Bachelor of Industrial Design (3730)
- Approved Abbreviation: BIndDes
- Western Sydney University Program Code: 3730
- AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 041035E
This program applies to students who commenced in 2021 or later.
Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.
For commencement year 2020, please refer to: 3730.3 Bachelor of Industrial Design
For commencement year 2018-2019, please refer to: 3730.2 Bachelor of Industrial Design
Handbook Summary 2021 - 2022
This degree provides students with the knowledge to create a career as an industrial designer involved in new product development, and collaborative leadership at the forefront of innovation and creativity. Students are engaged in industry-driven curriculum content over four years of study with a focus on the latest advances in sustainable materials, smart manufacturing, sustainability, human factors research, and design innovation in realising breakthrough products and services while improving the quality of life through good design. Specialisations in strategic design management, business model innovation, digital innovation, sustainable futures and design practice, help students who wish to pursue a corporate design role, or build their own start-up business generating new value and driving dynamic careers.
Handbook Summary 2023
Industrial Designers are innovation leaders working across collaborative teams within design consultancies and across a multitude of client-based projects in a wide array of fields. In this program students will experience Advanced and Additive Manufacturing and develop the design skills to maximise the outcomes for brands, products, and positive environmental impacts.
Students work collaboratively, in teams and with clients, on industry projects whilst utilising the extensive Design Studio and Advanced Prototyping Workshop facilities available to them. At the culmination of the program students will have the opportunity to have their capstone Project showcased in the Annual Widevision School Excellence Exhibition for industry and employer engagement providing a unique career enhancing, and networking opportunity.
This program places graduates at the forefront of developing new user experiences and high-level outcomes in brand management, marketing and manufacturing. Graduate opportunities range from working with consumer products such as medical devices, advanced packaging and sustainable circular products, to high technology industries including wearables, space, and IoT enabled interfaces. Studies are held at the Parramatta Engineering Innovation Hub.
Effective Design Practice career professionals require a broad range of knowledge to allow them to connect and work with colleagues across many disciplines. To assist students to flexibly build their career pathways, the Bachelor of Industrial Design provides elective options in order to complete an industrial design major; or one or two minors; or explore a range of free electives in areas of interest across the university.
Parts of this course may be taught at the Parramatta City - Hassall St campus or at the Parramatta South campus.
Early Exit
Students may exit this program on completion of 240 credit points with a 3729 Bachelor of Design and Technology
Study Mode
Four years full-time or eight years part-time.
Program Advice
Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.
Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |
Location
| Campus | Attendance | Mode | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parramatta City Campus | Full Time | Internal | See above |
| Parramatta City Campus | Part Time | Internal | See above |
Parts of this course may be taught at the Parramatta City - Hassall St campus or at the Parramatta South campus.
Accreditation
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA)
Work Integrated Learning
Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.
There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program. Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.
International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Admission
Assumed knowledge: any two units of English plus at least two units of Design, Design and Technology, Visual Arts, Digital Multimedia, Engineering, or Business Studies.
Alternate Entry Pathway
Entry by interview in which personal aptitude, professional experience, and educational qualifications are taken into consideration supported by a portfolio of works. After applicants have applied they are required to book an interview and download a questionnaire at the University's online booking system. The questionnaire provides applicants further information on how to prepare their portfolio and for the interview.
https://admissions.westernsydney.edu.au
Additional information
Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.
http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/
Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.
All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.
International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.
Program Structure Current
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.
Recommended Sequence
The core subjects are taught at the Parramatta City (Hassall St) campus.
Students may be required to travel to different Western Sydney University campuses to complete Majors, Minors or elective subjects.
Full-time start-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| ENGR 1046 | Human Centred Design Research Methods | 10 |
| ENGR 1039 | Designing for Circular Economy | 10 |
| ENGR 1043 | Co-Designing Change with Local Communities | 10 |
| ENGR 1038 | Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 1041 | Designing for User Experience (UX) | 10 |
| ENGR 1044 | Drawing Skills for Design Thinking | 10 |
| ENGR 1040 | Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics | 10 |
| ENGR 2025 | Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 1042 | Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 2026 | Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form | 10 |
| ENGR 2024 | Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture | 10 |
| Select one elective subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 3023 | Biomechanics in Product Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 3026 | Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products | 10 |
| Select two elective subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 4021 | Studio: Interdisciplinary Global | 10 |
| Select three elective subjects | 30 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4022 | Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone | 10 |
| ENGR 3025 | Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced) | 10 |
| Select two elective subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 4040 | Industrial Design Major Project (Ideation & Studio Practice) | 20 |
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 3024 | Design Research Methods (Advanced) | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4018 | Industrial Design Major Project (Conclusion) | 20 |
| ENGR 4016 | Design Practice: Sustainable Components | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| Mentored Practice in Design Innovation | ||
| Mentored Practice in Design (Industry) | ||
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Full-time mid-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring session | Credit Points | |
| ENGR 1041 | Designing for User Experience (UX) | 10 |
| ENGR 1044 | Drawing Skills for Design Thinking | 10 |
| ENGR 1040 | Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics | 10 |
| ENGR 2025 | Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 1046 | Human Centred Design Research Methods | 10 |
| ENGR 1039 | Designing for Circular Economy | 10 |
| ENGR 1043 | Co-Designing Change with Local Communities | 10 |
| ENGR 1038 | Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 3023 | Biomechanics in Product Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 3026 | Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products | 10 |
| Select two elective subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 1042 | Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 2026 | Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form | 10 |
| ENGR 2024 | Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture | 10 |
| Select one elective subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4022 | Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone | 10 |
| ENGR 3025 | Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced) | 10 |
| Select two elective subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 4040 | Industrial Design Major Project (Ideation & Studio Practice) | 20 |
| ENGR 3024 | Design Research Methods (Advanced) | 10 |
| Select one elective subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4018 | Industrial Design Major Project (Conclusion) | 20 |
| ENGR 4016 | Design Practice: Sustainable Components | 10 |
| Select one of the following: | 10 | |
| Mentored Practice in Design Innovation | ||
| Mentored Practice in Design (Industry) | ||
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 4021 | Studio: Interdisciplinary Global | 10 |
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| Select two elective subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Elective subjects
Students may select their electives from any program offered by the university, provided any requisite requirements are met.
Students may use their 80 credit points of elective subjects to complete a major, or two minors, or suggested Industrial Design electives or university wide electives or a combination of the above.
Suggested Industrial Design Electives
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 2029 | Simulation in Virtual and Augmented Realities | 10 |
| ENGR 4019 | Start-Up Product Launch | 10 |
| ENGR 4017 | Design Thinking for Competitive Advantage | 10 |
| Total Credit Points | 30 | |
Majors
Minors
Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider or may choose another university-wide:
Program Structure 2021 - 2022
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.
Recommended Sequence
Parts of these subjects may be taught at the Parramatta City - Hassall St campus or at the Parramatta South campus.
Full-time start-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| ENGR 1046 | Human Centred Design Research Methods | 10 |
| ENGR 1039 | Designing for Circular Economy | 10 |
| ENGR 1043 | Co-Designing Change with Local Communities | 10 |
| ENGR 1038 | Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 1041 | Designing for User Experience (UX) | 10 |
| ENGR 1044 | Drawing Skills for Design Thinking | 10 |
| ENGR 1040 | Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics | 10 |
| ENGR 2025 | Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 1042 | Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 2026 | Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form | 10 |
| ENGR 2024 | Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture | 10 |
| Select one Major/Minor or Alternate subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 3023 | Biomechanics in Product Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 3025 | Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced) | 10 |
| ENGR 3026 | Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products | 10 |
| Select one Major/Minor or Alternate subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 4021 | Studio: Interdisciplinary Global | 10 |
| Select three Major/Minor or Alternate subjects | 30 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4022 | Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone | 10 |
| Select three Major/Minor or Alternate subjects | 30 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 3024 | Design Research Methods (Advanced) | 10 |
| ENGR 4012 | Industrial Design Major Project (Ideation) | 10 |
| Select one Alternate subject | 10 | |
| From 2023 ENGR 4040 (20cp) replaces both ENGR 4012 (10cp) and the Alternate subject requirement (10cp). | ||
| Industrial Design Major Project (Ideation & Studio Practice) | ||
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4018 | Industrial Design Major Project (Conclusion) | 20 |
| Note: ENGR 4018 is a 20 credit point subject | ||
| ENGR 3028 | Mentored Practice in Design Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 4016 | Design Practice: Sustainable Components | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Autumn Alternate Subject Pool
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| VISU 2003 | From Ochre to Acrylics to New Technologies (Indigenous content) | 10 |
| HUMN 1013 | Contextualising Indigenous Australia (Day Mode) | 10 |
| BUSM 3005 | Creating Change and Innovation | 10 |
| BUSM 3036 | Leadership and Entrepreneurship | 10 |
| BEHV 1018 | Psychology: Human Behaviour | 10 |
| HUMN 3077 | Sustainable Futures | 10 |
| BLDG 3007 | Design Brief Formulation | 10 |
Spring Alternate Subject Pool
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 4017 | Design Thinking for Competitive Advantage | 10 |
| MKTG 2002 | Incubator 1: Innovation and Creativity for Entrepreneurship | 10 |
| ENGR 4019 | Start-Up Product Launch | 10 |
| BLDG 1009 | Environmental Building Design | 10 |
| BUSM 3069 | Strategic Management | 10 |
| ENGR 2029 | Simulation in Virtual and Augmented Realities | 10 |
| BUSM 3005 | Creating Change and Innovation | 10 |
| BLDG 1013 | Building Science | 10 |
Full-time mid-year Intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring session | Credit Points | |
| ENGR 1041 | Designing for User Experience (UX) | 10 |
| ENGR 1044 | Drawing Skills for Design Thinking | 10 |
| ENGR 1040 | Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics | 10 |
| ENGR 2025 | Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 1046 | Human Centred Design Research Methods | 10 |
| ENGR 1039 | Designing for Circular Economy | 10 |
| ENGR 1038 | Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 2025 | Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 3023 | Biomechanics in Product Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 3026 | Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products | 10 |
| Select two Major/Minor or Alternate subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 1043 | Co-Designing Change with Local Communities | 10 |
| ENGR 1042 | Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 2026 | Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form | 10 |
| Select one Major/Minor or Alternate subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4022 | Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone | 10 |
| ENGR 3025 | Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced) | 10 |
| Select two Major/Minor or Alternate subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 4021 | Studio: Interdisciplinary Global | 10 |
| Select three Major/Minor or Alternate subjects | 30 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4018 | Industrial Design Major Project (Conclusion) | 20 |
| Note: ENGR 4012 Industrial Design Major Project (Conclusion) is a 20 credit point unit | ||
| ENGR 3028 | Mentored Practice in Design Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 4016 | Design Practice: Sustainable Components | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 3024 | Design Research Methods (Advanced) | 10 |
| ENGR 4012 | Industrial Design Major Project (Ideation) | 10 |
| Select one Alternate subject | 10 | |
| From 2023 ENGR 4040 (20cp) replaces both ENGR 4012 (10cp) and the Alternate subject requirement (10cp). | ||
| Industrial Design Major Project (Ideation & Studio Practice) | ||
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 320 | |
Autumn Alternate Subject Pool
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| VISU 2003 | From Ochre to Acrylics to New Technologies (Indigenous content) | 10 |
| HUMN 1013 | Contextualising Indigenous Australia (Day Mode) | 10 |
| BUSM 3005 | Creating Change and Innovation | 10 |
| BUSM 3036 | Leadership and Entrepreneurship | 10 |
| BEHV 1018 | Psychology: Human Behaviour | 10 |
| HUMN 3077 | Sustainable Futures | 10 |
| BLDG 3007 | Design Brief Formulation | 10 |
Spring Alternate Subject Pool
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 4017 | Design Thinking for Competitive Advantage | 10 |
| MKTG 2002 | Incubator 1: Innovation and Creativity for Entrepreneurship | 10 |
| ENGR 4019 | Start-Up Product Launch | 10 |
| BLDG 1009 | Environmental Building Design | 10 |
| BUSM 3069 | Strategic Management | 10 |
| ENGR 2029 | Simulation in Virtual and Augmented Realities | 10 |
| BUSM 3005 | Creating Change and Innovation | 10 |
| BLDG 1013 | Building Science | 10 |
Majors and Minors
The Bachelor of Industrial Design is offered on Parramatta (Victoria Road) Campus only. Students may be required to travel between campuses in order to complete some subjects within specific majors and minors.