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.
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.
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.
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.
Architecture, Automotive Design, Engineering, Ergonomic Design, Graphic Design, Product Design and Teaching are all possibilities.“Design is good thinking made visual” - Saul Bass