Design Technology: Product Design

What is our curriculum intent?

Our intent is to enable all students to become subject experts by developing across our ‘Big Ideas’:

In Design and Technology there are six Big Ideas:

• designing
• explore
• materials
• manufacture
• functionality
• critique

At the heart of Design & Technology is creativity and problem solving. Design & Technology prepares students to participate in tomorrow’s practices, develop their creative thinking and practical application.

Our curriculum prepares students to:

• design and make products that solve relevant problems
• make critical judgements of their own designs and those of others
• understand the core principals of any good design
• build awareness of global issues and contemporary design
• take creative risks
• develop practical application
• appreciate the work of world class designers in a wide range of fields

Also, students learn the importance of safe working practices and good organisation. The aims are to:

• ensure students are competent when in a workshop
• recognise the need for rules to establish safe working practices
• emphasise the importance of good organisation

As students’ progress through Key Stage 3 they use a wider range of materials and processes and specialise in the following design fields, which are textile technology, product design and electronics.

How do we implement our curriculum?

1. Through what we teach, when, as laid out below:

Year 7

Students complete a range of product design related projects working in wood, metal and plastics with an introduction to electronics also included. Within each unit we also cover the core principals of sustainability, environment, culture and industrial practice.

• Unit 1: Blok Bot(wood theory/ net development)
• Unit 2: Key Fob(metal)
• Unit 3: Utility Box (wood)
• Unit 4: Jar Light (electronics)

Year 8

In Year 8 students complete a range of projects to help embed key knowledge and skills, which prepares them for the challenge of a GCSE Design and Technology and to gain an insight into the world of design. Students work as a designer would in industry, manufacturing products and evaluating both the outcome and the whole ‘design and make process’. Students use ICT to help with their work, including computer-aided design and ICT-based sources for research.

• Unit 1: Product Design – Passive speaker (material area wood)
• Unit 2: Product Design –  Mechanical coat hook ( manufactured board, plastic and mechanisms)
• Unit 3: Textile Technology – Bag (decorative stitches/ applique)
• Unit 4: Product Design – Emerging technologies (iterative design/ modelling)

Year 9

In Year 9 students complete a range of ‘taster projects,’ which allows them to sample the challenge of a GCSE Design and Technology and to gain an insight into the world of design. Students work as a designer would in industry, manufacturing products and evaluating both the outcome and the whole ‘design and make process’.  Students use ICT to help with their work, including computer-aided design, control programmes and ICT-based sources for research.

• Unit 1: Product Design – Blok bot – material theory
• Unit 2: Product Design – Jewellery – pewter casting/ 3d printing/ packaging
• Unit 3: Product Design – Chocolate gift product (packaging)
• Unit 4: Textiles – Artist inspired cushion (decorative techniques – batik, dye work, stencil print)
• Unit 5: Product Design- competition – iterative design

2. Through how we group students

Students are taught in Design & Technology in mixed ability groups

3. Through the homework we set which may involve

• Research
• Designing
• Modelling
• Extended written work on current issues
• Presentations on influential designers
• Evaluation