Outline

Overview

AMME4401 Industrial and Product Design is a multidisciplinary project-based unit where students use their existing engineering knowledge and analytical skills to design and prototype a product for human use using the AMME Makerspace/Fablab facilities. Students will use elements of human centred and industrial design theory and techniques to develop skills in industrial and product design and apply these skills in a design studio setting in the context of new/improved product development.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	MECH3460 or MTRX3700 or AERO2460 or AERO3460 or BMET3921
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	AMME9401
Assumed knowledge ?	Engineering design and fundamental knowledge from previous years engineering study
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rod Fiford, rod.fiford@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Case studies	Existing product critique report Written report critiquing existing product design.	12.5%	Week 04 Due date: 31 Aug 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 14 Sep 2025	2000 word limit.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Design Journal 1 See Canvas for details - journal task, text and sketches. Physical sketches due 11am in Thursday studio session.	5%	Week 06 Due date: 11 Sep 2025 at 11:00 Closing date: 25 Sep 2025	Two entries, 2 pages each.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Major project preliminary report Written report	15%	Week 07 Due date: 19 Sep 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 03 Oct 2025	Max 2500 words not including appendices	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Case studies	Human factors report Written report related to human factors and product design.	12.5%	Week 08 Due date: 28 Sep 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 Oct 2025	2000 word limit.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Design journal 2 See Canvas for details - journal task, text and sketches. Physical sketches due 11am in Thursday studio session.	5%	Week 10 Due date: 16 Oct 2025 at 11:00 Closing date: 30 Oct 2025	Two entries, 2 pages each.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Q&A following talk and video presentation. Question and Answer session following group presentation. Any student that is not present will fail the hurdle task and unit of study.	7.5%	Week 13 Due date: 04 Nov 2025 at 10:00 Closing date: 04 Nov 2025	Up to 5 minutes.	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Video and talk Video and presentation. Video must be uploaded to Canvas by due date. All students must attend both Tuesday and Thursday classes.	10%	Week 13 Due date: 03 Nov 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 03 Nov 2025	1-2 min video, 6-8 min talk	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Prototype Virtual (CAD) & physical prototypes.	10%	Week 13 Due date: 04 Nov 2025 at 10:00 Closing date: 04 Nov 2025	N/A	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Major project - final report Written report for major design project	22.5%	Week 13 Due date: 07 Nov 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 21 Nov 2025	Max 6000 words not including appendices	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Note that Sparkplus will be used for self and peer assessment for all group work activities and individual student marks may be adjusted according to Sparkplus results.

All major project tasks are hurdle ‘must pass’ tasks and must be completed to a satisfactory standard.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per day as per University policy. Note late penalty for video & talk is 100%.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Ongoing	Student independent research & study - 4 hours per week	Individual study (52 hr)
Ongoing	Out of class group-work and collaboration	Independent study (30 hr)
Week 01	Introduction to unit. Review of engineering design cycle, problem definition, user and engineering requirements.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	Design thinking, creativity and Human Centred Design (HCD)	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Industrial & product design engineering	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Prototyping techniques	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Human factors engineering 1 (anthropometric factors)	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 06	Human factors engineering 2 (cognitive factors)	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 07	Safety in design	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	Task analysis, human & product/machine interface design	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Testing and design verification	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Materials and manufacturing considerations	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 11	Industrial and product design case studies	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 12	Major project work	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 13	Presentations	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance and participation is required for all lectorials and studio/workshop sessions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Improve a variety of communication skills (oral, verbal, written, other)
LO2. Improve project management skills through complex design projects
LO3. Work effectively with others in a professional manner, considering ethical implications of decisions and actions
LO4. Develop interdisciplinary skills through complex, inclusive team design projects
LO5. To gain high level experience of the engineering design process/cycle by developing and prototyping solutions to complex industrial/product design problems
LO6. Application and further development of engineering knowledge and skills in complex open-ended design projects.
LO7. Develop and improve problem solving, ideation and inventiveness skills through complex open ended design projects
LO8. Ability to use existing mathematical and scientific methods and tools in applied design problems

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Separate Q&A added, word counts reduced.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Use of AMME Makerspace requires adherence to all relevant WHS requirements.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

AMME4401: Industrial and Product Design Engineering

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links