Product Design

Course summary

This new creative and thought-provoking qualification will give students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers, especially those in creative industries. Students will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning in to practice by designing, manufacturing and evaluating products of their choice. Students will develop their intellectual curiosity about design and manufacture of products and systems, and their impact on daily life and the wider world. Students will gain a real insight into the creative, engineering and/or manufacturing industries. The course will appeal to students who have an enquiring mind. The course encourages innovation, takes account of the varied interests of the student and enables students to learn about design in a design-make-test-evaluate context. The course has clear links with maths and science. COURSE OUTLINE There are three main areas to this course, the non-exam assessment coursework project (in which students are encouraged to be as creative as possible before making their idea as a finished working product), Paper 1 which is a 2 hour 30 minutes examination (core technical, designing and making principles) and Paper 2 which is a 1 hour and 30 minutes examination (specialist knowledge, technical, design and making principles linked to product analysis and manufacturing). Graphic techniques are an integral part of Product Design to enable students to clearly communicate ideas. OPPORTUNITIES AFTER THE COURSE Product Design can be combined with other favourite subjects to create a wide range of possible career paths. For example combining with maths or physics creates opportunities for architecture, civil, aeronautical and mechanical engineering. Product Design with business studies would make a strong application to marketing or advertising courses. Product Design with art lends itself to foundation studies, theatre and fashion design.