A-Level Product Design

Why Product Design?

Think about the objects that you love. Your mobile phone with its delicious curves was designed on a computer screen. The car you yearn for started life as a reduced size clay model. A building that you admire sprang from the drawing board of an architect. It’s not a new phenomenon. Our fascination with 3D design goes back to flint arrow heads and earthenware pots.

What can I expect? 

The course involves working towards 2 exams covering materials, processes, enviromental issues and a knowledge of design and designing. It also involves a practical design and make test.

Assessments Paper 1: Core technical principles and core designing and making principles.

Written exam: 2 hours - 100 marks - 25% of A-levelMixture of short answer, multiple choice and extended response.

Paper 2: Specialist knowledge, technical and designing and making principles.

Written exam: 2 hours - 25% of A-levelMixture of short answer, multiple choice and extended response.

Section A: Product Analysis & Up to 6 short answer questions based on visual stimulus of product(s).

Section B: Commercial manufacture & Mixture of short and extended response questions.

Non-exam assessment (NEA)Practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles and specialist knowledge.Substantial design and make task - 45 hours - 100 marks - 50% of A-levelWritten or digital design portfolio and photographic evidence of final prototype.

What do I need? 

A Level Product design is the natural progression for those who have studied Product Design at GCSE. Although there are no specific entry requirements for Product Design 3D having a GCSE or equivalent in a Design & Technology subject or Art would be considered an advantage.

What about the future?

Architecture, Automotive Design, Engineering, Ergonomic Design, Graphic Design, Product Design and Teaching are all  possibilities.

“Design is good thinking made visual”

Saul Bass