Design

GCSE

Design as an intellectual subject discipline at secondary level has changed significantly over the past decade. This is mainly due to the changing nature of the world of employment, the demands of tertiary education and the consequential development of examination syllabuses. It is certainly not simply about manufacture.

Design is the process through which nearly all objects are given a specific form and function - from cars to paper clips, clothing to chairs, sunglasses to buildings. Design means so much more than simply styling or giving shape to an object. Design is only good when aesthetics, economics, internationalism, durability, function, ecology and comfort come together to harmonise with one another, making things better; for people, business, commerce and ultimately for the world. 

From September 2009 the Department of Design has chosen to offer the OCR GCSE in Product Design. The fundamental aim of this specification is to assess a student’s design capability and to reward imagination, creativity, innovation and flair. It puts the candidate at the heart of the process, initiating design solutions, developing working models and prototypes, testing and trialling. It also recognises the need to reward careful and considered use of ICT.

There are four assessed units – two internal units (coursework) and two external units (examination). The percentage split between coursework and theory is 50/50.

The basic breakdown is as follows:

Unit A551 Developing and Applying Design Skills (Internally assessed - 20 hours duration)
A series of several short design and manufacture tasks set by the Design department to challenge students on all areas of design and manufacture.

Unit A552 Designing and Making Innovation Challenge (6 hour exam split over two days)
Students work within examination conditions, over a limited time slot of 6 hours.

Unit A553 Making, Testing, Marketing Products (Internally assessed - 20 hours duration)
A manufacturing task looking at prototyping skills and the testing and evaluation of a working product

Unit A554 Designing Influences (1 hour 30 minute written exam)
Pupils must recognise the influences on design of iconic products, trends and trend setters, and of significant technological developments, from a range of eras: Victorian (1840-1900), Art Nouveau (1890–1914), Art Deco (1920s–1930s), War and Post War years (1940s-50s), the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s to the present. For each two year exam cycle there is a published list of iconic products, trends and trend setters drawn from the eras and movements specified. For example: 1960’s, Alex Issigonis, Mini Cooper; 1950’s & 60’s, Andy Warhol, Campbell’s soup painting; 1970’s, Yves St Laurent, Kaftan.

The Sixth Form

“A well designed product radiates an almost physical sense of purpose. It’s the battle of the first 35 nanoseconds – between reflex and intellectual determinism lays the battleground – that’s the domain that we must capture as designers.”Richard Seymour

Design has existed in many forms as a mainstream subject since the curriculum began. When the term the ‘3Rs’ was coined in Parliament in 1840, Hansard recorded that it stood for Reading, Wroughting and Arithmetic. Wroughting as in “I have wrought a wonderful design”. 

Designing and making is a truly creative and intellectually challenging activity. It is entirely compatible with high levels of numeracy and literacy – the design process itself draws on areas such as History, Art,Maths,Science, language and communication. Developing divergent and creative abilities is a basic function of education. One of our primary aims in the Design Department is to inspire and empower our future designers and engineers: to excite passion in our teaching so that you can develop products you love with sensitivity to an ever-changing world market and clientele. 

We welcome any pupil who has had a background through GCSE - or other recognized qualification - in any design-related discipline, and we are also willing to work with you if you have not studied the subject before but show a passion for design in any area (this is done through a self-developed portfolio and an interview with the Design Director). It should be noted that the courses are quite demanding of your time. It should also be noted that if you follow an A Level course in Product Design with us you will need a laptop for your studies.

This subject is valuable for a career in any sphere of Product or Industrial Design, Engineering, Graphics, Fashion, Theatre or Television. It is also a good supporting A Level for degree courses in any of the Pure or Applied Sciences and Architecture.

The AQA Product Design (3D) specification the Design Department offers is structured as follows:

AS

Unit 1: Materials, Components and Application. This unitis based primarily on Materials and Components. You will be expected to write detailed responses, and may be provided with photographs of products to use when answering questions. The aim is to test your ability to analyse, explain and evaluate issues relating to the use and manufacture of various products.

Unit 2: Learning Through Designing and Making.As a designer you must have a good working knowledge of the use of ICT and related systems in the design and manufacture of products. You must also be aware of the important contributions of designers from the past who may provide you with inspiration for your future designs. Thecoursework may take a number of forms: a single design-and-make project, several smaller projects and/or a creative portfolio of work. The projects will involve approximately 50 hours of work. Youwill develop your creative, technical and practical skills through a range of product investigations, and through designing and manufacturing activities.

You will be encouraged to study existing designs, including ways of improving them, in order to develop your understanding of the basic principles of design. A range of 2-D and 3-D communication skills will be developed to enable you to present your own ideas appropriately to different audiences. You will experience manufacture using a variety of materials ranging from resistant materials (woods, metals, plastics, composites, modern/smart materials) to compliant materials (textiles, papers, boards /cards, etc.) for both modelling and manufacture. 

A2

Unit 3: Design and Manufacture.This paper is based primarily on Design and Manufacture. The A2 course offers you the opportunity to further develop your knowledge and practical skills from the AS course. You will continue to study the design and manufacture of exciting products and apply an understanding of the processes and procedures of commercial manufacture. 

Unit 4: Design and Making Practice.You will develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of modern design and manufacturing practices and contemporary design issues. Then you must submit a single, holistic piece of work where the focus may include manufacture which features a selection of materials from resistant to compliant, with a modelled or fully working (commercially viable) prototype as your final outcome.