SEM721 - Product Design and Development
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 2: Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 2: Clara Usma-Mansfield |
| Prerequisite | For students enrolled in S460, S461, S462, S463, S465, S466, S467: completion of 18 credit points or Unit chair approval. For students enrolled in S517, S550, S617, S716, S717, S751, S756, S757, S758, S759, S787: Nil. For students enrolled in courses outside of the School of Engineering: Unit Chair approval |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | 1 x 2 hour seminar per week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | Online independent and collaborative learning including a 1 x 2 hour seminar per week. |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
In this Unit, you explore the process of identifying potential users, market and technological opportunities to develop a solution that is fit-for-purpose. The proposed process encourages applied research and project management to develop solutions and address specific design challenge. As a student undertaking this unit, you will apply research, design and engineering skills and take into consideration various stakeholder perspectives and contextual boundaries. The assessment is based on how engineers and designers work in industry, there is both, individual and team components but you will be assessed independently. This is a practice-based Unit so you and your team will work towards producing a minimum value proposition for a solution that addresses the design requirements introduced at the beginning of the trimester.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Raise questions and develop considerations for inquiry and prepare a clear concise description of an issue that needs an engineered solution. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Apply strategic thinking and design engineering methodologies to research and develop ideas and systems to engineer improvements to existing or new solutions. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Design sustainable and environmentally friendly engineering solutions that address end-users and stakeholders' expectations, as well as industry standards. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Work as a team to evaluate and communicate the feasibility of an engineering solution and develop a value proposition from a strategic standpoint to address stakeholders' requirements and overarching global impact. | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Individual concept proposal | An illustrated case study report consisting of approximately 2,000 words (research report) and visual portfolio outputs for solution ideation, maximum 20 pages | 35% (10%, 25%) | Weeks 5 and 6 |
| Assessment 2 Team video presentation | Collaborative 6-minute video presentation and project files Individual self and peer review | 40% | Week 10 |
| Assessment 3 Individual assessment of professional practice | 1,000 word written reflective report | 25% | Week 12 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for SEM721 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.