Designers apply creative and open approaches to defining and solving problems, leading to high-quality decisions. This enables businesses and industries to overcome rigid or outdated ways of doing things.

Design has applications in the creation and improvement of our 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.

Be in demand

With job markets evolving constantly, gaining skills that transfer across industries is really important. The ability to apply design thinking is now recognised as a specific and desirable skill. As technology drives more and more aspects of our lives, designers are playing an important role expanding the potential of the Internet of Things, such as smart homes, smart cities and intelligent transportation. If you are imaginative, enjoy learning about new fields, and want to play a role in improving the way we live and the places we live in, Design could be a good fit for you.

Mechanical systems

Mechanical systems involves understanding the operation and control of machines. A machine is practically anything with moving parts. Mechanical Systems students will learn to develop and design new products (in wide-ranging areas from transportation such as cars, aircraft and ships through to everyday devices such as air-conditioners, dishwashers, etc) and the machines to make them (robots, machine tools). They will also learn how to design, plan and manage the systems, people and technical facilities needed to produce goods and services for industry and domestic use. Students will also learn about the generation and harnessing of energy (gas turbines, wave power), transport in all its forms (automobiles, spacecraft) and protecting the environment (solar heating, wind turbines).

Mechanical Systems interacts with all other branches of engineering, and is increasingly involved with other fields of study such as medicine and biology. Students will integrate fundamental science in mechanics with engineering principles, and will learn to solve practical problems involving mechanical systems. Basic principles will be learnt through lectures, interactive small-classes, demonstrations, practical laboratory classes and challenging assignments. A design-based approach to solving problems will be applied to build solutions on the base of the fundamental knowledge acquired through the degree.

The Mechanical Systems Major opens pathways for students, including accredited professional or scientific research careers in mechanical and mechatronics engineering (through further study in the Masters in Engineering or PhD programs), teaching, project management, and in the finance industry.

Study design if you are interested in working in:

• Architecture and landscape architecture
• Graphic design
• Construction and civil engineering
• Geospatial technology
• Property
• Software design, including games
• Town planning
• User experience
• Virtual reality and augmented reality
• Performance design
• Design for mechanics and robotics.