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6th Form Prospectus Product Design

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PRODUCT DESIGN with the option to focus on Resistant Materials or Graphics.
(Exam Board: OCR)

The Nature of Product Design
The distinguishing feature of Product Design is its practical nature. Knowledge and understanding is not to be acquired purely for its own sake, but in order to apply it to the solution of practical problems which arise in everyday life and in industrial and commercial contexts.

Underpinning all learning are the designing and making skills that make use of knowledge and understanding in order to produce outcomes which solve a problem and satisfy a design brief.

Outline
The Product Design specification is designed to offer candidates opportunities to study, propose and realise prototype solutions to designing and making opportunities closely linked to the real world of product manufacture and graphic design.

The subject offers candidates opportunities to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the world of designing and making. Candidates are offered opportunities to demonstrate their own technological capabilities through the design and making of quality practical outcomes. Candidates should be aware of the responsibilities that designers and technologists have to mankind through an understanding of the potentials and hazards inherent in technological advance, change and decision making.

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

Students embarking on AS or A level Design Product Design are expected to have achieved at least a C grade in Design and Technology (Resistant Materials, Graphic Products or Electronic Products) GCSE. It is also important that students are genuinely interested in learning and discovering how products and artefacts are designed and manufactured.

The study of AS and A level Product Design should be of interest to those students who wish to broaden their post-16 course. Other subjects that go well with Product Design are Physics, Maths and Art; however students may wish to choose Product Design as a contrasting subject to a wide range of other choices.

Subject Content
Product Design will test the candidate?s ability to design a range of products. In order to become a successful designer, candidates should acquire knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials and processes. When combining this information with one?s own imagination, flair and ingenuity and by utilising a wide range of 2-D and 3-D graphical design processes, candidates will be able to design products which meet the required specifications. Candidates will also be shown how to develop and apply their skills, knowledge and understanding of relevant materials, processes, techniques and tools and equipment to manufacture their own ideas to as high a standard as possible.

This course is assessed by a practical coursework project in each year, theory examinations in each year and an additional design examination in the A2 year.

AS Units:	Assessment Method:	% of AS Course:
Unit 1 Case Study Research Assignment	A4 Report	30%
Unit 2 Product Design and Prototype Modeling	A3 Folder and Practical Outcome	40%
Unit 3 Materials, Components and Systems	2- hour Theory Exam	30%

A2 Units:	Assessment Method:	% of AS Course:
Unit 4 Design of Major Practical Project	A3 Folder	30%
Unit 5 Manufacture of Major Practical Project	A3 Folder and Practical Outcome	40%
Unit 6 Materials, Components and Systems	2- hour Theory and Design Exam	30%

What constitutes a Major Practical Project?
Product Design A-Level candidates are free to design and make products focussing on either Resistant Materials or Graphic Design supplies.

Students are given a free choice of task that they would like to explore. The task must be set within certain parameters, namely candidates should examine the design and development of a product that solves a tangible problem and which utilises materials and manufacturing processes relevant to the needs of a modern consumer society.

Candidates are expected to show that they have analysed and researched the problem area in depth and that they can use this data to create a varied and innovative selection of initial ideas. Aspects of the initial ideas should be developed to create 2-D and 3-D conceptual models.

Candidates will then plan in detail how they intend to construct their prototype. Using the facilities available to them, students should attempt the manufacture of their idea. The aim is for all students to produce a well made artefact which takes into consideration modern manufacturing methods, quality control and health and safety issues. Candidates must be flexible enough to adapt, change and develop their work as invariably changes will have to be made. Students will be expected to show good communication skills and be able to present an A3 design folio which displays the design and manufacturing stages.

What could I go on to do at the end of my course?
A qualification in Design and Technology (Product Design) will help candidates gain access to institutes of Higher or Further Education. Alternatively you may wish to use this qualification to help gain access to study a wide range of design based courses.

Typically, Product Design A-Level could lead to a potential career in areas such as architecture, product design, interior design and graphic design.

Further Information
Further information about this course can be obtained at www.ocr.org.uk or from Mr S W Hay at Warminster School.

Warminster School, Church Street, Warminster, BA12 8PJ Tel. +44 (0)1985-210100

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