Product Design AS/A2
Why study Product Design?
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Design is all around us and is an integral part of our every day life if you are interested in Design and innovation and want to develop your creativity, imagination and entrepreneurial skills this is the course for you. The delivery and variety of approaches and research techniques will help you in other subjects and your selected career choice.
What will I study?
AS Units
Module 1 F522 Sep 2009 autumn term
60% (AS) 30% (A Level)
A product study: Candidates are required to select a single existing product where they can analyse its strengths and weakness with the aim of improving the product in some way. This improvement is then modelled and tested under normal workshop conditions.
Module 2 F521Jan 2010 spring term
40% (AS) 20% (A Level)
Advanced Innovation Challenge: A theme will be set by the board in advance to enable students to research and put together a collection of useful relevant resource. The three sessions are undertaken over six hours in one day at a time set by the board.
Session 1: Candidates will respond to a series of challenges within this theme that can be attempted from different material backgrounds. Ideas are developed and modelled and the challenge includes a presentation of initial ideas to a working group with opportunities to react to feedback. The session lasts three hours.
Session 2: Undertaken over three hours on the same day as session 1 requires the product to be further developed and modelled to a final idea which can then be evaluated.
Session 3: Is an examination paper that requires candidates to reflect on the product that they have designed in response to two specific questions.
Innovation is the key in this unit as the name suggests. Students are not constrained by the physicals limitations of having to produce a working prototype. They will also be working under pressure for a set time and this reflects what happens in the real world.
Portfolio Skills: Two hours teaching per fortnight are allocated to teaching and learning essential skills that are intended to enhance all aspects of students’ designing and making. The outcomes of these activities are also a valuable portfolio resource, adding to the body of work that students can show at interviews.
A2 Units
Module 3
(30% A Level)
Design Make and Evaluate F523: Candidates select a project of their own choosing to develop to a working prototype that can be tested and evaluated. This can be in any material or combination of materials. Candidates produce a marketing presentation to sell their product to the group.
Module 4
(20% of total A level)
Product Design 2 F524: Component 1 a written paper. This paper has a common core that is covered by each of the eight focus areas: Built Environment and construction, Engineering, Food, Graphic Products, Manufacturing, Resistant Materials, Textiles, Systems and Control. One question is set for each of these focus areas and candidates choose one of these. The paper is designed to identify those candidates who can recall theoretical information.
Component 2: Eight questions are set to cover the eight focus areas above and candidates� select one question where they are required to respond to a given design situation. The paper is aimed at identifying candidates who can use their experiences and knowledge in designing and making.
What material areas will I study?
Students can focus on one or an appropriate combination of two of the eight focus areas: Built Environment and construction, Engineering, Food, Graphic Products, Manufacturing, Resistant Materials, Textiles and Systems and Control.
How will I study?
The lessons will be a mixture of teacher led activities, individual research, and design sessions. You should be able to interpret data and information given and found and suggest improvements and alternative solutions.
What do I need to start the course?
GCSE grade B or above in a Design and Technology subject is required (students will not be allowed to study Product Design without a GCSE in one of the five Design & Technology related subjects). A grade B or above in English is also required. Students should be self-motivated and have the ability to exercise initiative, imagination and resourcefulness.
