Design & Technology - Product Design
Head of Department: Mrs H Kelly
Awarding Body: AQA
Entry Requirements: GCSE Grade 5 or above in a D&T course.
Course Description
This creative and thought-provoking qualification will give you the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers, especially those in the creative and engineering industries. You will learn about contemporary technologies, materials and processes, as well as established practices. This qualification places emphasis on understanding and applying iterative design processes. You will use your creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems, considering your own and others’ needs, wants and values. You will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology. You will develop your knowledge of a wide variety of materials and manufacturing processes relating to every day products.
Product Design would be complementary to Art & Design, Mathematics, Physics, Business Studies, Chemistry, Biology and contrasting to English, History, Geography and Modern Languages.
The course is assessed with 2 exam papers, which make up 50% of the final grade, and a non-examined design and make task which will account for the other 50% of the final grade.
Progression
Further study: Many students who study Design and Technology go on to study at university. This is a popular choice among students who are looking at a career in the Engineering industry. The transferrable skills, working on long projects, collaboration and perseverance are some skills which employers and universities also actively look for and appreciate.
Careers: Product Design can lead to careers in Graphic design, Architecture, Furniture Design, Software development, interior design and engineering careers.