Design and Technology

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This subtopic explores the systematic approach of design thinking, emphasizing user-centered research, ideation, prototyping, and evaluation. It equips learners with strategies to iterate designs based on feedback and testing, ensuring products meet functional, aesthetic, and user requirements. Mastery of this process is essential for successful product development in professional design practice.

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Materials and their applications

This topic covers the identification, classification, and testing of materials (metals, woods, polymers, papers/boards, composites, smart and modern materials) and their suitability for specific applications based on physical and mechanical properties, aesthetics, cost, and manufacturing/disposal considerations.

Protecting designs and intellectual property

This topic covers the legal and ethical frameworks for protecting intellectual property and the concept of open design in product development.

Design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal

This topic focuses on the design considerations for the entire lifecycle of a product, specifically targeting efficiency in manufacturing, ease of maintenance and repair, and responsible disposal. It emphasizes the application of the six Rs of sustainability, the use of standardised components, and designing for disassembly.

Feasibility studies

Feasibility studies are used to assess the practicality of proposed designs for production, including the testing of prototypes with potential consumers.

Enterprise and marketing in the development of products

This topic covers the essential business and marketing aspects of product development, focusing on how designers identify customer needs, establish brand identity, and manage the commercial viability of products through promotion, costing, and collaborative working.

Design communication

Design communication focuses on the skills and techniques required to effectively convey design proposals and intentions to various stakeholders, including clients, users, and manufacturers.

Performance characteristics of materials

This topic covers the performance characteristics of various material categories including papers and boards, polymer-based sheet and film, woods, metals, polymers, elastomers, biodegradable polymers, composites, smart materials, and modern materials, focusing on their suitability for specific applications.

Enhancement of materials

The enhancement of materials involves using specific methods to improve the properties of polymers, woods, and metals to make them more suitable for specific product applications.

Forming, redistribution and addition processes

This topic covers the technical principles of forming, redistribution, and addition processes across various material categories including paper, board, polymers, metals, and woods, as well as the use of adhesives, fixings, jigs, and fixtures.

The use of finishes

The use of finishes covers the methods and processes used to enhance the appearance or improve the function of materials including paper, board, polymers, metals, and woods.

Modern industrial and commercial practice

This topic covers the various scales of production, efficient material usage, and the integration of computer systems in industrial and commercial manufacturing environments.

Digital design and manufacture

This topic covers the integration of digital technologies in design and manufacturing processes, focusing on CAD, CAM, virtual modelling, rapid prototyping, electronic data interchange, and production planning systems.

The requirements for product design and development

This topic focuses on the requirements for product design and development, emphasizing the critical assessment of existing products to inform new design proposals. It covers the application of design criteria, fitness for purpose, production accuracy, and the consideration of aesthetics, ergonomics, and anthropometrics in creating original products for a target market.

Health and safety

This topic covers the essential health and safety procedures required in both school/college workshop environments and industrial contexts, including legal frameworks, risk assessment, and the safety requirements for consumer products.

Design methods and processes

The iterative design process focuses on user-centred design approaches, emphasizing that there is no single process but rather a holistic method addressing needs, wants, and values through investigation, development, and evaluation.

National and international standards in product design

This topic covers the importance and application of national and international standards in product design, including regulatory directives, safety standards, and environmental labelling systems.

Design theory

This topic covers the historical and cultural influences on design, focusing on key design styles, movements, and the work of influential designers that have shaped product design and manufacture.

How technology and cultural changes can impact on the work of designers

This topic explores how socio-economic influences, technological advancements, and social, moral, and ethical considerations shape the work of designers and the manufacturing industry, alongside the stages of a product's life cycle.

Design processes

This topic covers the implementation of design processes, including the stages of design used in the Non-Exam Assessment (NEA), the development of prototypes from design proposals, and the application of iterative design methodologies within industrial and commercial contexts.

Critical analysis and evaluation

This topic focuses on the critical analysis and evaluation of both personal and commercial products to inform design improvements, the necessity of rigorous testing methods for commercial products, and the role of third-party feedback in ensuring objective, unbiased evaluation.

Selecting appropriate tools, equipment and processes

This topic focuses on the critical decision-making processes required to select appropriate tools, equipment, and manufacturing processes to realize design proposals, ensuring safety, efficiency, and suitability for the intended scale of production.

Accuracy in design and manufacture

The importance of accuracy in manufacturing across all scales of production, focusing on error elimination through testing and the use of measuring aids like templates, jigs, and fixtures to ensure consistency and reduce human error.

Responsible design

Responsible design focuses on the environmental and ethical responsibilities of designers and manufacturers. It covers the importance of sustainable materials, the environmental impact of packaging, the concept of a circular economy, and the management of waste, energy, and resources throughout a product's lifecycle, including the impact of global manufacturing.

Design for manufacture and project management

This topic focuses on the systematic planning required for accurate and efficient product manufacture, the implementation of quality assurance and quality control systems, and the application of project management techniques to ensure products meet specifications and tolerances.