This course places the emphasis on designing and making, use of computer aided design, high quality sketching and rendering skills. The specification allows students to be creative and innovative in their approach to their work and also provides the opportunity to study, propose and realize prototype solutions in Product Design. What will I be studying on the course? The specification content: Year 12 - Core technical principles and designing and making principles. Materials and their applications, the requirements for product design, development and manufacture, design communication, digital design and manufacture, efficient use of materials, health and safety, core designing and making principles. Non-exam assessment (NEA) - Practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles and specialist knowledge. This is the design-and-make unit where knowledge of the subject content is applied to the designing and making of the students’ projects. This involves 35 hours of work to produce a single design and make project. Context set by AQA. Year 13 - Design theories, How technology and cultural changes can impact on the work of designers,critical analysis and evaluation, selecting appropriate specialist tools, techniques and processes, accuracy in design and manufacture, responsible design, national and international standards in product design. Non-exam assessment (NEA) - Design and Making in Practice - This is similar to Year 12 but tests the knowledge and skills that you have learnt cross the two years. What will I be doing in lessons? Due to the nature of Design and Technology, these sections are not taught as discrete modules but rather using a holistic approach. Topics covered include: working characteristics and physical properties of materials, knowledge of a wide range of components used in the making of products, how to apply the basic elements of design to products, both 2D and 3D, developing designs and manufacturing finished prototypes.