Product Design

QUALIFICATION
Advanced Level
Exam Board: AQA
REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Entry Requirements: GCSE Product Design Grade 5 or above
or another similar Design Technology based subject and a Grade 5 in
Maths

Why study Product Design?

This is a creative and thought provoking qualification, which gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers.

Students investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design technology whilst also developing their practical skills through design and making.

This is a linear course with examinations and practical pieces completed in Year 13.

What skills are required?

A real interest and enthusiasm for Product Design (Resistant Materials at GCSE)
Drawing ability
A keen interest in developing modelling and making skills.

Course Content

Students have lessons which are divided into theory knowledge: Technical Principles and Designing & Making Principles.

There is also coursework (NEA), which is 50% of the overall qualification.

Throughout the course students study key design styles and movements, including Art Deco, Bauhaus and Post Modernism, together with key influential designers such as Phillipe Starck, James Dyson, Margaret Calvert, Dieter Rams and Charles & Ray Eames.

The NEA (Non Examined Assessment)
In Year 12 students will do the NEA project which is to design and make a product to a given brief.

In Year 13 the choice of topic for the NEA project is the student’s own choice. This opens up a wealth of possibilities for students and allows them to become totally immersed in solving a design problem and the production of a 3D solution for a client of their own choosing.

How will it be assessed?

Theory: Paper 1

Technical Principals
Written exam: 2 hours
100 Marks
25% of A Level
Questions are a mixture of short, multiple choice and extended response.

Theory: Paper 2

Designing and Making Principles
Written exam: 2 hours
25% of A Level
Questions are a mixture of short, multiple choice and extended response.

NEA

Design & make project to students own design brief.
50% of A Level

Progression

Product Design leads to a range of exciting and versatile careers and prepares students for the specialist areas of:

Product Design: Three Dimensional Design, Furniture, Industrial Design and Interior Design.

Engineering: For this route a combination of Maths and Physics might be required.

Students can go on to University to study Product Design, Industrial Design or Three Dimensional Design.

Product Design leads to a range of versatile careers such as Product Designer, Architect or Engineer.

Staff Contacts
liz.bell@oldburywells.com
john.winwood@oldburywells.com