Expressive Arts
DT GCSE and A Level projects DT students explain how they continued designing and creating fantastic work, even through lockdown. Lydia Reid L6 CR This is a snapshot of some of the design work that I did during lockdown. It has been an unusual year for DT, as we haven’t been able to use the workshops. This has meant that over lockdown we have spent more time than normal on the design and iteration process. In the Spring Term, we did a Bluetooth speaker project, following research into the Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Op Art design movements. We spent weeks doing design exercises to generate ideas based around these areas including looking at dysfunctional design and synaesthesia music inspired abstract art. My design draws on the influences of both Op Art and 1920s Art Deco styles. All of the modelling for this project had to be done at home. Despite the limitations on this project, it was very interesting to spend more time than usual on designing and modelling. The final speaker slowly rotates on a stepper motor whilst playing music and with a light inside.
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Aashni Chavda L6 NP This slide represents the inspiration and exploration stage in a DT project. Inspiration can evolve from anything, from architecture to nature. It helps you to build links and connections with your design ideas and the real world, enabling you as a designer to enhance your project. Design revolves around experimenting and iterating. Throughout the A Level course we have had the opportunity to investigate various manufacturing techniques as well as gain new skills in the workshop. Unfortunately, Covid halted our practical lessons consequently allowing us to focus more on design principles. This encouraged us to think outside the box and explore new techniques unfamiliar to us. For our lockdown projects we made use of the resources available to us at home. I foraged through my garden shed to find neglected materials that I could use. For example, I used the remains of an underfloor heating pipe as a stand for my cloud lamp.
