What is Product Design? Simply put, the designing of products to solve everyday problems and make society better! It involves combining knowledge from many areas to create new products to help fix existing problems. Such products could be real or prototypes and cover anything from buildings to game controller design. 3D Design is an enormously satisfying career. You have an idea and, with the use of tools like clay or computers, it comes to life. Where can Product Design lead me? Any form of design combines well with other subjects and it is usually the combination of other A Levels that determines which aspect of design students might follow. There are many options: the computer game industry, CAD, architecture, construction project management, advertising, graphic design, engineering and, of course, product design. Assessment Structure of the Course A Level studies cover two main topics which students study over two years. Both topics are worth 50% of students’ final grade. Component 1: Principles of Design and Technology - 2h 30m examination. Component 2: Design and Make Task Students will produce a substantial design, make and evaluate a project which consists of a portfolio and a prototype. The portfolio will contain approximately 40 sides of A3 paper (or electronic equivalent). There are four parts to the assessment: Part 1: Identifying and Outlining Possibilities for Design Research into a design and specification. Part 2: Designing a Prototype Design ideas, development of design idea, final design solution, review of development and final design and communication of design ideas. Part 3: Making a Final Prototype Design, manufacture and realisation of a final prototype, including tools and equipment and quality and accuracy. Part 4: Evaluating Own Design and Prototype. Testing and evaluation of final product leading to conclusions.