Design and Technology: Product Design

    AQA
    A-Level

    Specification: 7552

    The AQA A-Level Design and Technology: Product Design specification covers 51 topics with 500 learning objectives (7552). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.

    Starting AQA A-Level Design and Technology: Product Design this term? The whole specification is below, unit by unit.

    This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.

    51

    Topics

    500

    Objectives

    0

    Exam Tips

    0

    Pitfalls

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    Key Features

    • Master key concepts
    • Develop exam technique
    • Apply knowledge effectively

    About AQA A-Level Design and Technology: Product Design

    This AQA A-Level in Design and Technology: Product Design encourages students to be creative, innovative, and critical thinkers. You will develop a deep understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and design principles, while also exploring the wider impact of design on society, the environment, and the economy. The course is structured into two main components: a written exam and a substantial design and make project, allowing you to apply your knowledge in a practical context.

    The specification is divided into core technical principles, specialist technical principles, and designing and making principles. You will study topics such as material properties, manufacturing techniques, design communication, and the work of influential designers. The non-exam assessment (NEA) gives you the freedom to choose your own design context and create a prototype that solves a real-world problem, showcasing your skills and creativity.

    Assessment Structure

    The AQA A-Level Design and Technology: Product Design is assessed through two components. Component 1 is a written exam (2 hours 30 minutes) worth 50% of the qualification, covering core technical, specialist technical, and designing and making principles. Component 2 is a non-exam assessment (NEA), a design and make project worth 50% of the qualification, where you produce a substantial design portfolio and prototype. Both components are marked out of 120, giving a total of 240 marks.

    Why Choose AQA?

    • AQA offers a clear and well-structured specification that balances theoretical knowledge with practical application, making it ideal for students who enjoy both learning and making. The exam papers are straightforward and assess understanding in a logical progression, with a mix of short-answer and extended-response questions.
    • The NEA provides excellent flexibility, allowing you to choose a design context that genuinely interests you, whether it's sustainable design, inclusive products, or emerging technologies. AQA also provides a wide range of support materials, including past papers, mark schemes, and exemplar projects, which are invaluable for revision and coursework guidance.
    • AQA is a popular choice among schools and colleges, meaning there is a wealth of resources and teacher expertise available. The specification is regularly updated to reflect current design practices and technological advancements, ensuring your learning remains relevant.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Specification Topics

    51 topics

    Technical principles 3.1.1 Materials and their applications - Classification of materials

    woods (hardwoods, softwoods, manufactured boards), smart materials, papers and boards +5 more

    8 objectives8 subtopics

    Technical principles 3.1.1 Materials and their applications - Methods for investigating and testing materials

    malleability, conductivity., Students should be able to describe how workshop and industrial tests are set up and what will be tested, measured and compared, including: +4 more

    7 objectives7 subtopics

    Technical principles 3.1.1 Materials and their applications

    manufacture and disposal., aesthetics, cost +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    Protecting designs and intellectual property

    registered designs, trademarks, products for the common good of society, including potential use. Students should be able to give examples of this in practice, eg humanitarian projects and file sharing for 3D printing. +5 more

    8 objectives8 subtopics

    Design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal Manufacture, repair, maintenance and disposal - Ease of manufacture

    use of pre made components, addition of texture in moulding to reduce number of manufacturing processes, self finishing. +5 more

    8 objectives8 subtopics

    Design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal Manufacture, repair, maintenance and disposal - Disassembly

    Students should be aware of, and able to explain, how a product can be designed and manufactured with disassembly in mind, including integral fixings and active disassembly using smart materials such as SMA and biodegradable parts.

    1 objectives

    Design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal Manufacture, repair, maintenance and disposal

    ability to upgrade with software downloads., reduce the quantity of materials, of toxic materials, of damaging materials and associated energy use, making products easy to disassemble or separate +12 more

    15 objectives15 subtopics

    Feasibility studies

    Students should be aware of, and able to explain, the use of feasibility studies to assess the practicality for production of proposed designs, including the testing of prototypes with potential consumers.

    1 objectives

    Enterprise and marketing in the development of products

    labelling, the promotion and advertisement of products including the use of new technologies, eg social media, viral marketing, customer identification +7 more

    10 objectives10 subtopics

    Design communication

    the use of graphs, 2D/3D sketching, tables and charts +4 more

    7 objectives7 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards

    Students should be able to name different types of papers and boards. Students should be able to describe the performance characteristics of papers and boards, including:, impact resistance, layout paper: sketch pads +18 more

    21 objectives21 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Performance characteristics of metals

    I beam, Students should be familiar with the following metals:, aluminium +49 more

    52 objectives52 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Performance characteristics of polymer based sheet and film

    styrofoam: modelling and formers, plastazote foam: protective packaging, polyactide sheet and film: biodegradable packaging. +15 more

    18 objectives18 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Performance characteristics of woods

    Students should be aware of the different stock forms of timber, including:, steam bending, resistance to decay +42 more

    45 objectives45 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Smart materials

    Students should know and understand the term smart material. Students should be able to explain the suitability of smart materials for given applications making reference to how the material responds to external stimuli, including:, shape memory alloys (SMA), eg Nitinol, photochromic pigment +8 more

    11 objectives11 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Performance characteristics of polymers

    film, sheet, biodegradability +33 more

    36 objectives36 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Composites

    aluminium composite board, concrete, including reinforced concrete, improved product performance. +10 more

    13 objectives13 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Modern materials

    precious metal clay (PMC), polymorph., kevlar +2 more

    5 objectives5 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Elastomers

    natural rubber, Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)., polybutadiene +8 more

    11 objectives11 subtopics

    Performance characteristics of materials Performance characteristics of papers and boards - Biodegradable polymers

    polyactide (PLA), Students should understand how biodegradable polymers degrade., water soluble: lactide, glycolide (Lactel and ecofilm). +8 more

    11 objectives11 subtopics

    Enhancement of materials

    Students are expected to be able to describe enhancement methods for given materials and explain their suitability for specific product applications.

    1 objectives

    Enhancement of materials - Polymer enhancement

    UV stabilisers to prolong the life of polymers, bio-batch materials to encourage biodegradability., The use of additives to enhance properties, including: +1 more

    4 objectives4 subtopics

    Enhancement of materials - Wood enhancement

    The combining of natural timber with resins and lamination to give enhanced properties, eg increased strength and stability. Enhancing timber products with preservatives, finishes and coatings.

    1 objectives

    Enhancement of materials - Metal enhancement

    hardening and tempering., case hardening, Students should be aware of heat treatment methods of enhancing metals, including:

    3 objectives3 subtopics

    Forming, redistribution and addition processes Paper and board forming processes

    bending., Students should be aware of the ways that paper and board can be shaped into different products such as packaging., die cutting +2 more

    5 objectives5 subtopics

    Forming, redistribution and addition processes Paper and board forming processes - Metal processes

    deep drawing, punching/stamping., self tapping screws +30 more

    33 objectives33 subtopics

    Forming, redistribution and addition processes Paper and board forming processes - Polymer processes

    compression moulding., blow moulding, vacuum forming +8 more

    11 objectives11 subtopics

    Forming, redistribution and addition processes Paper and board forming processes - Wood processes

    nuts and bolts, machine processes:, Students should be aware of how timber can be formed into 3D products. They should be able to describe the different processes. They should be able to explain the suitability of the different wasting processes for a range of specific products. +19 more

    22 objectives22 subtopics

    The use of adhesives and fixings

    UV hardening adhesive, Contact adhesives, PVA +2 more

    5 objectives5 subtopics

    The use of adhesives and fixings - Jigs and fixtures

    Students should be aware of how jigs and fixtures can be used to aid the manufacture of products. They should be able to describe them and explain their suitability for accurate and repeated manufacture of products.

    1 objectives

    The use of finishes Paper and board finishing - Polymer finishing

    smart pigments such as thermochromic or phosphorescent., acrylic spray paints, gel coats when laminating GRP +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    The use of finishes Paper and board finishing - Wood finishing

    pressure treating with chemical preservatives., stains, teak oil +8 more

    11 objectives11 subtopics

    The use of finishes Paper and board finishing - Metal finishing

    Students should be aware of the ways that metals can be finished to enhance their appearance or prevent corrosion., dip coating, preservatives +10 more

    13 objectives13 subtopics

    The use of finishes Paper and board finishing

    debossing, laminating, embossing +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    The use of finishes Paper and board finishing - Paper and board printing processes

    flexographic and offset lithographic printing, screen printing, digital printing. +1 more

    4 objectives4 subtopics

    Modern industrial and commercial practice Scales of production

    vertical in-house production., batch production, unit production systems (UPS) +4 more

    7 objectives7 subtopics

    Efficient use of materials - The use of computer systems

    quick response manufacturing (QRM), just in time (JIT), Students should be aware of how computer systems are used to plan and control manufacturing, reduce waste and respond quickly to changes in consumer demand. Students should be able to explain specific industrial manufacturing systems and their use in the production of given products. +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    Efficient use of materials

    The advantages of Just In Time (JIT) manufacture., Students must develop an awareness of the relationship between material cost, form, and manufacturing processes, and the scale of production., The use of manufacturing processes which increase accuracy and reduce waste. +2 more

    5 objectives5 subtopics

    Efficient use of materials - Sub-assembly

    Students should be aware of, and able to explain, sub-assembly as a separate line of manufacture for certain parts of a product.

    1 objectives

    Digital design and manufacture Computer aided design (CAD) - Virtual modelling

    Students should be aware of, and be able to describe, how virtual modelling/testing is used in industry prior to product production., finite element analysis (FEA) as used in component stress analysis., computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as used for testing aerodynamics and wind resistance, and flow of liquids within/ around products +1 more

    4 objectives4 subtopics

    Digital design and manufacture Computer aided design (CAD) - Electronic data interchange

    Students should be aware of, and able to describe, the use of electronic point of sales (EPOS) for marketing purposes and the collection of market research data, including:, the capture of customer data, eg contact details., the maintenance of stock levels

    3 objectives3 subtopics

    Digital design and manufacture Computer aided design (CAD)

    the advantages and disadvantages of using CAD compared to a manually generated alternative, how CAD is used in industrial applications., the use of 2D CAD for working drawings +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    Digital design and manufacture Computer aided design (CAD) - Production, planning and control (PPC) networking

    availability of materials, scheduling of machines and people, Students should be aware of, and able to describe, the role of PCC systems in the planning and control of all aspects of manufacturing, including: +1 more

    4 objectives4 subtopics

    Digital design and manufacture Computer aided design (CAD) - Computer aided manufacture (CAM)

    plotter cutting., Students should be aware of, and be able to describe, how CAM is used in the manufacture of products., turning +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    Digital design and manufacture Computer aided design (CAD) - Rapid prototyping processes

    Students should be aware of, and be able to describe, rapid prototyping processes, including 3D printing. Students should understand, and be able to explain, the benefits to designers and manufacturers.

    1 objectives

    The requirements for product design and development Product development and improvement

    accuracy of production, Through the study and critical analysis of existing products, students should develop an understanding of the requirements of the following:, fitness for purpose +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    The requirements for product design and development Product development and improvement - Inclusive design

    Students should be aware of, and be able to explain, the development of products that are inclusive in their design so that they can be used by a wide range of users including the disabled, children and the elderly.

    1 objectives

    Health and safety Safe working practices

    Students should be aware of, and able to explain, health and safety procedures related to products and manufacturing, including:, knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), and how it influences the safe manufacture of products, safety precautions that should be taken with specific manufacturing processes +3 more

    6 objectives6 subtopics

    Health and safety Safe working practices - Safety in products and services to the customer

    aftercare advice., safety warnings, measures to ensure the safety of toys, eg Lion Mark +5 more

    8 objectives8 subtopics

    Designing and making principles 3.2.1 Design methods and processes - Iterative design process

    the use of anthropometric data and percentiles, focus groups, interviews +10 more

    13 objectives13 subtopics

    National and international standards in product design

    Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Mobius Loop, EPA energy star.

    3 objectives3 subtopics

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