From SEPTEMBER 2015:

Product Design AS / A2

Entry Requirements:

Minimum of grade C in Resistant Materials at GCSE level and an interest in Design and Engineering. 

Other students who did not study GCSE Resistant Materials will need a minimum of a C grade  in Maths and English at GCSE level as well as a C grade in a creative subject such as Art, Media or ICT.

The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced level (A2) Product Design GCE specification rewards skills in knowledge and understanding in the areas of design, materials, manufacture, engineering and marketing though both design and make projects as well as formal written examinations.

In a climate in which industry is finding difficulty recruiting people with design and engineering skills, an AS / A2 qualification in a Product Design will prove a unique selling point!

What do I need to know, or be able to do, before taking this course?

You will be interested in design and manufacture and be keen to further develop your knowledge and understanding through the process of investigation, design and realisation of products. You will enjoy furthering your understanding of design by both reading widely as well as watching relevant documentaries which will widen your understanding of the subject.

What will I learn?

During this course you will investigate and learn about a wide range of materials, design and market influences as well as processes that can be used to manufacture commonly used products. In both AS and A2 you will be given the opportunity to further develop both your theory and practical design skills through design and manufacture projects. You will also develop your skills in essay writing which you will use to successfully pass the two examinations.

Is this the right subject for me?

This course is suitable for you if you:

• Enjoy working from a design brief to design solutions to problems
• Want to learn about a wide range of materials including their properties and uses
• Want to further develop your manufacturing skills using a wide range of materials
• Want to further develop your understanding of industrial manufacturing processes
• Want to broaden your current understanding of past and current real life design issues
• Want to develop your opinions about how design can improve the environment and the future

The AS Units

There are two areas of study which must be completed for AS:

• PROD 1 – Materials, Components and Application (50% of AS, 25% of A2)

For this unit you are required to learn about a wide range of commonly used materials and manufacturing process as well as the effects that a wide range of influences can have on design and designers. At the end of this unit your will be required to sit one examination.

• PROD 2 – Learning through Design and Making (50% of AS, 25% of A2)

For this unit you are required to further develop your skills by reacting to a problem and producing a design portfolio as well as a realised product.

The A2 Units

There are two areas of study which must be completed for A2:

• PROD 3 – Materials, Components and Application (25% 0f A2)

For this unit you are required to further develop your knowledge learnt during PROD 1, including a wide range of commonly used materials and manufacturing process as well as the effects that a wide range of influences can have on design and designers. At the end of this unit your will be required to sit one examination which consists of a number of short essays.

• PROD 4 – Learning through Design and Making (25% of A2)

For this unit you are required to further develop your skills developed during PROD 2 by reacting to a problem and producing a design portfolio as well as a realised product.