|
A Level Product Design 3D (AQA)
Teachers:
Mr Mason and Mr Grimes
A Level Product
Design is a 2 year course which covers the following key areas of study:
In the first year ‘materials, components and application’-
you will look at materials, production processes and the impact of cost
and design. This will prepare you for the 2 hour summer exam. In ‘learning
through designing and making’ you will produce coursework using
your own design with a range of materials and media.
Each of these units will account for 25% of your total marks.
In the second year you will get to grips with ‘design and manufacture’
helping you to appreciate the relationship between design and technology
and form and function.
‘Design and making in practice’ is the practical coursework
element where you will develop and make a product recording the process
along the way.
Again, a 2 hour exam and your coursework will each account for 25% of
your total marks.
What
skills will I learn?
In Product Design you will develop a number of transferable skills:
• How to assemble data and assess it
• How to investigate facts and put over your point of view
• How to work as part of a team to achieve results
• How to take responsibility in your own learning
There is very
much a ‘hands on’ approach to learning in Product Design.
You will be encouraged to analyse familiar products, make lots of models,
develop your drawing and CAD skills and use a wide variety of tools and
equipment with confidence.
In order to keep in touch with the commercial world and to develop your
understanding of design you will take part in numerous manufacturing and
exhibition visits.
Where
will success take me?
3D design could take you into a variety of exciting career paths such
as:
• Product or automotive design
• Packaging design
• Furniture design
• Engineering
• Architecture
• Teaching
• Manufacturing and many more!
All products are designed by someone – why not you?
Textiles
Have you always
had a secret desire to work in the exciting, varied and colourful world
of Fashion? We offer A level Textiles (Product Design) through the AQA
Exam board. This follows on smoothly from GCSE Textiles at Kenilworth
School, but we regularly have students enrol and flourish on the course
who haven’t studied Textiles at GCSE, but you need to be prepared
to challenge yourself and to work hard.
The course
combines practical projects which involve originating design ideas, acquiring
research and illustrating possible ‘creations’. Illustration
can be hand based or involve Photoshop and Speedstep computer packages.
To support and enable you to achieve your creative ideas you will also
look at: Fashion, Textiles, Art and Design from 1800 to contemporary work,
The continual development of fibres and materials e.g. heat and light
reactive materials, micro-encapsulation etc, Methods of manufacture from
straight stitch to heat sealing and Market or Business influences at work
in the Textiles industry.
We appreciate
the multitude of information available in exhibitions, Art Galleries,
Museums, Theatrical Productions, Films, Industrial and even Retail visits.
We therefore incorporate experiences that will inspire, stimulate and
aid those following an A level Textiles (Product Design) course. In half-term
October 2009 year 12 and 13 will visit Florence and Milan seeing: The
Salvatore Ferragamo Shoe Museum, The Contro Moda Exhibition, The Pitti
Palace Costume Collection, The Uffizi, both Duomo, The traditional leather
school, a modern bag manufacturers, The Corso Como Vogue Editors lifestyle
Centre, A wood block printing exhibition, The Marangoni Design Institute
etc.
Course
Structure
| AS |
|
A2 |
|
| Unit 1 |
Materials
and components / design & market influences / processes and
manufacture exam
|
Unit 3 |
Design and make project |
| Unit 2 |
Design
and make project |
Unit 4 |
Synoptic
paper |
Units
in each year carry the same weighting.
For detailed information on the course from the exam board visit the AQA
website (www.aqa.org.uk).
What
next?
Over the years students have gone on to work as Fashion Designers, Footwear
designers, Buyers and Merchandisers and even Zoologists! You may enjoy
the subject, wish to pursue design as a career or relish the opportunity
of a contrast to your other subjects- all reasons will be enthusiastically
accepted. This course can provide you with a wide range of skills that
will be useful for your future.
|
