Design and Technology (Product Design)

Course summary

A-level Design and Technology: Product Design (3-D Design) helps students take a broad view of design and technology, develop their capacity to design and make products, and appreciate the complex relations between design, materials, manufacture, and marketing. You will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental, and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning into practice by producing products of their choice. In the coursework assignment, Year 12 students currently develop a range of technical drawing skills, experiment with modeling furniture influenced by 20th Century design movements, and gain skills in working with composite materials to manufacture a desk lamp. In Year 13 students link with real-life clients and companies, to identify a design problem on which to focus their NEA. Students develop their design brief and aim to develop an inclusive design proposal to meet the needs of clients of varying ages and abilities. Students will learn about a variety of materials and both modern and traditional production methods for a range of popular products. Students will also study famous designers and their products (e.g. James Dyson and Philippe Starck), the environmental consequences of mass production, and how to design for the elderly and disabled. Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers. Students with this A level have gone on to study a wide range of design-based subjects at university or choose to pursue apprenticeships in engineering and design. At university former Wyedean students are currently studying, for example: Product Design, Footwear Design, Interior Design, Transport Design, or Computer Aided Design. Others have graduated and gone on to become engineers, surveyors, or architects. There are many good local engineering companies in Wales and the Forest of Dean. Within the Gloucestershire and Bristol area, there are leading manufacturers in aerospace and bridge building. Last year two DT students who studied the A-level course are now on apprenticeship schemes with EDF Energy and Unilever.