Design in Context

Recycled Denim Container Challenge

Students are given the brief to make a ‘container’ using recycled denim jeans. The brief is broad and allows for a range of possibilities in terms of what can be ‘contained’ – a pot plant, pencils and pens, cash, laundry, library books…..

Year 10 Elective

The challenge relates to the Materials and technologies specialisations and would allow Yr 10 students to have an “opportunity to design and produce (a) designed solution…” (ACARA, 2015). It allows for assessment across both strands, knowledge and understanding and process and production skills.

The relevant element of knowledge and understanding is, “Investigate and make judgements on how the characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment can be combined to make designed solutions” (ACTDEK046, ACARA, 2015). An elaboration of this element requires students to justify their decision-making when choosing, for example, from a range of materials, systems and equipment. The element of relevance in the processes and production skills strand is, “Develop and communicate design ideas by applying design thinking, creativity, innovation and enterprise skills of increasing sophistication” (ACTDEP049, ACARA, 2015). This element is elaborated by the expectation that students use a range of techniques to create a functional solution. Also enabled in both these elements are some of the general capabilities, for instance, ethical considerations, literacy and critical and creative thinking. 

This challenge meets the requirements noted above in an integrated fashion and can thus be justified as ‘design’ as students will combine a number of elements to create an artefact that solves a problem – how to create a container using recycled denim jeans.

In order to  undertake this challenge students need to reflect on the limitations and possibilities presented in the use of recycled denim jeans (characteristics and properties of materials), how they must progress through each stage of the brief (systems) and the safe use of scissors, pins, sewing machines, overlockers and irons (tools and equipment). Completion of this challenge will enable students to follow the design process which will require creative thinking, the justification and reflection of design ideas (drawn and annotated in a journal – literacy and critical thinking) and choosing the best method to produce the finished product. Further, they will need to design and modify ideas to ensure the ‘container’ is functional according to its end use.

Using recycled materials presupposes a consideration of the ethics of the fashion industry and its propensity to cause damage to the environment due to the use of dyes and wasteful practices (especially at end of use stage) as well as social concerns, for example the use of ‘sweatshop’ labour. Discussions around these issues will extend students understanding of such practices. Finally, an evaluation of the process, including the finished product, gives a further opportunity to develop critical thinking with the potential of further developing initial ideas based on that reflection.

Reference List

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). (2015) Design and Technologies: Sequence of content F-10. https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/technologies/design-and-technologies/  Accessed 10/8/2018