Design and Technology (Product Design)

Course summary

This course is for students who want to continue studying design and technology after GCSE. It will suit you if you enjoy combining theory with practical work and want to use your maths and science skills. Having an interest in drawing, model making or design history would be an advantage. You might be choosing this A level to aim for a career in product design, though it will give you transferable skills such as creativity, problem solving, analytical thinking and IT skills that can be used in a variety of careers. There are three main areas to this course, the non exam assessment coursework project (in which students are encouraged to be as creative as possible before making their idea as a finished working product), Paper 1 which is a 2 hour examination (core technical, designing and making principles) and Paper 2 which is a 2 hour examination (specialist knowledge, technical, design and making principles linked to product analysis and manufacturing). Graphic techniques are an integral part of Product Design to enable students to clearly communicate ideas. The course will be a combination of classroom-based theory and workshop based practical application. You'll have the opportunity to use industry standard software and many contemporary manufacturing methods including CAD/CAM. There will be visits to design related organisations and events and careers talks from industry professionals.