Design Principles Intro

Year Level

Year 11

Duration

94 minutes

Class Size

22 students

Lesson Title

Introduction to Design Principles

Unit

Designing for Impact (Lesson 1 of 20)

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum for Design and Technologies at Year 11 level, focusing on understanding principles that guide design decisions and visual communication, supporting students to generate informed design ideas and solutions.

Specifically, it addresses aspects of:

AC9TDE10K06: Analyse and make judgements on how characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment can be combined to create designed solutions, including aesthetic and functional considerations.
AC9TDE10P04: Develop design criteria independently including sustainability to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions (applying design principles such as balance, contrast and emphasis to assess and improve design outcomes).
General Capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Personal and social capability (collaboration), Literacy (technical vocabulary), and Ethical understanding (considering impact).

Learning Objectives (WALT)

We Are Learning To (WALT):
- Understand and explain fundamental design principles: balance, contrast, and emphasis.
- Recognise how these design principles influence visual communication and design impact.
- Analyse examples of design implementing these principles critically.
- Apply foundational design principles in a simple design activity.

Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

Define balance, contrast, and emphasis in the context of design.
Identify each principle in given visual examples.
Discuss the role of design principles in effective communication.
Create a simple design incorporating at least two of the principles.
Reflect on their own and peers’ work based on these principles.

Resources Required

Projector/screen for presentation.
Printed or digital examples of visual designs demonstrating balance, contrast, emphasis.
Drawing materials (paper, pencils, markers).
Tablets or computers with simple design software (optional).
Design Principles handout summarising definitions and guiding questions.

Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description	Differentiation	Success Criteria Addressed
0-10 min	Introduction & WALT	Engage students with the lesson outline, explain relevance of design principles in Technology and visual communication.	Clear verbal and written explanation; check understanding with Q&A.	1
10-25 min	Interactive Presentation	Teacher-led exploration of balance, contrast, and emphasis with visual examples. Use questions to prompt critical thinking: “What do you notice?” “How does this affect the message?”	Use diverse examples: simple and complex visuals. Pause for verbal summarising or note-taking, as preferred by student.	1,2,3
25-45 min	Group Discussion & Analysis	Students split into small groups (3-4). Each group analyses a set of design images provided and identifies design principles used; prepares a short explanation.	Groups organised balancing mixed abilities, encourage peer support. Provide sentence starters for EAL/learning support students.	2,3
45-60 min	Group Presentations	Groups share findings to the class. Teacher facilitates discussion to deepen understanding.	Support confidence by allowing group presentations rather than solo. Use visuals for learners needing visual aids.	2,3
60-80 min	Design Activity: Create for Impact	Individual task: Students design a simple poster or social media visual on a given topic (e.g., raise awareness on environmental sustainability), using balance, contrast and emphasis principles. Provide handout reminder.	Extension: Advanced students can experiment with digital tools/typography. Scaffold for others with templates.	4
80-90 min	Peer Feedback & Reflection	Students exchange designs and use success criteria checklist to provide constructive feedback based on design principles.	Structured peer-feedback sheets for guidance; support for shy students by pairing carefully.	5
90-94 min	Wrap-up & Homework Explanation	Recap key ideas. Set simple homework: Bring an example from media/social media that uses one or more design principles discussed.	Homework allows choice in media type, enabling diverse engagement.	1,2,3

Differentiation Strategies

For diverse learners: Provide definitions and examples in clear language; use visuals and verbal explanations. Pair students strategically for group work to support EAL and those needing additional help.
For students with disabilities: Adjustable seating, extra time, and assistive tech if needed during design activities.
For advanced learners: Encourage use of digital design software; explore additional principles such as rhythm, unity, or proportion. Invite analysis of professional design case studies discussing impact.

Assessment and Evidence of Learning

Observation of participation in group discussions and presentations.
Completion and peer review of design activity artefact demonstrating use of design principles.
Oral responses and explanations during activities.
Homework examples and rationale to connect theory to real-world observation.

Extension Ideas

Research and report on a famous designer or design project highlighting the use of these principles.
Create a short video or digital slideshow explaining each principle with examples.
Explore cultural variations in design principles, including First Nations Australian art and design approaches.

Teacher Reflection Notes

Monitor student engagement through discussion and peer feedback.
Adjust pacing for time left; more time might be given to design activity or peer feedback based on class energy.
Consider integration of technology (design software) in future lessons for deeper skill development.

This lesson plan offers a rich, scaffolded introduction to fundamental design principles tailored for Year 11 students and aligned with Western Australian Curriculum standards for Technologies. The blend of theory, collaborative inquiry, creative application, and peer assessment supports a varied and inclusive learning environment. This approach not only covers curriculum rigor but also encourages students to connect learning with impactful design outcomes.

If you need the WAC codes in full or more references to specific elaborations, please ask!

References:

This plan aligns mainly with:

AC9TDE10K06: Analyse characteristics and properties of design components to create solutions.
AC9TDE10P04: Develop and evaluate design criteria including sustainability.
General curriculum elaborations on design principles and sustainability in Year 9-10 Technologies.

All sourced from Western Australian Curriculum documents provided.

Teaching Instructions