Design and Technology (Product Design)

Course summary

During the two-year course, you will study a range of materials. You will develop a technical understanding of how products function and how they are made to appropriately support the design and manufacture of your design solutions. You will learn about wider design principles and the effect of design on users and the world we live in. You will identify market needs and opportunities for new products, initiate and develop design solutions, and make and test prototypes/ products. You will develop your subject knowledge, including how a product can be developed through the stages of prototyping, realisation, and commercial manufacture. You will develop a critical mind through enquiry and problem-solving, exploration, creation, and evaluation of iterative designs. We encourage freedom in approaches towards designing and making so as not to limit the possibilities of project work or the materials and processes being used. The OCR content requires you to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge, understanding and skills. This content reflects the importance of Design and Technology as a pivotal STEM subject.\ You will gain skills that are useful in a wide range of careers, in further study of design or engineering and your personal life develop decision-making skills, including the planning and organisation of time and resources when managing a project. This allows access to a range of future career aspirations in the design and engineering industries, leading to future careers in product design, engineering, architecture, fashion and graphic design; it will develop your design and thinking skills that open up a world of possibility, providing the tools to create the future.