10 Design & Visual Communication
10DVC Course DescriptionTeacher in Charge: Lyndon Sheehan.
PrerequisitesOpen Entry
Year 10 Design & Visual Communication
Step up your design game and take your creative ideas further! This course builds on your design skills through two exciting, hands-on projects that combine imagination with real-world making.
You’ll begin with Product Design, where your challenge is to create a unique toy vehicle. Starting with research and brainstorming, you’ll develop and refine your ideas through sketching, model-making, and precision technical drawing. Using CAD software, you’ll digitally model your design before producing it as a high-quality 3D-printed prototype—a custom creation you can proudly display.
In the second project, you’ll move into Spatial Design, imagining and designing your very own dream modern house. You’ll explore architectural drawing techniques, experiment with proportion and layout, and master visual communication skills to present your ideas with impact. Your vision will be transformed into a detailed 3D CAD model, then produced through laser cutting to create an accurate and professional architectural model.
By the end of the year, you’ll have strengthened your skills in design thinking, visual communication, technical drawing, CAD modelling, and digital fabrication. These are core skills used in architecture, product design, engineering, and other creative industries—and they’ll set you up perfectly for senior Design & Visual Communication courses right through to Year 13.
Course Overview
Term 1
Year 10 Design & Visual Communication – Skills Breakdown
Project 1 – Product Design: Toy Vehicle (3D Printed)
Focus: Creating a functional and visually appealing product using modern manufacturing.
Skills Learned:
• Understanding and applying the design process from research to final product.
• Concept sketching to quickly generate creative ideas.
• Technical drawing for accurate, scaled designs ready for manufacture.
• 3D CAD modelling to produce a detailed, production-ready design.
• Preparing and optimising files for 3D printing.
• Knowledge of materials (plastics and finishes) for durability and appearance.
• Prototype testing for function and performance.
• Refining and improving the design based on feedback.
Term 2
Project 2 – Spatial Design: Dream Modern House (Laser Cut)
Focus: Designing an architectural model with precision and professional presentation.
Skills Learned:
• Architectural drawing – plans, elevations, and perspective views.
• Visual communication – presenting design ideas clearly and creatively.
• Scale drawing for accurate proportion and measurement.
• CAD for architecture – creating detailed building models.
• Preparing and setting up files for laser cutting.
• Model assembly – constructing accurate architectural models.
• Spatial awareness – designing functional and well-laid-out spaces.
• Applying design aesthetics – style, materials, and textures.
Term 3
Year 10 Design & Visual Communication – Skills Breakdown
Project 1 – Product Design: Toy Vehicle (3D Printed)
Focus: Creating a functional and visually appealing product using modern manufacturing.
Skills Learned:
• Understanding and applying the design process from research to final product.
• Concept sketching to quickly generate creative ideas.
• Technical drawing for accurate, scaled designs ready for manufacture.
• 3D CAD modelling to produce a detailed, production-ready design.
• Preparing and optimising files for 3D printing.
• Knowledge of materials (plastics and finishes) for durability and appearance.
• Prototype testing for function and performance.
• Refining and improving the design based on feedback.
Term 4
Project 2 – Spatial Design: Dream Modern House (Laser Cut)
Focus: Designing an architectural model with precision and professional presentation.
Skills Learned:
• Architectural drawing – plans, elevations, and perspective views.
• Visual communication – presenting design ideas clearly and creatively.
• Scale drawing for accurate proportion and measurement.
• CAD for architecture – creating detailed building models.
• Preparing and setting up files for laser cutting.
• Model assembly – constructing accurate architectural models.
• Spatial awareness – designing functional and well-laid-out spaces.
• Applying design aesthetics – style, materials, and textures.
Pathway
11 Design & Visual Communication
Advertising, Animation, Architecture, Building/Construction, Boatbuilding & design, Cabinet Maker, Carpenter, Clothing & Textiles, Computer Aided Design, Designer, Draughting, Engineering (degree or technical) Environmental Study, Graphic Design, Fabrication Engineer, Illustration, Industrial Designer, Interior Designer, Landscape Architecture, Marine Engineer, Marketing, Multi Media, Packaging, Product designer, Quantity Surveyor, Sign maker, Surveying, Teaching, Technologist.
Contributions and Equipment/StationeryMaterials fee: $20