Design Technology

The Design Technology faculty at Aitken College inspires creativity, innovation, and technical expertise through hands-on projects and cutting-edge tools. Students engage in a diverse range of design challenges, building practical skills while exploring sustainable and ethical design practices.

Year 8 Product Design introduces students to the fundamentals of design and production. Projects include crafting passive speakers, LED displays, chopping boards, and seasonal designs. Students develop essential skills through safety inductions, working with tools and materials, and exploring creative solutions to real-world problems.

Year 9 Product Design builds on these foundations with projects like designing and constructing a standing picture frame. Students create design folios to investigate, research, and sketch ideas, culminating in innovative solutions tailored to their end-users. CAD skills are also introduced, with students using laser cutters and 3D printers to create functional phone holders and parametric designs.

Year 10 Product Design deepens students' engagement with the design process. In one stream, students design and build a bedside table, incorporating traditional woodworking skills and advanced technologies like laser cutting. Another stream focuses on CAD projects, with students creating coasters and 3D-printed moving animals. Across these experiences, students develop technical skills and an understanding of sustainability’s importance in design.

Year 11 Product Design shifts to advanced concepts, focusing on sustainable redevelopment and collaborative design. Students produce detailed folios, prototype and evaluate products, and explore how design impacts society and the environment. These units encourage teamwork and critical analysis of design solutions.

Year 12 Product Design and Technologies centres on ethical and sustainable design practices. Students explore how their work can positively impact end-users, creating thoughtful, innovative solutions. The year culminates in the production and evaluation of ethical designs, demonstrating mastery of both creative and technical aspects of design.

The Design Technology faculty fosters a culture of problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative exploration. Students graduate with not only practical skills but also a profound appreciation for the role of design in shaping a sustainable future.