Design and Technology: Product Design

The course is split into four units, two in the first year and two in the second.

AS (Year 1)
Unit 1: Portfolio of Creative Skills
In this unit, students are given the opportunity to develop their creative, technical and practical skills through a series of product investigation, design and manufacturing activities.

Students will produce one portfolio with three distinct sections which will demonstrate their creativity and flair when investigating, designing and making products.

In addition to the AS course, students will be completing an NVQ workshop qualification. This will occur within lecture time and will provide the learner with a range of practical skills.

Unit 2: Design and Technology in Practice
In this unit, students will develop a knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials and processes used in the field of design and technology.

It is important for students, as designers, to learn about materials and processes so that they can develop a greater understanding of how products can be designed and manufactured.

Students will also learn about industrial and commercial practices and the importance of quality checks and the health and safety issues that have to be considered at all times.

A2 (Year 2)
Unit 3: Designing for the Future
In this unit, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of a range of modern design and manufacturing practices and contemporary design issues. The modern designer must have a good working knowledge of the use of ICT and systems and control technology in the design and manufacture of products. They must also be aware of the important contributions of designers from the past which may provide inspiration for future design.

It is increasingly important that students develop an awareness of the impact of design and technological activities on the environment. Sustainable product design is a key feature of modern design practices.

Unit 4: Commercial Design
In this unit, students are given the opportunity to apply the skills they have acquired and developed throughout this course of study, to design and make a product of their choice that comply with the requirements of a graphic products, depending on the route they are studying.

In order to reach high attainment levels, students must adopt a commercial design approach to their work, reflecting how a professional designer might deal with a design problem and its resolution.

The choice of design problem should have a real commercial use, in that it should be useful to a wider range of users beyond an individual, unless it has been specifically commissioned as a ‘one-off’. The design problem should provide opportunities for a client or user-group to have input into decision making at various stages of the design and make process.

A client or user-group is defined as any third party identified by a student, that is referred to and who can give informed critical feedback at various stages throughout the design process. Clients and user-groups do not need to be specialists or experts; they can be drawn from any relevant group of people and may include other students, friends or family members.

A key feature of this unit is that students consider issues related to stainability and the impact their product may have on the environment. A student may choose to design and make a sustainable product, but if they do not, they should still consider the issues of sustainability at relevant points in their designing and making activities. Sustainable issues include materials production and selection, manufacturing processes, use of the product and its disposal/recycling.

Calvin Williams 01792 890700