Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) (3731)
- Approved Abbreviation: BIndDes(Hons)
- Western Sydney University Program Code: 3731
- AQF Level: 8
CRICOS Code: 107743E
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: 3731.3 Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
For commencement year 2018-2020, please refer to: 3731.2 Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
Handbook Summary 2021 - 2022
The Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) is a four-year program with specialisations that build significant support for the final year research thesis and applied design research project. The Design Research pathway central to Honours is developed to meet the demands of industry and academia in creating new contributions to the body of knowledge in innovation, systems thinking, design thinking, and social innovation.
The curriculum offers structured and self-directed learning across standard class formats, studio-based, blended online and experiential Work Integrated Learning with focus on advanced design research methods drawn from industry-based design practice providing graduates with multi-directional employment pathways.
Parts of this course may be taught at the Parramatta City - Hassall St campus or at the Parramatta South campus.
Handbook Summary 2023
The Honours Design Research pathway is developed to meet the demands of communities, industries, and academia in creating new applied design research contributions to the societal body of knowledge in creativity, innovation, systems and design thinking, and social innovation.
The curriculum offers structured and self-directed learning across standard class formats, studio-based, blended, online and experiential Work Integrated Learning. At the culmination of the program the final year Thesis Projects are showcased in the Annual Widevision School Excellence Exhibition for industry and employer engagement providing a unique, career enhancing, engagement and networking opportunity.
With a focus on advanced design research methods drawn from industry-based design practice graduates are provided with multi-directional employment pathways. Students can choose to transition to a research pathway such as Masters and PhD studies or to an industry or entrepreneurial career in their chosen area of research specialisation. Studies are held at the Parramatta Engineering Innovation Hub.
Effective industrial design research 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 (Honours) provides elective options in order to complete an industrial design major; one or two minors; or explore a range of free electives in areas of interest outside of industrial design.
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 subjects of English plus at least two subjects of Design, Design and Technology, Visual Arts, Digital Multimedia, Engineering, or Business Studies.
Alternate Entry
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
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.
Recommended Sequence Current
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.
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 4027 | Industrial Design Applied Research Project (Honours) | 20 |
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 3024 | Design Research Methods (Advanced) | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4030 | Industrial Design Research Thesis (Honours) | 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 1038 | Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 2024 | Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture | 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 1043 | Co-Designing Change with Local Communities | 10 |
| ENGR 1042 | Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 2026 | Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form | 10 |
| ENGR 2024 | Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture | 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 4027 | Industrial Design Applied Research Project (Honours) | 20 |
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| Select one elective subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4030 | Industrial Design Research Thesis (Honours) | 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 |
| Select three elective subjects | 30 | |
| 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:
Recommended Sequence 2022
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.
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 3026 | Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products | 10 |
| ENGR 3025 | Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced) | 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 4027 | Industrial Design Applied Research Project (Honours) | 20 |
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 3024 | Design Research Methods (Advanced) | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| ENGR 4030 | Industrial Design Research Thesis (Honours) | 20 |
| ENGR 3028 | Mentored Practice in Design Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 4016 | Design Practice: Sustainable Components | 10 |
| 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 1038 | Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 2024 | Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture | 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 |
| ENGR 3025 | Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced) | 10 |
| Select one major/minor or alternate subject | 10 | |
| 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 |
| Select three major/minor or alternate subjects | 30 | |
| 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 4027 | Industrial Design Applied Research Project (Honours) | 20 |
| ENGR 3028 | Mentored Practice in Design Innovation | 10 |
| ENGR 4016 | Design Practice: Sustainable Components | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| ENGR 4030 | Industrial Design Research Thesis (Honours) | 20 |
| ENGR 2022 | Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing | 10 |
| ENGR 3024 | Design Research Methods (Advanced) | 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 | 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 |
| INFO 7018 | Cloud Systems Development | 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 |
Replaced Subject
The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in Autumn 2021 or earlier.
INFO 7008 - Modern Software Architectures, replaced by INFO 7018 Cloud Systems Development
Majors and Minors
The Bachelor of Industrial Design is offered at Parramatta City campus only. Students may be required to travel between campuses in order to complete some subjects within specific Majors and Minors.
Replaced Minors
The minor listed below counts towards completion of this Program for students who began studying this minor prior to 2021.
SM1070 Cultural and Social Analysis, Minor, replaced by Culture and Society, Minor in 2021 (listed above).