Designed Environments
Designed Environments focuses on the fields of architecture, interior design, urban design, landscape and sustainable building design. This course gives students opportunities to explore the concept that good design has the power to transform and provide lasting solutions that improve our lives. It considers sustainability, aesthetics, human interaction, ergonomics, the ethical use of space and functionality. Students apply problem solving skills in making appropriate design solutions to create attractive and functional spaces such as playgrounds, buildings and galleries.
Designed Environments focuses on the fields of architecture, interior design, urban design, landscape and sustainable building design. This course gives students opportunities to explore the concept that good design has the power to transform and provide lasting solutions that improve our lives. It considers sustainability, aesthetics, human interaction, ergonomics, the ethical use of space and functionality. Students apply problem solving skills in making appropriate design solutions to create attractive and functional spaces such as playgrounds, buildings and galleries.
Designers apply creative and open approaches to defining and solving problems, to enable businesses and industries to overcome rigid or outdated ways of doing things. Design has applications in the creation and improvement of cities, buildings, transport networks, furniture, websites, processes, bridges, landscapes and environment. Designers are innovators who enhance the way we live and interact with the world around us.
In Designed Environments, students will apply design and systems thinking, and design processes to investigate and refine ideas. They will plan and evaluate design solutions to develop innovative design projects, services and environments. Students will learn about the design process and its application, and develop research skills, computational thinking and a range of communication skills. They will have opportunities to use design thinking and apply creativity through structured, collaborative and project based learning, solve problems, develop practical skills and apply critical thinking in the development of new ideas.
A course of study in Environmental Design forms a pathway for further study in areas such as building design, civil engineering, and architecture, interior design, set design and landscape design, concepts design and furniture design.
The Designed Environments course is written under The TECHNOLOGIES FRAMEWORK 2019: BSSS TECHNOLOGIES Framework
Achievement Standards for TECHNOLOGIES courses can be found within the Framework.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of research, skills of ideation and design, prototyping production, solution testing and communication of their understanding. Technologies promotes deep learning, creativity and innovation.
Architectural Design
Examines architecture and design theory. Students learn that architects investigate new technologies and materials, and environmental sustainability. Students engage with established methodologies for generating creative design concepts, learning strategies for idea generation and communication. Students learn the contextual elements that contribute to designed environments including ethics.
Landscape Architecture
This unit examines architecture and design theory. Students learn that architects investigate new technologies and materials to create buildings or structures and ensure that what is designed is environmentally sustainable and addresses the user(s) needs. Students engage with established methodologies for generating creative design concepts, learning strategies for idea generation and communication.
Interior Design
Interior designers shape perceptions and responses to physical space (including commercial, residential, public and temporary) through form, light, colour, texture, and sound. Good interior design enables spaces to be more efficiently, comfortably, aesthetic fulfilling, evoke an emotional response and are functional for its user(s). Students learn the principles of design, the elements they need to consider in their design solution and communication skills in presenting ideas through using appropriate terms and technology.
Town Planning and Urban Design
Town Planning and Urban design are concerned with shaping cities, towns and regions by managing the development, infrastructure and services in order to make them attractive and convenient for people who live there. Students learn that design concepts include sustainability, aesthetics, human interaction, the ethical use of space and functionality.
Independent Study
An Independent Study unit has an important place in senior secondary courses. It is a valuable pedagogical approach that empowers students to make decisions about their own learning. An Independent Study unit can be proposed by an individual student for their own independent study and negotiated with their teacher. The program of learning for an Independent Study unit must meet the unit goals and content descriptions as they appear in the course. Students must have studied at least THREE standard 1.0 units from this course. A student can only study a maximum of one Independent study unit in each course. An Independent Study unit requires the principal’s written approval. Independent study units are only available to individual students in Year 12. Principal approval is also required for a student in Year 12 to enrol concurrently in an Independent unit and the third 1.0 unit in a course of study.
Designed Environments A/T/M 
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Designed Environments A/T/M 
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The following courses are also available: