Design and Technology (Product Design)

Course summary

Choose this subject if you enjoy designing and making products. There are a good number of practical lessons. You will have a strong interest in design or engineering, and likely consider this a stepping stone to either a design or engineering-related degree course or an apprenticeship in a practical area. The course will provide the opportunity to design a make a prototype product of your own choice. This course helps you take a broad view of design and technology develops your capacity to design and make products and appreciate the complex relations between design, materials, manufacture, and marketing. There is a great emphasis on understanding and applying iterative design processes. Students will use their creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants, and values You get the chance to design and make products in a variety of practical activities, using a range of materials and techniques. Materials can include plastics, wood, metals, cards, and smart and modern materials and you also get to use current Computer-aided manufacturing methods like laser cutting and 3d printing in addition to workshop tools. Globalization, discoveries, and technological breakthroughs have allowed the creation of products with high levels of creativity, functionality, and sustainability. This course aims to aid the development of a skill set that would facilitate abilities to design extremely innovative products to meet the needs of clients and consumers that are commercially viable and take into account demands such as moral, cultural, environmental, and product maintenance issues. With a good pass in A level Product Design you can progress to university where you could study a wide range of degree courses or progress in a more vocational route into a wide range of careers including (but not limited to): Exhibition Designer, DT Teacher, Automotive Designer, Advertising Accountant, Marketing Executive, Automotive Engineer, Purchasing Manager, Buyer, Car Designer, Product Designer, Industrial Designer, Sales Executive, Architect, Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electronics Engineer, Animator, Ceramics Designer, Fashion Designer, Furniture Conservator/Restorer, Furniture Designer, Glass Blower/Designer, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Interior Designer, Jewellery Designer, Make-up Artist, Medical Illustrator, Museum/Gallery Conservator, Photographer, Printmaker, Production Designer, Theatre/Television/Film, Textile Designer, Cost Engineer, Web Designer, Computer Aided Designer, Product Design Engineer, CAD Developer, Interactive Media Designer, Kitchen Designer, Aerospace Engineer, Agricultural Engineer, Component Engineer, Drafting Technician, Computer Software Engineer, Construction Engineer, Health and Safety Engineer, Materials Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Packaging designer, Quality Assurance Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, Research and Development Engineer, R&D Engineer, User Interface Designer, CNC turner, Automotive technician, Aerodynamics Concept Designer, Workshop Fabricator, Vehicle Technician, Shoe Designer.