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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Industrial Design 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99602  Bachelor of Arts Honours in Industrial Design 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Engineering and Related Design 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Industrial Design is to prepare learners for research based Postgraduate study and entry into an Industrial Design career by enabling learners to produce creative solutions to complex problems in Industrial Design and to conduct and report on research under supervision.

The qualification will also continue the work in design for social development, design for manufacture, design for the environment, and user-centred design.

The research and development work in the qualification looks specifically at addressing issues encountered by the various communities of South Africa; the Industrial Designer's responsibility to the environment; the Industrial Designers responsibility to develop products that can be manufactured and can create employment and thereby improve the country's technology output and Industrial Designer's responsibility to place the end user at the centre of the creative process.

Rationale:
The domain of Industrial Design covers mainly the areas of product design, furniture and transportation design. The Bachelor of Arts Honours in (BA Hons) Industrial Design gives learners an opportunity to explore and meet the demands for innovation for a better living.

This qualification aligns graduates with the challenges facing South Africa's manufacturing industry; the national requirements for design thinkers and the changing student needs for greater theory and design knowledge.

The qualification also enables graduates to contribute and support the development of the Manufacturing Industry. Industrial Design learners develop their creative and technical skills by employing the current technology through a qualification supported by business studies, professional practice, consumer knowledge and ethics. Learners are introduced to the design process and get to learn studio practices through set projects.

The Industrial Design profession has gradually evolved from being a tool only used to improve aesthetic design of manufactured products to becoming a source of design thinkers who are able to identify problems and solve them. Learners will conduct research, identify problems, propose solutions and convey final ideas through sketches, computer renderings and prototypes. They are also encouraged to engage in live projects for better understanding of actual industry practice. Such experiences are vital towards a seamless transition from a learning institution to a working environment. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The Faculty accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the Faculty accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to Faculty qualifications to promote lifelong learning.

The Faculty RPL procedure is to recognise prior learning in order to provide for access into qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as basis for faculty-specific RPL practices.

Applicants requesting RPL from the department will be expected to present evidence to the department. The department will constitute an RPL Committee and review such evidence. RPL will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Levels 8 totalling 120 Credits.
  • Industrial Design Practice 4, 50 Credits.
  • Research Methodology (Semester module), 10 Credits.
  • Industrial Design Theory 4 (Research Project), 40 Credits.
  • Industrial Design Professional Practice, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Produce creative solutions to complex industrial design problems.
    2. Conduct and report research under supervision.
    3. Act ethically and professionally. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Complex problems are identified, analysed and addressed by drawing on knowledge and methods of industrial design.
  • Multiple creative solutions to complex problems are generated by using design thinking skills.
  • Appropriate design solutions are prototyped using relevant design tools and technology.
  • Design solutions are tested and the outcomes evaluated.
  • Design solutions demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues and the users' contexts and result in positive change.
  • Design solutions demonstrate knowledge of industrial design theory.
  • Creative solutions are produced both independently and as members of interdisciplinary teams.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • A research proposal is prepared for a research essay.
  • Research is informed by Industrial Design Theory.
  • Research is conducted competently using methodologies appropriate to industrial design research.
  • Research findings are presented and reported according to prescribed academic conventions.
  • Research findings offer creative insights and rigorous interpretations of industrial design problems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • A business plan is developed for a self-directed project.
  • An ability to take decisions and act ethically and professionally is demonstrated.
  • Professional standards of conduct are adhered to in an industrial design context.

    Integrated Assessment
    The Institution's Assessment Policy requires that assessment should comprise both formative and summative assessments and will be conducted on a continuous basis throughout the learning experience. All modules for the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Industrial Design will be continuously assessed. External Moderators are appointed on the basis of their qualifications and of the departments' understanding of the individual expertise in an area related to the specific module area.

    Learners receive feedback on all assessments from the assessor. The date, time and place of feedback are communicated in writing to learners as part of the assessment plan which appears in the module Learning Guide or brief. Feedback is provided by one or more of the following methods: a written assessment feedback report, marking checklist, one-on-one interview, and verbal feedback. Constructive feedback which takes the purpose of the assessment into account is provided. Learners are guided on how to avoid making similar mistakes and how to improve their performance. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Most of the international qualifications are four and sometimes five year undergraduate Degrees in Industrial Design that articulated directly into the Master's Degree. In such qualifications the fourthe and fifth yars are equivalent to the South African Honours degree .

    The United States of America has 62 universities offering such four and five year Degrees in Industrial Design.
    The Art Centre College of Design's Bachelor of Arts (BA) Product Design has in its final fourth year modules such as, Professional Preparation, Portfolio and Product Design.

    There are many similarities between this BA and the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Industrial Design such as product design projects at a Postgraduate level, professional practice preparing learners for entry to work and a thesis or dissertation project integrated into the module Product Design. The BA Honours Industrial Design does not offer elective modules.

    In Singapore the National University of Singapore offers a Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Design) (Honours). The qualification has a strong focus on research with design detailing and design platform as other modules. Learners complete the research project integrated into Industrial Design Practice. The qualification compares with our qualification in terms of its focus on research and similar modules.

    In the United Kingdom the BA Honours in Industrial Design, also sometimes named Product Design, is available at the following universities: Central Saint Martins, Teesside University, Bournemouth University, Coventry University, University of Derby, University for the Creative Arts (UCA) Rochester, Nottingham Trent University, Northumbria University, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Lincoln, De Montfort University and the London Metropolitan University among many others.

    The United Kingdom (UK) system also offers four year undergraduate Degrees in which the first year is general leaning and the research component is done in the fourth year. Loughborough University in the United Kingdom offers a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Industrial design and Technology. The qualification also prepares learners to conduct a successful research project.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares well with the above cited international qualifications. It teaches learners to be practical thinkers with the ability to develop, evaluate and present innovative design concepts, to grow into established leading researchers and academics. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers specific articulation opportunities with the following qualifications offered by University of Johannesburg. They are:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design, Level 8 (ID 91874).

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Technology: Industrial Design, Level 9 (ID 74059).

    The qualification offers systemic articulation with the following qualifications' offered by other institutions, provided the learner meets the minimum entry requirements:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Technology in Industrial Design, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of Johannesburg 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.