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PRODUCT DESIGN (Graphical Products)
Qualification: AS/A2
Course Content
This course offers students the chance to explore ideas of originality, design graphical based projects of value and to question and challenge. Areas of
study can explore and design from conceptual design like packaging to the built environment which focuses around architecture and interior design.
This course encompasses a wide range of disciplines but is firmly rooted in the skills required to design and make high quality products. Products and
concepts that are fit for purpose, satisfy wants and needs and are vital to our world and economy. This course will allow the pupils to experiment with
ideas and allow them to demonstrate design and look forward to future technologies.
AS - Year 1
Unit 1 Portfolio of creative skills (Internal
assessment)
Students produce one portfolio that
contains evidence of product investigation,
product design and product manufacture.
The portfolio encompasses; performance
analysis, materials and components, product
manufacture, design and development,
production planning, product manufacture
and testing. When completing this portfolio
pupils can choose two clearly defined
pathways which come through graphical
product:
1) Conceptual design incorporates a wide
range of 3D products with associated
graphics, for example:
- Packaging design
- Product/industrial design
- Point of sale display
- Vehicle design.
2) The built environment focuses on the
humankind surroundings that provide the
setting for human activity, for example:
- Architecture
- Interior design
- Exhibition design
- Theatre sets
- Garden design
Unit 2 Design and Technology in practice
graphical products (External assessment)
A 1 hour and 30 minutes examination which
will focus on mechanical, aesthetic, function
and application of materials. You will study
the process in which paper is manufactured
along with the structural composition of the
materials. There will be focus areas on smart/
modern materials as well as an insight into
some metals and useful woods that are used
to package or model products and concepts.
Industrial and commercial practice will allow
pupils to demonstrate and develop there
communication skill through drawing
techniques, CAD, prototyping and nets.
Pupils will also address quality assurance
standards as well as health and safety.
A2 - Year 2
Unit 3 designing for the future graphical
products (external assessment)
2 hour examination. This unit follows a range
of very interesting topics that focus from
sustainability to biotechnology. Pupils will
explore the arts and craft movement and
how it has impacted society. CIM will be
studied in terms of the impact it’s having to
the design process of products.
Unit 4 Commercial Design Graphical
products
In this unit, students are given the
opportunity to apply the skills they have
acquired and developed throughout this
course of study, and to design and make a
product of their choice that complies with
the requirements of a graphics project.
Entry Requirements
Graphical products or Art Graphics at GCSE is
preferable although a creative independent
and analytical thinker would be
advantageous. The graphical products
biased route of the product design course
requires knowledge of materials, processes
and related industry knowledge. A high
practical ability and prior understanding of
graphical products Is desirable for this
demanding course. You must gain a
minimum grade of a B grade at GCSE in a
design based subject such as art graphics,
graphical products or resistant materials.
How will I be assessed?
The AS year course has two exams, both sat
in the summer and both papers are worth
50%. The question styles range from
multiple choice, short and longer structured
questions covering theory and practical
skills.
The two year A Level course has three formal
exams; Modelling physics (37%), Exploring
physics (37%) and Unified physics (26%), all
of which are sat at the end of the final year.
Future opportunities?
Product Design is a popular subject for
Higher Education and through its
transferrable skills will enable you to pursue
many potential career paths. Product Design
graduates can go on to careers in teaching,
architecture, interior design, garden design,
marketing, advertising, theatre set designers
and vehicle design.
PRODUCT DESIGN (Resistant Materials)
Qualification: AS/A2
Course Content
The product design course offers students the chance to explore ideas of originality, design products of value and to question and challenge.
Product design encompasses a wide range of disciplines but is firmly rooted in the skills required to design and make high quality products that
are fit for purpose, satisfy wants and needs and are vital to our world and economy. Students are given the opportunity to demonstrate design
and look at technologies for the future. The pathway for this product design course is resistant materials biased.
AS – Year 1
Unit 1 – Portfolio of Creative Skills
(Internal assessment): Students produce
one portfolio that contains evidence of
product investigation, product design and
product manufacture. The portfolio
encompasses; performance analysis,
materials and components, product
manufacture, design and development,
production planning, product
manufacture & testing.
Unit 2 – Design & Technology in Practice
(External assessment): 1 hour 30 minute
examination. Including content on
mechanical properties, application of
materials, composites, smart materials,
forming techniques, CAD systems and
quality standards addressed in the
design process.
A2 – Year 2
Unit 3 – Designing for the Future
(External assessment): 2 hour examination.
Including content on biotechnology,
manufacturing systems, computer
integrated technology, robotics, the
effects of technological change in society,
influences of design history, minimising
waste production.
Unit 4 – Commercial Design
(Internal assessment): Students design and
manufacture a product for a client,
creating links to the industrial world and
establishing a real life scenario within the
aspects of the coursework. This is
produced as a 30 page A3 design folder
which builds on the skills learnt at AS level
and is the evidence portfolio of the end
article manufactured.
How will I be assessed?
1 The qualification consists of a four-unit
structure over the 2 years.
1 Two units are completed at AS level and
the remaining units in A2.
1 One of the units in each year is an
examination which is assessed externally.
1 The other units are conducted internally
as coursework and are weighted at 60%.
What could I do next?
Product Design is a popular subject for
Higher Education and through its
development of transferable skills will
enable you to pursue many potential
career paths. Product Design graduates
have gone onto careers in Engineering,
Teaching, Architecture, CAD, Design
Illustration and various aspects of
Industrial Design.
Entry Requirements
Resistant Materials at GCSE is preferable,
although a creative and analytical thinker
would be advantageous. The resistant
materials biased route of this product
design course requires knowledge of
materials, processes and related industry
knowledge. A high practical ability and
prior understanding of resistant materials
is desirable for this demanding course.
You must have gained a minimum grade
of a B at GCSE in a design based subject
such as Graphics, Graphical Products or
Resistant Materials.
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