AS AS Design and Technology - Product Design

This subject may be offered at more than one Southern Consortium school site. The teaching of this subject may be at any one of the sites listed below.

The information on this webpage is a guide only. Topics, units and course content may vary from those listed below.

AS Design and Technology (Product Design - Resistant Materials) @ JRCS

This subject may be offered at more than one Southern Consortium school site. The teaching of this subject may be at any one of the sites listed below.

The information on this webpage is a guide only. Topics, units and course content may vary from those listed below.

AS/A2 Level

Exam board AQA Level 3

Outline of the course

If you enjoy designing and making things, whether they're postage stamps, furniture or models, an AS or A level in Product Design could provide you with a stimulating and enjoyable experience which will broaden your understanding of the work of designers and manufacturers. The course aims to encourage independent learning, creativity and innovation. Previous experience in Resistant Materials or other Design and Technology course is preferable though not essential. It does help if you have taken a GCSE that has involved management of a project and have a lively interest in design and a practical aptitude.

Compatible AS/A2 Levels, depending on your chosen career path, include Computing, Mathematics, Physics, Art and Design and Business Studies.

Skills you will develop include:

a. The ability to develop and sustain your own innovation,

b. Creativity design and technology capability,

c. Understanding leading to recognition of constraints and the desire to produce high quality products;

d. The skill to critically understand the influences on design and technological activity from a historical perspective and in current practice

e. The ability to apply skills of design production processes to a range of technological activities

f. You will use information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance your design and technological capability.

g. You will recognise the social, moral, spiritual and cultural values inherent in design and technological activity, and develop critical evaluation skills in technical, aesthetic, ethical, economic, environmental, social and cultural contexts;

h. You will develop as a discerning consumer able to make informed choices;

i. You will develop positive attitudes of co-operation and citizenship and work collaboratively with others

Assessment

Candidates at both AS and A Levels should be able to apply their knowledge and understanding through designing, making and good quality written communication.

Scheme of Assessment

The course has a modular structure. The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) award has three compulsory assessment units equivalent to half an A level and the continuing A2 award with another 3 modules allows students to obtain the other 50% giving them a complete A level. of the total AS marks 100 marks These include three written papers with questions based primarily on Materials and Components and an understanding of Design and Market influences. There are also coursework projects which may take a number of forms: a single design-and-make project, two smaller projects and/or a portfolio of work produced during the course which satisfies the coursework requirements. Students will investigate and work in different mediums but will have a 3D design and resistant materials focus.

Careers and further study

On successful completion of these courses, and depending on other AS/A level subjects taken, students can develop their studies through a range of Higher Education courses. These include: Architecture, 3D Product Design, Engineering and Arts Foundation and others, depending on the student's chosen specialism.

 

AS Design and Technology @ EB

The Advanced Subsidiary and the Advanced GCE in Design and Technology on offer at Eastbury Comprehensive school site is the Edexcel Product Design: Graphics with Materials Technology.

The key features are:

  • Two equally weighted units at AS – one internal and one external unit.
  • Four equally weighted units at Advanced GCE – two internal and two external units.
  • “Design and make” coursework projects at both AS and at A2.

Summary of scheme of assessment

Product Design – AS

There are two units of assessment, one unit is assessed by internal marking and external moderation and one unit is assessed by examination.

Units of assessment

Unit 1: Product Development

Unit 2: Knowledge and Understanding of Product Design

Internal assessment

External assessment

Coursework project

2-hour examination

50% AS

25% of Advanced GCE

50% AS

25% of Advanced GCE

Unit 1 is the “design and make” activity. Students select their own context, from which they must design and make a product that meets the original context/need.

This unit results in the development of an appropriate product supported by a design folder. The folder, which should include ICT generated images where appropriate, must be submitted on A3 paper only and is likely to be between 26 and 30 pages long.

This unit is internally marked using the generic coursework assessment criteria and externally moderated by Edexcel.

Centres must submit a Coursework Assessment Booklet (CAB) for each student. Each CAB should include photographic evidence of the final product. All CABs are submitted to and retained by Edexcel. Copies of the CAB can be ordered from Edexcel publications or downloaded form the Edexcel website (www.edexcel.org.uk).

Unit 2 will be assessed through an examination set and marked by Edexcel.

There will be a 2-hour examination paper.

The examination will be available in the summer of each examination series.

The paper will be a question and answer booklet.

Product Design – A2

Units of assessment

Unit 3: Further Study of product Design

Unit 4: Commercial Product Development

External assessment

Internal assessment

2-hour examination

Coursework project

25% of Advanced GCE

25% of Advanced GCE

Unit 3 will be assessed through an examination set and marked by Edexcel.

There will be a 2-hour examination paper.

The examination will be available in the summer of each examination series.

The paper will be a question and answer booklet.

Unit 4 is the “design and make” activity. Students identify a client/user group from which they must design and make a product that meets the original need. They should liaise with their client/user group in order to develop a commercial product.

Students should be familiar with a range of industrial applications and commercial working practices in order to fulfil the requirements of this unit.

This unit results in the development of an appropriate product supported by a design folder. The folder, which should include ICT generated images where appropriate, must be submitted on A3 paper only and is likely to be between 26 and 30 pages long.

This unit is internally marked using the generic coursework assessment criteria and externally moderated by Edexcel.

Centres must submit a Coursework Assessment Booklet (CAB) for each student. Each CAB should include photographic evidence of the final product. All CABs are submitted to and retained by Edexcel. Copies of the CAB can be ordered from Edexcel publications or downloaded form the Edexcel website www.edexcel.org.uk

AS Product Design @ SRS

What is Product Design?

This Design and Technology specification is based on the design and manufacture of commercial artefacts and products in either a 3D or Textiles environment.

Entry Requirements:

Students choosing this specification should have studied either:

D&T at GCSE and achieved at least a C grade

OR

Art at GCSE and achieved at least a B grade.

Key Elements:

  • Artefacts and products produced in this specification must:
  • be designed to meet either an individual clients or a commercial need
  • identify a target market
  • consider commercial manufacture
  • can be a ‘one-off prototype’, batch or mass-produced
  • be a ‘complete product’ and must be packaged

Coursework at AS Level

  • Coursework: recommended time 40 hrs
  • Design Portfolio
  • Single/double project approach
  • Topics used being relevant to the whole course e.g.. Design & Market Influences, Bauhaus, Memphis etc.
  • Three hour written exam

Future career paths:

A qualification in this subject would benefit anyone considering one of the following career paths:

  • Commercial manufacture
  • Commercial or Industrial Design
  • Architect
  • Civil, Environmental or Mechanical Engineer
  • Environmental activist