 Industrial design studio 1 (12 points)
- IDN1002 Industrial design studio 2 (12 points)
- IDN2001 Industrial design studio 3 (12 points)
- IDN3001 Industrial design studio 4 (12 points)
- IDN3002 Industrial design studio 5 (12 points)
Part D. Occupational health and safety study (0 points)
This will introduce you to occupational health, safety and environmental training particularly within the context of studying art, design and architecture.
You must complete:
- OHS1000 Introduction to art and design health and safety
You may be eligible to exit this double degree course early and graduate with one of the single awards once you have successfully completed all of the requirements described above for the single degree component and have completed a total of:
- 192 points to exit with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)
- 144 points to exit with a Bachelor of Industrial Design.
