Ryton Parents – Year 9 Options – Product Design

This course involves designing and working with a range of materials to produce a three-dimensional product.

Students should be able to demonstrate their design and technology capability through acquiring and applying knowledge, skills and understanding: of materials, components, processes, techniques and industrial practice, when designing and making quality products in quantity, when evaluating processes and products and examining the wider effects of design and technology on society, the use of CAD/CAM will be an integral part of all the Design and Technology courses offered.

Design and technology product design is about building upon practical skills acquired in key stage 3 and pushing student’s creative skills to design, develop and innovate new products. This is realised through several ‘design and make’ projects in year 10 such as developing your own mobile phone design, an electronic alarm project and a reusability challenge! Students are shortly due to take part in a skalextric design competition teaching the value of computer aided design in providing working design prototypes.

In year 11, the briefs are much more open, allowing students to explore different ideas to develop key skills and knowledge such as:

· Working with resistant materials (wood, plastic, metals)

· Creative thinking skills and developing innovative ideas to meet consumers needs

· Using computers in the design and manufacture of new products and prototypes

· Examining the implications of design on society (sustainable, cultural, ethical)

· Appreciation of the wider world of design and creative disciplines through examination and analysis of existing design icons

Product design goes beyond traditional woodwork classes, aiming to develop key skills in an engaging and inspiring way which can be of benefit in any walk of life.

Future career opportunities can range from product, furniture, graphic or interior designer, craft and one off manufacturing and model making. The skills learnt would also be of significant benefit to career paths in architecture, construction and engineering.

Assessment Objectives

Candidates should be able to demonstrate their design and technology capability through acquiring and applying knowledge, skills and understanding: of materials, components, processes, techniques and industrial practice, when designing and making quality products in quantity, when evaluating processes and products and examining the wider effects of design and technology on society, the use of CAD/CAM will be an integral part of all the Design and Technology courses offered.

Assessment

The scheme of assessment consists of two components:

External Examination (40%) Written

Coursework (60%) Design folio and manufactured product

The written paper will be set at two tiers of assessment. Separate papers will be provided for both tiers. Students will be entered for one tier only.

Tier Grades Available Length of examination

Higher A* - D 2 hours

Foundation C - G 2 hours

Coursework

Coursework assessment will consist of two elements, Designing and Making which will be carried out under ‘controlled’ conditions as set out by the exam board. The project for the GCSE course will represent about 40 hours of supervised time.

Contact: Mr W. Appleby, Mr S. Thompson or Mrs. L. Hender