HSC Design and Technology study guide
HSC Design and Technology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The HSC Design and Technology course is a New South Wales senior secondary subject completed as part of the Higher School Certificate. It suits students who enjoy solving practical problems, working with materials and systems, and documenting their thinking from initial brief through to a finished product. Assessment blends theory with a substantial design project, so candidates need both analytical writing skills and hands-on making ability. The course examines the design process and factors influencing design decisions, the relationship between design, technology, society and the environment, materials and manufacturing processes, and innovation and emerging technologies. The HSC Design and Technology study guide has 5 sections and about 1,518 words.
01Design and the Design Process
The design process is not a single recipe but a set of overlapping stages: identifying a need or problem, brief and specification, research, idea generation, development, prototyping, testing and evaluation. Learn the difference between a design brief (a broad statement of intent and constraints agreed with the client) and a design specification (precise, measurable criteria used later to judge success).
323 words, about 2 min02Design and Technology in Society and the Environment
Design does not occur in a vacuum. Candidates should be able to discuss how technology shapes and is shaped by society: employment, communication, health, accessibility and cultural values.
295 words, about 1 min03Materials, Processes and Manufacturing
You need working knowledge of material families and their properties. For timbers, know hardwoods versus softwoods, natural versus manufactured boards, grain direction, seasoning and moisture movement.
291 words, about 1 min04Design Project and Folio
The folio is evidence of your design thinking, not a scrapbook. It should show a clear sequence: need identification, brief and specification, research and analysis, idea generation, development, prototyping, testing, evaluation and reflection.
306 words, about 2 min05Innovation, Enterprise and Emerging Technologies
Innovation is the successful implementation of a new idea, not merely invention. Distinguish incremental innovation (improvements to existing products) from radical or disruptive innovation (new markets or business models).
303 words, about 2 min