Product Design
Associate Diploma
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
This programme is currently not accepting applications for the 2023/2024 academic year.
Overview
The Associate Degree in Product Design addresses the need for Professionals in the field of Design in Macao, covering extensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills, including but not limited to technical drawing, modelling and prototyping, graphic and visual design industrial design, ergonomics, design thinking, mobility and interaction design.
Description
Year 1 – The first-year courses offer theoretical and practical framework in understanding how graphic design is used to visualize and communicate ideas, and the basic concepts of design thinking. Students also acquire practical skills like the usage of different drawing media and techniques, and digital fabrication technologies applied to design fields.
Year 2 – The second year emphasises in understanding the approaches, techniques and impact in product design. Besides, students also acquire product design skills through a series of drawings and models testing, and evaluating ergonomic designs. Students can also learn to develop visual and physical interpretations of mobility concept via the use of 3D software, computer rendering and prototyping to clearly communicate a design product to an audience.
Course Duration
2 years full-time (day/evening) programme
Teaching Medium
English
Total Number of Credits for Graduation
74
Campus
Ilha Verde Campus
Programme’s Government Approval (in Chinese and Portuguese only) (Click here)
Calendar
September to May
Weekly Schedule
Mondays to Fridays
Study plan & description of modules
Please click on any specific module to see its description.
Modules
Year 1Drawing is the fundamental language that designers in different fields use to communicate their design ideas to clients, manufacturers, builders, and others. This module uses a lecture/lab format, in which topics are presented by lecturers, then drawing assignments are completed by students. The assignments range from freehand sketching to technical drawing and orthographic projection. Students will also be introduced to the use of drafting tools and basic design drawing procedures.This module is an overview to the design field from its origins to the present day. The lectures will examine a variety of concepts and works ranging from graphics, product, fashion furniture, interiors, and architecture. These works will be positioned in a wider social, cultural, political and economical context within a historical narrative.
Together with a chronological overview of periodic styles, this module will have a thematic approach in order to address concepts and methodologies relevant to the discipline of design. This will allow a bridge between historical and theoretical knowledge and the practice of design.
This module will also take into account the relation between the object and its designer, as well as the evolving role of the designer — from industry related to activist, producer and creative leader.
This course will cover a varied range of mathematical principles and discuss how techniques of effective thinking and creativity can be taught and learned through mathematics. Such mathematical techniques allow students to create new insights, new ideas, and new solutions, as well as develop critical thinking over a wide range of problems and real-life situations that they may face both on their professional and personal lives.This module is an introduction to digital fabrication technologies applied in architecture and design fields. It will awaken and enhance students’ ability to three‐dimensionally present spatial and formal solutions, with a focus on rapid prototyping and material experimentation. Using physical models to test and explore design solutions should be any architect or designer’s primary tool, along with drawing and research. In the past, model making was mostly outsource to specialized companies with all its limitations in time, cost and interpretation. Digital fabrication technologies provide an opportunity for architects and designers to take over their digital plans and empower them to control the full process from the digital design to the physical model.This course is designed to meet the needs of design majors by providing them with an understanding of the impact of graphic design on any design elements and everything in our society. Though lectures, discussions, and project analyses, students gain a basic understanding of how graphic design is used to visualize and communicate ideas.Architecture and Design are subjects that have a strong mathematical basis, namely Geometry, Trigonometry, Topology, and the study of patterns (including their modeling and generation), among other topics. In this course, students will establish the link between mathematics and design through the understanding of theoretical mathematical principles and practical exercises and challenges, some of them using computer software and algorithms as interactive examples of generative design.
In fact, with the advent of computers and new 2D and 3D-modeling software, formal manipulation and the creation of novel forms has become increasingly important in Design and Architecture. While these tools have made complex geometry much more accessible, an understanding of the basic principles behind these geometries is often missing. A basic knowledge of these principles will not only make these tools more efficient, but it will allow artists, communicators, designers to make much more intelligent formal explorations.
Furthermore, knowledge of mathematical concepts– such as the Divine Proportion, The Golden Section, Fibonacci Numbers, Graph Theory, Fractal Theory, Probabilities, Randomness, Recursion, Hyper-dimensionality, and Geometry in general - will allow contemporary designers and communicators to understand their designs on a deeper level.
This module focuses on the concepts, theories and methods of design thinking as a process to foster creativity and innovation.
The module addresses Design Thinking as:
A way of improving the existing products or conditions
A solution based problem-solving tool
A human centered enterprise
A mean of dealing with complex social and cultural problems
A tool to address a wide range of issues, ranging from graphic design, to sustainability, at both a micro and macro level
The development of thinking skills is fundamental to learning. Students will learn how to develop higher order thinking skills, especially through an appreciation of different philosophic and logic systems and an understanding of important research results from the analysis of human thought processes. In addition, students will learn to reason ethically and morally through readings, discussion of moral dilemmas, and other suitable exercises. They will also learn principled and conceptual thinking and reasoning skills.
Topics will be discussed through case studies and students will learn and understand
important concepts of thinking through class and group discussion.
Integrated learning activities involving all skill areas help students practice and apply the fundamentals of English in a more varied setting and develop more accuracy and control of their spoken and written English. Reading activities promote vocabulary expansion and model accurate structure. Students participate in discussion forums and are introduced to presentation skills for groups and individuals. Logical thinking in both oral and written formats is guided. As well, students are introduced to the five-paragraph essay format and practice writing summative, descriptive and comparative compositions.Students will concentrate on gaining grammatical control of their communication (subject and verb agreement, modal auxiliaries, singular and plural nouns, pronouns, articles, sentence structure, statements, questions, simple and compound sentences, prepositions, gerunds and infinitives, adverbs and adjectives, punctuation, and some complex sentence patterns). At the end of the module, students should be able to write a paragraph without making major grammatical errors. Development of the five-paragraph essay format will continue and students will practice writing compositions that are opinion-based, persuasive and begin to compare literature from different sources. Development will continue in regard to presentation skills and discussion forums.This module provides practice integrating those reading skills necessary for academic success at university. These skills include reading for detail, inferring vocabulary in context, finding main ideas, critical reading, understanding sequence, summarizing, recognizing organization, and outlining. In addition, it emphasizes academic vocabulary. Students are introduced to language skills for research and are expected to apply previously taught presentation skills to give more analytical presentations. In this course students are also introduced to basic components of the research paper: abstract, data analysis and interpretation.This module teaches advanced grammar necessary for academic writing. It includes a review of basic grammar and a detailed study of noun, adjective, and adverb clauses, as well as prepositional, participial, gerund, and infinitive phrases. It will also provide written composition practice. Students will be introduced to the argumentative essay structure including the refutation of counter arguments. Students will engage in more complex discussion forums, debates and participate in organizing public presentations.Year 2This module lets students explore approaches and techniques in product design. Examples of different kinds of consumer and industrial products from different genres and parts of the world are analyzed to identify their strengths and weaknesses from different perspectives, including aesthetic, functional, structural, ergonomic, cultural and usage patterns.
Students also work through a progressively more complex series of product design assignments, helping them to develop with confidence their technical skills, methodology and thinking approach. The final major project assignment covers the entire design process, from Research & Analysis to Concepts Generation and developing the Final Product Solution.
This module introduces students to the broad range of metallic, ceramic, organic and other materials, and composites now in wide industrial use. Understanding the commonly used measures of performance of materials and the relative strength and weaknesses of different popular materials is emphasized. Processing treatments to adjust material properties, and methods and approaches to developing composite materials are also considered. Factors that influence the choice of materials, such as mechanical and chemical and other properties, costs, processing methods, are explored.This module lets students explore approaches and techniques in automobile and transportation system design, identifying strengths and weaknesses from different perspectives, including aesthetic, stylistic, cultural, technologic, ergonomic and usage patterns. This will have to be done in relation to the main phases of the "creative automotive design process".
Starting from the research & analysis phase in line with a given project brief in the field of automotive/vehicle (assignment), the students will have to generate new ideas and identify new automotive related concept opportunities mainly based on market research, project brief objectives and specifications (supplied by project sponsor).
Initially presented via "concept boards" including various medium such as diagram, text, hand sketch/renderings, mock-up, or any other necessary materials, the most promising design concept will be selected.
This last one will have to be further developed from a technological, functional and aesthetical angle using 3D CAD software (renderings, technical drawings, etc) and other explanatory materials such as text description, pictures and prototyping.
This module will act as an introduction to the graphic and interactive (digital) design fields. It will assist students with an understanding of graphic and digital products having in consideration technologies and relevant applications that are necessary for creating visually dynamic and graphic user-interfaces.
The knowledge and skills taught in this module are basic within the contexts of graphic and digital media. The module requires that students identify specific problems in cutting-edge products and encourages active participation in a variety of exercises using specific guidelines and principles.
Lectures will examine a variety of products, which will help students on future product development through best working practices. Students will also be powered with skills for the optimization of images, development of branded products and creation of graphical content for print and digital platforms.
This module introduces the basic topics of probability, descriptive and inference statistics. It covers techniques for counting and probability theory but not forgetting inferential statistics (parametric and non-parametric models).This module is designed to introduce students to the different fields of science and their social and ethical consequences. It is aimed at students who have no background in science or are non-majors in science. The goal is to give students an overview of what science is and how the different fields of science intersects with everyday life. The course will highlight and encourage discussions on current understandings and research trends in the field of science and how these affect our daily lives.
Recent developments in Science relevant to concerns about the nature of life, health and related social issues will be addressed. Through lectures, discussions, debates, research projects, field trips, film-viewing, active-learning activities and workshops, the students will explore such issues as chemistry, stem cell research, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, genetic engineering/GMOs, forensic DNA, space exploration and energy.
This course aims to explore the relationship between people and the things they engage or tasks they perform every day by establishing an iterative and applied design methodology which utilizes CAD/CAM systems for prototyping and 1:1 production.
With an undercurrent of sustainability, the course will develop a series of drawings and models testing and evaluating ergonomic designs for furniture or other physically engaging apparatus created out of flat-packable sheet material.
Starting with the collection and documentation of anthropometric data for each individual in the class, we will summarize and compare it with larger professional studies, to better understand our physical relationship with the objects and furniture around us. We will then move into individual designs, modelling with paper or cardboard and basic tools. Later we will learn how to prepare CAD files and operate a laser cutter so that models can be created with higher accuracy and thicker material. Following a number of iterations and pairing individuals to combine and re- evaluate designs, we will be creating the data for CNC milling the designs at full scale.
Students will learn and apply a variety of public presentation techniques useful for both individual presentations as well as participation in group discussions. An important aspect of the module is that it uses an active learning process whereby students learn a new skill and put it into practice. By the end of the module students are expected to possess a number of public speaking strategies that will help them to prepare any range of public presentations, including proposals, as well as have the opportunity to participate in seminar organization and implementation.The primary aim of this module is to assist students in preparing themselves for the type of writing required for themes, essay examinations, term papers, and lengthy reports. The principles of rhetorical organization and development are thoroughly presented within the context of each student's language and cultural background. Students will engage in problem solving and idea development through the combination of independent investigation, and consultation with peers.Students will practice the process, purposes, and strategies of persuasive and explanatory writing. Students read and discuss works by both professional and student writers and explore techniques of argument and persuasion in writing a series of 5-6 essays. The module stresses revision, relies on frequent workshops of student writing, and aims finally to sharpen the students’ ability to use evidence in a reasonable, convincing way.This is an advanced interdisciplinary writing course module emphasizing critical reading and thinking, argumentative writing, library research, and documentation of sources in an academic setting. Practice and study of selected rhetorics of inquiry (for example, historical, cultural, empirical, and ethnographic) employed in academic disciplines, preparing students for different systems of writing in their academic lives. Throughout this course, students will: significantly improve their academic writing; develop an understanding of how members of a particular discipline conceive of and engage in the rhetorical practices of that discipline; demonstrate understanding of the key conversations, the forms, and the conventions of writing in a particular discipline; gain experience in the construction of knowledge within a discipline and practice using its discourse; read critically and analyze rhetorically writings from a particular discipline and use those lenses to frame their own discourses; write in the different forms and styles of a particular discipline; and develop techniques for conducting research on the Internet and with other electronic databases.
Together with a chronological overview of periodic styles, this module will have a thematic approach in order to address concepts and methodologies relevant to the discipline of design. This will allow a bridge between historical and theoretical knowledge and the practice of design.
This module will also take into account the relation between the object and its designer, as well as the evolving role of the designer — from industry related to activist, producer and creative leader.
In fact, with the advent of computers and new 2D and 3D-modeling software, formal manipulation and the creation of novel forms has become increasingly important in Design and Architecture. While these tools have made complex geometry much more accessible, an understanding of the basic principles behind these geometries is often missing. A basic knowledge of these principles will not only make these tools more efficient, but it will allow artists, communicators, designers to make much more intelligent formal explorations.
Furthermore, knowledge of mathematical concepts– such as the Divine Proportion, The Golden Section, Fibonacci Numbers, Graph Theory, Fractal Theory, Probabilities, Randomness, Recursion, Hyper-dimensionality, and Geometry in general - will allow contemporary designers and communicators to understand their designs on a deeper level.
The module addresses Design Thinking as:
A way of improving the existing products or conditions
A solution based problem-solving tool
A human centered enterprise
A mean of dealing with complex social and cultural problems
A tool to address a wide range of issues, ranging from graphic design, to sustainability, at both a micro and macro level
Topics will be discussed through case studies and students will learn and understand
important concepts of thinking through class and group discussion.
This module lets students explore approaches and techniques in product design. Examples of different kinds of consumer and industrial products from different genres and parts of the world are analyzed to identify their strengths and weaknesses from different perspectives, including aesthetic, functional, structural, ergonomic, cultural and usage patterns.
Students also work through a progressively more complex series of product design assignments, helping them to develop with confidence their technical skills, methodology and thinking approach. The final major project assignment covers the entire design process, from Research & Analysis to Concepts Generation and developing the Final Product Solution.
Students also work through a progressively more complex series of product design assignments, helping them to develop with confidence their technical skills, methodology and thinking approach. The final major project assignment covers the entire design process, from Research & Analysis to Concepts Generation and developing the Final Product Solution.
This module introduces students to the broad range of metallic, ceramic, organic and other materials, and composites now in wide industrial use. Understanding the commonly used measures of performance of materials and the relative strength and weaknesses of different popular materials is emphasized. Processing treatments to adjust material properties, and methods and approaches to developing composite materials are also considered. Factors that influence the choice of materials, such as mechanical and chemical and other properties, costs, processing methods, are explored.
This module lets students explore approaches and techniques in automobile and transportation system design, identifying strengths and weaknesses from different perspectives, including aesthetic, stylistic, cultural, technologic, ergonomic and usage patterns. This will have to be done in relation to the main phases of the "creative automotive design process".
Starting from the research & analysis phase in line with a given project brief in the field of automotive/vehicle (assignment), the students will have to generate new ideas and identify new automotive related concept opportunities mainly based on market research, project brief objectives and specifications (supplied by project sponsor).
Initially presented via "concept boards" including various medium such as diagram, text, hand sketch/renderings, mock-up, or any other necessary materials, the most promising design concept will be selected.
This last one will have to be further developed from a technological, functional and aesthetical angle using 3D CAD software (renderings, technical drawings, etc) and other explanatory materials such as text description, pictures and prototyping.
Starting from the research & analysis phase in line with a given project brief in the field of automotive/vehicle (assignment), the students will have to generate new ideas and identify new automotive related concept opportunities mainly based on market research, project brief objectives and specifications (supplied by project sponsor).
Initially presented via "concept boards" including various medium such as diagram, text, hand sketch/renderings, mock-up, or any other necessary materials, the most promising design concept will be selected.
This last one will have to be further developed from a technological, functional and aesthetical angle using 3D CAD software (renderings, technical drawings, etc) and other explanatory materials such as text description, pictures and prototyping.
This module will act as an introduction to the graphic and interactive (digital) design fields. It will assist students with an understanding of graphic and digital products having in consideration technologies and relevant applications that are necessary for creating visually dynamic and graphic user-interfaces.
The knowledge and skills taught in this module are basic within the contexts of graphic and digital media. The module requires that students identify specific problems in cutting-edge products and encourages active participation in a variety of exercises using specific guidelines and principles.
Lectures will examine a variety of products, which will help students on future product development through best working practices. Students will also be powered with skills for the optimization of images, development of branded products and creation of graphical content for print and digital platforms.
The knowledge and skills taught in this module are basic within the contexts of graphic and digital media. The module requires that students identify specific problems in cutting-edge products and encourages active participation in a variety of exercises using specific guidelines and principles.
Lectures will examine a variety of products, which will help students on future product development through best working practices. Students will also be powered with skills for the optimization of images, development of branded products and creation of graphical content for print and digital platforms.
This module introduces the basic topics of probability, descriptive and inference statistics. It covers techniques for counting and probability theory but not forgetting inferential statistics (parametric and non-parametric models).
This module is designed to introduce students to the different fields of science and their social and ethical consequences. It is aimed at students who have no background in science or are non-majors in science. The goal is to give students an overview of what science is and how the different fields of science intersects with everyday life. The course will highlight and encourage discussions on current understandings and research trends in the field of science and how these affect our daily lives.
Recent developments in Science relevant to concerns about the nature of life, health and related social issues will be addressed. Through lectures, discussions, debates, research projects, field trips, film-viewing, active-learning activities and workshops, the students will explore such issues as chemistry, stem cell research, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, genetic engineering/GMOs, forensic DNA, space exploration and energy.
Recent developments in Science relevant to concerns about the nature of life, health and related social issues will be addressed. Through lectures, discussions, debates, research projects, field trips, film-viewing, active-learning activities and workshops, the students will explore such issues as chemistry, stem cell research, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, genetic engineering/GMOs, forensic DNA, space exploration and energy.
This course aims to explore the relationship between people and the things they engage or tasks they perform every day by establishing an iterative and applied design methodology which utilizes CAD/CAM systems for prototyping and 1:1 production.
With an undercurrent of sustainability, the course will develop a series of drawings and models testing and evaluating ergonomic designs for furniture or other physically engaging apparatus created out of flat-packable sheet material.
Starting with the collection and documentation of anthropometric data for each individual in the class, we will summarize and compare it with larger professional studies, to better understand our physical relationship with the objects and furniture around us. We will then move into individual designs, modelling with paper or cardboard and basic tools. Later we will learn how to prepare CAD files and operate a laser cutter so that models can be created with higher accuracy and thicker material. Following a number of iterations and pairing individuals to combine and re- evaluate designs, we will be creating the data for CNC milling the designs at full scale.
With an undercurrent of sustainability, the course will develop a series of drawings and models testing and evaluating ergonomic designs for furniture or other physically engaging apparatus created out of flat-packable sheet material.
Starting with the collection and documentation of anthropometric data for each individual in the class, we will summarize and compare it with larger professional studies, to better understand our physical relationship with the objects and furniture around us. We will then move into individual designs, modelling with paper or cardboard and basic tools. Later we will learn how to prepare CAD files and operate a laser cutter so that models can be created with higher accuracy and thicker material. Following a number of iterations and pairing individuals to combine and re- evaluate designs, we will be creating the data for CNC milling the designs at full scale.
Students will learn and apply a variety of public presentation techniques useful for both individual presentations as well as participation in group discussions. An important aspect of the module is that it uses an active learning process whereby students learn a new skill and put it into practice. By the end of the module students are expected to possess a number of public speaking strategies that will help them to prepare any range of public presentations, including proposals, as well as have the opportunity to participate in seminar organization and implementation.
The primary aim of this module is to assist students in preparing themselves for the type of writing required for themes, essay examinations, term papers, and lengthy reports. The principles of rhetorical organization and development are thoroughly presented within the context of each student's language and cultural background. Students will engage in problem solving and idea development through the combination of independent investigation, and consultation with peers.
Students will practice the process, purposes, and strategies of persuasive and explanatory writing. Students read and discuss works by both professional and student writers and explore techniques of argument and persuasion in writing a series of 5-6 essays. The module stresses revision, relies on frequent workshops of student writing, and aims finally to sharpen the students’ ability to use evidence in a reasonable, convincing way.
This is an advanced interdisciplinary writing course module emphasizing critical reading and thinking, argumentative writing, library research, and documentation of sources in an academic setting. Practice and study of selected rhetorics of inquiry (for example, historical, cultural, empirical, and ethnographic) employed in academic disciplines, preparing students for different systems of writing in their academic lives. Throughout this course, students will: significantly improve their academic writing; develop an understanding of how members of a particular discipline conceive of and engage in the rhetorical practices of that discipline; demonstrate understanding of the key conversations, the forms, and the conventions of writing in a particular discipline; gain experience in the construction of knowledge within a discipline and practice using its discourse; read critically and analyze rhetorically writings from a particular discipline and use those lenses to frame their own discourses; write in the different forms and styles of a particular discipline; and develop techniques for conducting research on the Internet and with other electronic databases.
Last Updated: April 25, 2023 at 7:07 pm
