A level Design

What do I need to know or to be able to do before taking this course?

Whilst some recent experience of Design & Technology would be of benefit to students taking this course it is not essential that they have a GCSE qualification in it  in order to be able to follow it successfully.

However the students do need to enjoy the activities of designing and creating solutions to genuine problems, and as such be willing to embark on areas of research and study areas that are new to them.

What will I learn on the AS-level course?

The AS course consists of the following assessable components

1. The System Case Study. This is based on the study of a system, selected from the following areas, Industrial, Commercial, Environmental, Agricultural, Service Industries
   This involves the students in accessing information outside their own domestic experience and will certainly involve them in liaison with outside agencies.
   The submitted work will take the form of an A4 document that displays the area studied and makes proposals and recommendations leading from the understanding gained from the study itself
2. Product Study (Coursework). Here the students have to select and study a range of similar products and then suggest improvements and modifications to them. The submitted work will consist of a ‘first generation’ model.
3. Product Design (written paper) The students will be required to answer a range of questions related to materials, manufacturing processes, and current commercial & industrial practices.

What will I learn on the A2-level course?

The A2 course consists of the following assessable components

4. Designing (Coursework) This is the design work that shows the concepts, research, ideas, development and selection of the chosen solution that will form the manufactured project that is assessed as unit 5. As such it will consist of an A3 folio of material that accurately documents the evolution of the project from its selection through to its final refined plan for manufacturing.
5. Making and Evaluating This is the creation of the product, with any subsequent modifications and alterations that were found necessary to successfully complete the proposals in unit 4. An essential element in this section is the evaluation and testing that has been undertaken in order to fully prove its worth against the original proposals set out in the product specifications.
6. Product Design (A2) This is a synoptic paper and will cover areas such as product development, design thinking, and making and manufacturing.

Where might this subject take me?

This course will be of use to anyone wishing to pursue design based courses at university, including industrial design, product design, and engineering. It will also be essential for anyone considering a career in teaching Design & Technology.