AQA AS/A-Level Design and Technology: Product Design

Product Information

The individual Product Design coursework (NEA) will begin in year 12, allowing students to choose an area of interest and investigate, create, test and refine the functionality of a chosen 3D product to solve a real life problem. Students are supported to become independent learners and will gain an understanding of, and simulate the work of professional designers in their project work by project managing their own coursework. This is a challenging activity including independent research visits and conducting interviews with specialists who can guide their project, as well as managing a high workload, but will reward students with confidence and life skills to take into the workplace or university in the future.

Students will explore the real world of design in its widest sense, through a range of tasks including design projects, theory lessons, Maths questions, some short practical tasks and 4 ½ hours home learning per week.

In our modern and developing Design and Technology facilities, you'll apply technical skills to test and create 3D models of products through various design approaches including hand sketching, CAD and 3D model making including laser cutting and 3D printing. demonstrating an excellent understanding of material properties to ensure excellent quality prototype(s) that are fit for purpose. There is distinct content for each of endorsed titles, covering underlying core principles of design and technology. The examined content is assessed in components 01. The content for the product development, component 02/03, is more generic but specific application will be determined by the focus of the endorsed title selected: Significant complexity or challenge is involved throughout the production of prototype(s). The student

Oneofthebestwaysistojusttakenoticeofyoursurroundings,lookatproductsaroundyouandaskyourselfthefollowingquestions: The A Level Design and Technology specification is designed to develop learners’ subject knowledge, including how a product can be developed through the stages of prototyping, realisation and commercial manufacture. Central to this non-examined assessment is the requirement for students to understand and apply processes of iterative designing in their design and technology practice: exploring needs, creating solutions and evaluating how well the needs have been met. Published 22 September 2016 | PDF | 1.1 MB 3.1 Technical principles Materials and their applicationsApply their knowledge, understanding and skills of designing and manufacturing prototypes and products to given situations and problems Both Design Engineering and Product Design courses lead to the same qualification so cannot be taken together. Product Design is compatible with most other A-level courses, depending on your chosen career path. Due to coursework workload we would not advise you to do three creative/heavy coursework subjects. The exact combination can lead to different career options and can be discussed with staff at enrolment events. Some career paths such as engineering or architecture may also require Maths or Physics A-level. Apply their technical knowledge and understanding of materials, product functionality, manufacturing processes and techniques Fromthepracticalside(thismakesup50%andthetheoryexammakesup50%).Inyear12theprojectreallydependsontheschool,someschoolstaketheapproachofminiprojectstoteachyouarangeofmachineryskillsandthingslikethat,itisunlikelyyouwillhaveoneprojectyouholdfortheentireyearinyear12. Thisisagoodwaytoincreaseyourproductknowledgeandtheknowledgeofthemanufacturingprocessesistakestocreatethesethings.