Graduate Diploma in Design (Industrial Design)

This postgraduate qualification will give you a competitive advantage when seeking professional employment - it's also a pathway to a Master of Design. As a design student you will develop your skills in our world-class design studios and workshops that boast digital fabrication equipment such as:

• laser cutters
• CNC routers
• 3D printers
• industry-standard motion-capture and virtual reality systems

You will also be involved in on-campus practical projects, where you will benefit from our strong industry links and our experienced teaching staff. Our teaching staff are professional designers, so the curriculum is industry-relevant and mostly practical in nature. You will also work alongside world-class researchers in design1 so you can be assured that by studying this graduate diploma at UniSA you will take away industry-relevant skills and knowledge.

1 Results in Design Practice and Management - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Emerging materials, processing technologies and sustainability are key focuses of this graduate diploma. You will also develop an advanced understanding of product design and graduate with the ability to develop and design physical products, systems, interfaces, and environments for cultural and economic exchange. You will also develop:

• high-level technical skills needed for digital prototyping and the development of 3D design
• the ability to use knowledge of existing and emerging materials and processing technologies for high and low volume manufacturing
• the ability to work through complex industrial design problems
• cognitive skills needed to review and analyse research

This graduate diploma comprises design research studio classes, research methods, design theory and a selection of electives.

Job prospects in this field are looking good, with growth in employment nationally expected in the coming years through to November 20201. Careers to consider:

• industrial designer: develop concepts and designs for manufactured products, such as cars
• furniture designer: develop design concepts, experiment with different materials, liaise with clients and build sample models for either mass produced furniture prototypes or one-off exclusive pieces
• product designer: use your design skills to make existing products more effective

It is recommended that to increase employability in this competitive industry students complete the additional year of study required at attain a Master of Design.

1 Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015