Product Design

Exam Board: Edexcel

Year 1: Core technical principles and core designing and making principles.

• Materials and their application
• Mechanical properties of materials
• Product development and improvement
• Inclusive design
• Ergonomics and anthropometrics
• Design illustration and communication
• CAD/CAM
• Health and safety
• Protecting ideas and intellectual property
• Enterprise
• Design methods

Year 2: Specialist knowledge, technical designing and making principles

• National and international standards
• Characteristics and working properties of materials
• Papers and boards
• Polymers
• Woods
• Metals
• Composites
• Smart and modern materials
• Adhesives
• The processing and finishing of a range of materials
• Scales of production

Assessment

50% exam, 50% coursework

Requirements

General Sixth Form admission requirements and a grade 5 (a grade 6 is preferred) or above in a GCSE Design & Technology subject.

Where can it lead?

This course encourages candidates to develop a broad view of design and technology, develop a capacity to design and make products and appreciate the relationship between design, materials, manufacture and making. This is an excellent preparation for employment or further study at a Higher Education course in many design related areas such as Product Design, Furniture, jewellery, teaching, technology related careers, Industrial Design and Architecture.