Unit 2 – Area of Study 1: Technical drawing in context​

Outcome 1

​Create presentation drawings that incorporate relevant technical drawing conventions and effectively communicate information and ideas for a selected design field.​

Examples of learning activities

• Use building blocks that follow a very symmetrical and modular formula and create a sequence of final presentation drawings to Australian Standards. Allow the building blocks design to become more complex as the drawings develop. Start with Orthogonal and Isometric Industrial design drawings. Use the building blocks to represent a scale of 1:25, generating plans and elevations, planometric and perspective Environmental design drawings.
• 
  ​​​​Work through a process of describing form, space and void by measuring, documenting and annotating an existing structure or object within your home environment. Exchange this documentation with a fellow student. Finally, produce the presentation drawings of this unseen structure or object solely from the information passed to you.
• Measure a cubby house, garden shed or kitchen area and draw up the floor plan and elevations to scale. Investigate an appropriate scale for architectural drawings when showing single rooms; apply architectural conventions, including some dimensions; construct a planometric view using the plan and elevation views to reveal the interior layout; and draw a perspective exterior view to show the structure in context (this may be from direct observation or imagine a new environment).
• Redesign a simple hand-held and/or operated household object to be more ergonomically suited for a person with arthritis; e.g. plastic lemon juicer, secateurs or an electric toothbrush. Produce a series of freehand and instrumental paraline drawings from direct observation, and a dimensioned third -angle orthogonal drawing to scale. Render drawings to observe existing materials and explore alternative materials; show form using a range of media such as marker and colour pencils revealing the effect of light, shade and shadow.
• Convert an old shipping container into a shelter for the homeless. Using the same proportions as a shipping container, develop plans and elevations to the appropriate scale and correctly detail to Australian Standards. Then produce a planometric rendering to depict the internal space and surface textures, followed by a perspective rendering to illustrate the shelter in a setting, using relevant imagery to represent a realistic scale. Compose all final presentation drawings using digital methods to create a client presentation board. A scale model may also be appropriate in this task.

 

​​Detailed example

Precise communication with visual language

The purpose of this activity is for students to understand that technical presentation drawings are made using conventions to convey information for selected target audiences. The activity is set up with the class divided into pairs. In each pair, one student plays the role of a client or architect or industrial designer (on site) taking measurements and recording information using observational drawings in an informative but informal way. The other student plays the role of a draftsperson or illustrator whose job it is to create presentation drawings using conventions for two- and three-dimensional technical and pictorial drawing methods. Each student takes a turn in each role.

Each student acts initially as the client or designer on site, by describing form, space and void by measuring, sketching and annotation of an existing design. Suitable objects for drawing could be an interior space in their house or a large object like a bike, boat or barbecue. They make dimensioned plans, elevations or third-angle orthogonal drawings where appropriate to the design field, take photographs with their phones and create three-dimensional sketches to describe the structure or object.

Students share their drawings, photos and annotated plans, elevations and/or third-angle orthogonal sketches with their partner. In their new role, students use two- and three-dimensional drawing methods best suited to the design field to create presentation drawings to depict the object or space chosen by their partner. The teacher may recommend a group of drawing methods to be used for assessment. Students pay particular attention to choosing suitable industry-preferred scales and apply the conventions relating to the drawing method including line type and strength, correct set-out, symbols, labeling and dimensioning.

Students create final presentation drawings manually or use suitable vector based computer applications.