Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage the process of taking a design from concept to final realisation or production.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to individuals working in any industry context or design discipline who take responsibility for turning design concept into reality - a product or service of value to the end user. This person could be an individual designer-maker or a designer working as part of a larger design/production team.

The unit has a strong focus on planning, implementation and monitoring skills, combined with a sound knowledge of design and production issues and challenges in a given context.

In practice this unit supports and is supported by other units describing the specialist skills and knowledge required by specific design disciplines.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan realisation of the design

1.1. Collect, analyse and maintain relevant information on the design 

1.2. Discuss and agree on standards of work and monitoring requirements  with appropriate stakeholders 

1.3. Develop clear plan and schedule for design realisation, including key roles and responsibilities linked to time lines and budget

2. Implement and monitor realisation of the design

2.1. Organise and/or allocate resources  to achieve the realisation of design within required standards, timeframes and budget

2.2. Liaise with others involved in design realisation to ensure obligations and quality standards are met within time, budget and technical resources

2.3. Maintain accurate, relevant and complete documentation  in accordance with agreed standards

2.4. Monitor process to ensure integrity of design is maintained at all times, including through the process of challenging and interrogating own design work

2.5. Promptly identify difficulties or problems  that arise in relation to realisation of the design and take action to rectify the situation

3. Liaise and negotiate with stakeholders

3.1. Establish and maintain appropriate communication channels  with relevant stakeholders

3.2. Pro-actively seek and provide information to facilitate effective design realisation

3.3. Adhere to agreed terms and conditions or negotiate appropriate changes in light of changed circumstances

3.4. Negotiate and agree on revisions with relevant parties in a professional manner, to enhance quality of outcome

4. Complete design process

4.1. Finalise design outcomes in accordance with terms and conditions

4.2. Seek feedback from key stakeholders on finished design and make final adjustments as agreed

4.3. Evaluate completed design in relation to own work and overall process, to inform future practice

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication and negotiation skills to lead and participate in effective client/principal, stakeholder and project team liaison during design realisation
• creative thinking skills to generate new or adapted ideas in response to realisation challenges
• literacy skills to research and evaluate a wide range of source materials on design and to complete relevant design documentation
• numeracy skills to manage budgets
• planning and organisational skills to coordinate and lead potentially complex processes involving a range of interrelated factors and challenges
• problem-solving and decision making skills to develop and implement solutions to unpredictable problems.

Required knowledge 

• copyright, moral rights, intellectual property issues and legislation that impact on design work in the relevant industry context at a managerial level
• occupational health and safety requirements relevant to the particular work context/design discipline
• production/realisation processes as they apply to designs in a particular industry context or design discipline including materials, tools, equipment and processes
• quality assurance for design concept realisation applicable to the specific industry context/design discipline.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

• planning and implementation of design realisation so that finished product or service meets the requirements of design brief
• effective communication and negotiation skills in relation to working with others for design realisation
• knowledge of the design process in the specific industry context/design discipline.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• access to resources, tools, materials and equipment for realisation of a design in specific context
• access to a design concept that the candidate can take to realisation stage
• interaction with and involvement of others to reflect the collaborative nature of the unit and the communication and negotiation skills required.

Method of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
• evaluation of finished products or services where the candidate has managed the realisation process
• evaluation of progress reports or completion reports prepared by the candidate
• evaluation of candidate reports on the realisation process highlighting different management techniques used, challenges in the process and how these were addressed.

Guidance information for assessment 

The design process does not occur in isolation. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

• any specialised design unit.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant information on the design  may include:

• artwork
• brief
• checklists
• financial data
• models
• production data
• prototypes
• specifications
• technical data
• visual diagrams
• working drawings

Standards of work and monitoring requirements  may relate to:

• budget targets
• creative issues
• legal issues
• reporting requirements
• technical quality
• timeframes

Appropriate stakeholders  may include:

• client
• community
• others on whom the design will impact, for example technical or production personnel
• others working on the design realisation process
• supervisor/manager

Resources  may include:

• financial
• human
• physical

Documentation  to be maintained may include:

• digital records and presentations
• financial reports
• models
• photographs
• progress reports
• prototypes
• records of work
• working drawings

Difficulties or problems  may relate to:

• budgetary overruns
• conceptual issues
• legal issues
• scheduling problems
• technical quality

Communication channels  may include:

• electronic updates
• inspections
• project meetings
• telephone discussions

Unit sector 

Competency field 

Design - Design Process

Co-requisite units