Design & Technology: Product Design
Department of Design and Technology
We believe that Engineering and Design and Technology are subjects that can help us to understand and give meaning to the world we live in. Through our curriculum we aim to provide students with an experience that is exciting and ensure that our students combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking.
Design Technology gives young people the skills and abilities to engage positively with the designed and made world. They learn how products and systems are designed and manufactured, how to be innovative and to make creative use of a variety of resources including traditional and digital technologies, to improve the world around them.
Students should grow in confidence through specialist teaching and different teaching environments and be provided with opportunities to develop knowledge from a range of technology areas at KS3 including product design, graphics, and food & nutrition. Students can then progress at KS4 into Engineering or Food and nutrition where the subject allows for deeper study and potential career opportunities.
At the centre of the subject is creativity and imagination. Design & Technology is a subject which draws, develops, and implements a range of different disciplines including mathematics, science, engineering, computing, and art. The subject embeds high quality literacy skills through analysis and evaluation techniques and has established cross curricular links including Maths, Science and geography.
By following the Product Design course in KS3, students will have the opportunity to:
Research and Design
- Engage in an iterative process of design and making.
- Undergo primary and secondary research techniques into a range of user’s needs, wants and values, analysis of existing products, ergonomics and anthropometrics and the work of others.
- Identify and solve their own problems and the problems of specific clients and target market groups.
- Develop specifications to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that respond to needs in a variety of situations.
- Use a variety of design strategies when developing ideas using the iterative design process. For example, a range of 2d and 3d sketching techniques, rendering in different forms, modelling in traditional and CAD methods and the testing of materials and manufacturing techniques.
- Develop and communicate their design ideas using annotated sketches, detailed plans, 3-D and mathematical modelling, oral and digital presentations, and computer-based tools.
- Make informed decisions about food and nutrition and allows them to acquire knowledge to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now, and later in life.
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the functional properties and chemical characteristics of food as well as a sound knowledge of the nutritional content of food and drinks.
- Understand the relationship between diet, nutrition, and health, including the physiological and psychological effects of poor diet and health.
Make
- Select from and use specialist tools, techniques, processes, equipment, and machinery precisely, including computer-aided manufacture.
- Select from and use a wider, more complex range of materials, components, and ingredients, considering their properties.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of functional and nutritional properties, sensory qualities and microbiological food safety considerations when preparing, processing, storing, cooking, and serving food.
- Explore a range of ingredients and processes from different culinary traditions (traditional British and international) to inspire new ideas or modify existing recipes.
Evaluate
- Analyse the work of past and present professionals and others to develop and broaden their understanding.
- Investigate new and emerging technologies.
- Personal project work, analysing how the product fulfils the requirements of the specification and the user’s needs, wants and values.
- Recognise how their product can be modified for commercial manufacturing.
- Understand developments in design and technology, its impact on individuals, society and the environment, and the responsibilities of designers, engineers, and technologists.