VCD Unit 1 Outcome 3

Designing a sustainable object

A folio of work demonstrating the Develop and Deliver stages of the VCD design process, and using circular design practices to develop a sustainable object

​

Design’s influence and influences on design

What influences design, and what does design influence?

Overview – Objects, Sustainability & Circular Design

Learn about factors that impact design decisions, as well as the impact of design on people and our planet.

Consider these influences when designing three-dimensional objects for specific purposes, contexts and users.

Integrate newly developed understandings of good design, and move beyond human-centred mindsets to also consider the needs of other species, our planet and its future.

Sustainability and circular design practices become an area of particular focus.

Circular design practices reject the linear model of make-use-dispose and instead seek ways for designs to retain their value. Designers aim to extend life cycles and regenerate natural systems, prioritising outcomes that are durable, adaptable, and can be repaired, refurbished, repurposed or reused.

https://business.vic.gov.au/business-information/sustainability/design-sustainable-products

https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-design/overview

https://about.ikea.com/en/sustainability/a-world-without-waste/designing-for-a-circular-future

https://www.circulardesignguide.com/

https://circularproductdesign.org/

​

​

​

​

https://good-design.org/projects/rangerbot/

Winner Good Design Sustainable product 2022

Analyse how the design of objects in both past and present contexts have been influenced by economic, technological, cultural, environmental and social factors.

Task 1

Select an object from 1939-1942 and hypothesize how economic, technological, cultural, environmental and social factors may have influenced the design. Search the object – was your hypothesis correct?

Select another object from 1980 – present (it can be from the Good Design Website or this timeline). Do the same activity. What observations can you make about how factors influence design? Do the factors change over time?

https://good-design.org/good-design-index/?discipline=product-design

​

Examine the potential of design itself to shape behaviours, interactions, systems and outcomes.

Task 2

1. Do an internet search to write YOUR OWN definition of “Behavioural Design”. Use at least 3 different sources and make note of your references.
2. The Australian “keep cup” is one example of behavioural design, because the re-usable cup aims to change the way we think about the environment, to change human behaviour from a throw away society to a more responsible one.

Try and find TWO more examples of a design OBJECT (industrial or Product design) that might help change human behaviours, systems, interactions or outcomes. Explain what they are and how they might have a positive impact.

​

https://au.keepcup.com/impact/our-impact keep cup official site

​

https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/product-development/research/behavioural-design/ products for better outcome

​

https://mymodernmet.com/family-workstation-library/ Improving Family Outcomes , library desks with built in childrens play pen!

​

​

What will I need to do?

You will respond to a given brief

You will use your knowledge from the first 2 tasks to inform your design of a sustainable, three-dimensional object

You will be adopting circular design practices and mindsets to address issues such as mass production, consumption and material waste.

You will consider various factors when making design decisions, such as how best to offer culturally appropriate or cost-effective solutions, integrate new technologies or inspire positive social change.

You will use the Develop and Deliver stages of the design process

You will learn skills in representing and rendering forms using manual and digital drawing techniques

Paraline and perspective drawings will be used to visualise 3-D forms.

2-D drawings are also developed to explore and present ideas, such as technical flats and third-angle orthogonal projections.

You will develop a sustainable object, considering design’s influence and factors that influence design.

The Brief!

You are to select ONE of the following everyday objects: Toothbrush, USB stick, remote control, charging cable, folding umbrella, disposable razor, rubber soled shoe, office chair, electric kettle (or another object with consultation with your teacher or you may use the Brief in Outcome 1 IF it specifically looks at sustainability and an object.)

​

Research some of the design flaws such as function, user friendly for all people (does it exclude people with a specific disability?) non-repairable, non-recyclable, high environmental impact or other flaw.

​

Design a BETTER product – consider aesthetics (how it looks) and function (how it works). The aim for your product is to function better, be better for the planet,SUSTAINABLE and improve the life of the user and maybe even inspire social change!

​

Use the Divergent/Convergent stages of the design process to gather inspiration, visualize a range of options, make choices , refine and resolve your design.

​

​

​

Task 3

How do I draw my object design in 3-D?

Paraline and perspective drawings will be used to visualise 3-D forms.

1-point perspective tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjhkxFDvD78

2-point perspective tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkECt-gauNM

​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qsKiZaFeOs&t=87s

An introduction to ISOMETRIC drawing. Isometric drawing can be done on special grid paper, using set squares and t-squares, or digitally in Illustrator (or even in Powerpoint!) Isometric is a “Paraline” drawing because the edges are parallel, they don’t have a vanishing point like a perspective drawing.

Task 4

How do I draw my object in 2-D?

• 2-D drawings are also developed to explore and present ideas, such as technical flats and third-angle orthogonal projections.

​

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4uv8kATEfM

Orthogonal drawing tutorial (manual). These show your object from different angles, usually the FRONT, TOP and RIGHT SIDE Views. Orthogonal drawing is often used in product or industrial design.

​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5gcSbBx0GM

Technical flats for clothing tutorial (digital). These simplify an complex object into a line drawing that shows all the features of the object. Technical flats are often used in fashion design.

Task 5

Key knowledge

• influences on design such as economic, technological, cultural, environmental and social factors
• the influence of design on behaviours, interactions, systems and outcomes
• sustainable and circular design practices, and their value
• manual and digital methods, design elements and principles relevant to the design of three-dimensional objects
• rendering techniques used to simulate surfaces, materials, texture and form, and depict the direction of light, shade and shadow
• technical drawing conventions appropriate for the documentation of object designs
• appropriate design terminology.

Key skills

• research and analyse past and present influences on design
• research and analyse the influence of design in past and present contexts
• select and use appropriate manual and/or digital methods, media and materials to represent and render forms
• select appropriate design elements and principles when developing a sustainable object
• adopt circular design practices during the Develop and Deliver stages of the VCD design process
• annotate design ideas and concepts using design terminology
• apply two-dimensional drawing methods, such as technical flats or third-angle orthogonal projections, to depict objects from multiple views
• apply three-dimensional drawing methods, such as isometric or perspective drawing, to represent the form and structure of objects
• apply appropriate technical drawing conventions to documentation drawings.

You will be assessed on the key skills, and application of key knowledge . They form the evidence for meeting this Outcome