PRODUCT DESIGN

Exam Board – AQA Art and Design (Three-Dimensional Design)

What can I expect from this subject?

Pupils that choose to study GCSE product design will be introduced to a variety of ac9vi9es that explore a range of three-dimensional products, processes and techniques. The beginning of the course is focused on skills building, so that each pupil is able to demonstrate these in each of the projects that follow. Crea9ve design briefs are set to challenge pupils to consider the user of a product. Technical drawing and 3D so^ware will be used to present ini9al design ideas. This will then lead on to developing designs by model-making, construc9on and assembly. Considera9on of aesthe9cs and func9on will be refined through prototyping, tes9ng and evalua9ng. Resources such as hand tools, laser cueer and 3D printer will be used to make final products.

The course consists of one coursework project 60% and one exam project 40%.

What can I do to prepare for this course?

1. Explore contemporary design, designers and current design themes online. 2. Follow design galleries on social media e.g. The Design Museum: London, Bauhaus Archive: Berlin, Museum of Modern Art: New York, Vitra Design Museum: Germany, Red Hot Design Museum: Singapore. 3. Take photographs of interes9ng products and design. 4. Set up a Pinterest account and use this to research contemporary design. 5. Prac9ce technical drawing such as isometric drawing.

What will my next steps be?

GCSE product design is suitable for anyone considering a future in a variety of areas of design, including anima9on, architecture, interior design, special effects for film and television, product design or engineering. Within product design and engineering, there is a wide variety of extremely interes9ng career possibili9es such as the design of medical instruments, naval architect, sports engineer, from designing specialist equipment for ac9vi9es such as diving to designing products that we use every day.