Design & Technology: Product Design
Good design is obvious; great design is transparent
Edexcel Specification
Why study Design and Technology (Product Design)? – The world today would be a very boring place without the influence of designers. Designers influence the way we dress, the homes we live in, the food we eat, the cars we buy, the T.V we watch and the newspapers and magazines we read. As a society, we all rely on a wide range of products for survival and for making our lives comfortable, and it is the few creative and innovative people who have the biggest influence on our lives without us even realising it.
Modern designers have to consider issues of sustainability when designing new products. They need to provide solutions rather than add to the existing problems of extractions and use of natural resources. Good design is vital to our world and economy and it is important, therefore, that we enthuse designers with a passion for designing their futures.
You will study:
A Level Design & Technology (Product Design) builds on experiences at GCSE in the D&T field. It equips students with design skills for the future, recognising design needs and developing an understanding of how current global issues, including integrating technology, impacts on today’s world. The course encourages creativity and innovation. At A Level we hope that students will have the confidence to innovate and produce creative design solutions as you develop your own design brief with a client/end user.
The course is split into two main units of work. The first year covers relevant theory topics through a range of design and make projects with the addition of; Features of manufacturing industries, Designing for maintenance and the cleaner environment, Current legislation, Information handling modelling and forward planning, and finally, Further processes and techniques. The second year is focussed on an independent design and make project. This will be based around a client generated brief and therefore on a real world design need. You will be expected to research the problem, design a creative range of solutions then develop and manufacture a high quality final product that can be rigorously tested and evaluated.
Careers/ Further Education
Design and Technology acts as the perfect springboard into many careers. It enhances skills such as brainstorming, problem solving and communication with others, which are used throughout daily life. Design and Technology could lead to careers in Product Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Engineering, Architecture, Advertising, Construction, Manufacturing, Interior Design, Marketing, Quantity Surveying, Armed Forces and Sales.
By studying A-Level Design and Technology (Product Design) at Sheringham Sixth Form you will be given a foundation for further study in a wide range of design and engineering related courses at higher education or within apprenticeship schemes. Many students will pursue excellent and rewarding careers within the Design and Technology sector and will take the opportunities it brings to change and influence our day-to-day lives across the world.
For more information please contact Mr Bowen
