Specification/Exam Board: CCEA

Course Overview

This course has been designed to allow progression from
GCSE and it encourages students to:

• Develop and sustain their own innovation, creativity and design skills.
• Develop an understanding of the influences and processes of products and their design.
• Apply knowledge, understanding and skills of design, production processes and industrial practices.
• Develop an understanding of health and safety issues within an industrial context.
• Analyse and critically evaluate products in technical, aesthetic, economic and environmental contexts.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT

AS Level – 40% of final marks
Component 1: Design and Materials and Product Design

Topics: Material Selection; Wood; Plastic; Modern Composite and Emerging Technologies; Methods of processing materials; Product analysis and improvement; Design and Communication; Design and Manufacture; Quality and Safety; Designing; Compliant composite and smart materials; Manufacturing production and quality systems; Influences on product design and intellectual property rights.

Component 2: Coursework – Product Development
The emphasis in this unit is on the analysis and
development of an existing product with a view to
redesigning either the product or an aspect of it. Students
will produce a portfolio and a three-dimensional model or
prototype, which represents the practical outcome of the product analysis and development.

A2 Level – 60% of final marks
Component 1: Product Design
Topics: Environmental Issues; Product life-cycle; Advances in technology and ICT in manufacture; From mind to market; Quality control and assurance; Design for use; Design for manufacture; Design and communication; Technological developments in society.

Component 2: Coursework – Product Design and Manufacture
Students will produce a substantial design, make and evaluate project which consists of a portfolio and a prototype. There are four parts to the assessment covering the identification of a design problem, developing the design; making the prototype; evaluating both the design and the final prototype.

PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES
An A-level in Technology & Design (Product Design) is suitable for students wishing to pursue a career within the broad field of Manufacturing, Design, Engineering and Construction. It also offers routes into further study, including higher education.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Grade C* or above in CCEA GCSE Technology & Design