Design & Technology - Product Design / 3D Design

A LEVEL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY IS CURRENTLY SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE A LEVELS; PRODUCT DESIGN (EDEXCEL) AND 3D DESIGN (AQA).

ON EITHER COURSE, WHAT WILL I LEARN?

• You will have the opportunity to study, propose and choose prototype solutions to designing and making opportunities closely linked to the real world of product / system manufacture;

• You will be involved in the identification of opportunities for design and technological activity;

• You will be directly involved in the design and making of artefacts and products;

• You will consider materials technology as appropriate to the production of products; • You will use components, as appropriate, within systems - electrical, electronic, pneumatic mechanical and interfaces;

• You will study a range of both modern and traditional manufacturing methods.

• You will have an opportunity of looking at and discussing social, moral, cultural and ethical dimensions that relate to technological decisions;

• You will work within constraints that economic and ergonomic factors placed on designing and making products and systems

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

Design & Technology is a subject suited to students who are dynamic, questioning and keen to fundamentally improve the world we live in.

The challenge to be original and problemsolving, as well as a practical maker, is fundamental to design. The ability to look at the world and products, to evaluate them through design and manufacture, and to improve them through sketching and making in order to produce high quality product design is the skill of a good designer.

This course will build up these skills and is suited to those who can meet a challenge and are driven to succeed. It will prepare you for further study in the world of design and engineering through creative output.

BOTH PRODUCT DESIGN AND 3D DESIGN ARE TWO YEAR A LEVEL COURSES, BOTH HAVE NEA AS WELL AS AN EXAMINED SECTION AT THE END OF YEAR 13.

• Both courses on offer are full two year A Levels that will allow students to go on and study in many, varied fields within design, engineering and the arts.

• Both courses are similar in their outlook but would probably suit students that have a slight leaning to different aspects of Design.

• Both subjects enable students to go on and study creative and engineering design related courses at higher education. However, they each will prepare students better for different areas of future study.

• The Product Design course has a written examination as well as a piece of coursework.

The course is a more technical look at design and manufacturing and prepares students who are interested in the more technical higher education course within the design and engineering fields.

• The 3D Design course has written and practical coursework as well as a practical examination.

This course has a greater emphasis on creativity and aesthetics and would prepare students who have ambitions to go on to study Art, architecture and Design related degrees. FURTHER INFORMATION ON SPECIFICATIONS

We are using the following examination boards for the separate courses; Edexcel for Product Design and AQA for 3D Design.

Further information can be found on their respective websites.

You will be interested in the ‘made environment’ and will probably have been making and dismantling things for most of your life, as well as showing an interest in how things work on the inside.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO BEFORE TAKING PRODUCT DESIGN IN THE SIXTH FORM?

You will have gained GCSE Design Technology and Maths at grade 6 or above.

WHAT KIND OF STUDENT IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR?

You will be interested in the technical aspects of Design and Engineering. You will look to understand how and why certain materials are used for their purpose and look to use this knowledge to create your own designs.

You may be looking for a course to prepare you for the technical world of Engineering, Architecture or the creative side of Design. WHAT EXAMINATIONS WILL I HAVE TO TAKE TO GAIN MY QUALIFICATION?

UNIT 1: EXAM 50% of A Level

This is a 2 hour written paper based primarily on core technical principles and core designing and making principles. Candidates answer a mixture of short answers, multiple choice answers and extended response questions.

UNIT 2: DESIGN & MAKING PRACTICE 50% of A Level

Candidates are required to produce a coursework portfolio (approximately 45 hours), and a product which fully demonstrates their designing, making and evaluation skills, using creativity, flair and innovation, to be assessed against the Board’s assessment criteria. The coursework consists of designing, making and evaluating a product, a marketing presentation, and a review and reflection.

This unit draws upon and develops skills learnt in other units. It takes the form of a written (or electronic) design folder and a manufactured outcome. Feedback is given during compilation of the folio and practical work on style, content and skills in accordance with the Examination Board guidelines for Design and Technology, including suggestions of areas for improvement for the final submission of their project.

No marks are given; however, all feedback is based on assessment objectives and marking criteria published by the Examination Board.

You will learn how to select appropriate materials for 3-dimensional projects and experiment with texture and surface design.

WHAT TO I NEED TO KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO BEFORE TAKING?

You will have gained GCSE Design Technology and Art at grade 6 or above.

WHAT KIND OF STUDENT IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR?

You will be interested in the ‘Aesthetic and practical elements’ of both GCSE subjects and will have an interest in design history and in being a creative and explorative designer. You may be looking for a course to prepare you for the creative side of Art, Architecture and Design related degrees. WHAT EXAMINATIONS WILL I HAVE TO TAKE TO GAIN MY QUALIFICATION?

COMPONENT 1 60% of A Level

At A Level, for component 1, you will develop work for a personal investigation into an idea, issue, concept or theme supported by written material. This will count for 60% of your total A Level marks.

COMPONENT 2 40% of A Level

In component 2 you will produce personal work in response to one of eight exciting starting points which will count for 40% of your total A Level marks.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON SPECIFICATIONS

We are using AQA as our Examination Board and further information can be found on their website.