Product Design allows students to experience the design and manufacture of innovative and personalised products. You will solve real-life design problems and research and model your ideas in tasks linked to the real world of commercial design.

You will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put your learning into practice by producing products of your choice. Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.

Course content

Year 12

This year promotes creativity, teaches core knowledge and encourages a commercial design approach to your work. You are taught key communication and presentation skills, advanced drawing techniques and learn to use CAD programs, workshop tools and equipment. Various projects are undertaken that will develop these core skills, alongside theoretical knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes.

Year 13

You will undertake a substantial design, make and evaluate project.

Non-exam assessment (NEA) Design portfolio and final prototype, practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles and specialist knowledge.

Substantial design and make task 45 hours

100 marks, 50% of A Level

 

Examinations 

Exam Board: AQA

Assessment criteria

 Paper 1: Technical principles

· Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes

· 120 marks, 30% of A Level

· Mixture of short and extended response, no more than 12 marks per question

 Paper 2: Designing and Making principles

· Written exam:  1 hour and 30 minutes

· 80 marks

· 20% of A Level

 Section A:  Mixture of short answer, Product Analysis and extended response questions based on visual stimulus of products

Section B: Commercial Manufacture — mixture of short and extended response questions.

Head of Subject:  Mr D Jenkinson

Entry Requirements

5 in Design & Technology  and 5 in Maths and 5 English Lit or Lang

Are you interested in: Practical making skills, using CAD software, traditional drawing techniques, working properties of materials, the relationship between design and manufacturing?

Leading to a career in: Industrial Design, Product Design, Engineering, Carpentry, Furniture Design, Architecture, Set Design, Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Manufacture, Manufacturing, New Product Development, Technical Sales 

This subject goes well with: Art, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry

Student views

“ I enjoy Product Design as it broadens my horizons and will help me on the way to a career in Design.”