Whether you have a passion for design, problem-solving or practical making, our Product Design course will enhance your creativity, knowledge and skills; you will work with wood, metal and plastic, using electronics and a range of graphical techniques, building and demonstrating your ability to find creative, pragmatic solutions to given design tasks.
Technology continues to rapidly evolve and Computer-Aided Design skills are central to the needs of many employers; students of Design Technology develop the skills to innovate while learning about the processes of manufacturing. An A Level in Product Design provides the opportunity to showcase a wide range of skills that are in demand for a huge variety of future career paths.
The AS course comprises a Product Design and Manufacture, based on a theme provided by the examining body and comprising approximately 30 A3 pages of project work, and a Terminal 90-minute Terminal paper.
Following successful completion of the AS course, the full A Level course is assessed by a major Coursework project, comprising approximately 30 to 40 A3 pages, a 150-minute Terminal paper (covering Technical Principles and accounting for 30% of the final grade), and a 90-minute Terminal Paper (covering Product analysis and commercial manufacturing perspectives and accounting for 20% of the final grade).
If you have good practical skills and an interest in product design and manufacture, particularly following successful completion of GCSE Design Technology, you will enjoy success on this course. Our studies also encompass an appreciation of design and society and historical perspectives of design styles, material and manufacturing processes; we consider manufacturing on a global scale with consideration for environmental, ethical and cultural issues. Reasonable skills within Mathematics, Science and Art are useful as you will be applying wider knowledge and understanding in these areas throughout.
The Product Design course is valued for its scope, including a wide range of practical skill development and the focus on finding pragmatic solutions to a wide variety of design considerations. Through the first year of the course, your work in materials and use of electronics and a range of graphical techniques will build your skills and understanding. In the second year, you will develop advanced design approaches and work with more complex processes, including casting, forming ply, fibre glassing and more complex electronics.
There is a wealth of degree courses and careers associated with Design Technology disciplines, including Product Design, Engineering, Automotive Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Furniture Design, Jewellery and Ceramics. Our Product Design course showcases your Design Technology acumen and leaves future doors very much wide open to ensure you can fulfil your future ambitions.
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