AQA Product Design GCSE

1. AQA GCSE Product Design Textiles Year 11 Assessment Booklet Name: AQA Product Design GCSE

2. Product Design Course Introduction GCSE Product Design is a relatively new course, which has been written to allow you to use any suitable materials throughout the course. The emphasis of this course is on commercial Product Design. Most commercial products require some form of labeling, packaging or instructions and consequently an element of graphic design will be required for your product to be complete. In your own designing and making you will need to take into account how commercial products are designed and manufactured. You have chosen to focus your coursework on a textile product. You will therefore need to be conversant with a number of textile products and textile materials. In order to be successful in the exam you will also learn about a range of other materials such as paper and card. Course Aims The Course encourages you; a. to demonstrate fully your design and technology capability, which requires you to combine skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make quality products. b. acquire and apply knowledge, skills and understanding through: * analysing and evaluating products and processes; * engaging in focused tasks to develop and demonstrate techniques; * engaging in strategies for developing ideas, planning and manufacturing products; * considering how past and present design and technology, relevant to a designing and making context, affects society: * regognising the moral, cultural and environmental issues inherent in design and technology. Course Objectives You should be able to demonstrate your design and technology capability through acquiring and applying knowledge, skills and understanding: a. of materials, components, processes, techniques and industrial practice; b. when designing and making quality products in quantity; c. when evaluating processes and products and examining the wider effects of design technology on society. Product Design GCSE Course Outline

3. Coursework In the last term of year 10 you start on your major project, you will continue to work on this project during year 11 until its completion deadline in March the following year. Your coursework involves undertaking a single project which investigates the designing, making and testing of a new product. This project will consist of a concise design folder which includes designing to a brief and situation, the research you undertake, the specification for the product, the ideas you think up and how you develop them towards a final design. It will also need a work plan which should be detailed enough for someone else to follow, you will finally test your product and complete a final evaluation of the project. As part of the manufacturing process you will produce samples of construction techniques and a model or prototype before constructing your final textile product. This work will account for 60% of your final GCSE grade. It will be marked by your teacher, moderated by the other teachers in the department, then moderated by the Exam Board. Your design folder should provide the following: * A Design Situation and Design Brief, explaining what your project is about * Details of the research you intend to undertake and what you are going to do with it. * Your Analysis of the problem and research materials collected * A specification for your product * A range of initial ideas which meet the specification * The development of one or more of your ideas * A final design proposal and production plan in enough detail for the moderator to follow * Testing and evaluation throughout the project * How the product would be manufactured commercially The design folder should show your industrial understanding and your ability to communicate your thinking. It is expected that you will use a variety of ICT and manual communication techniques were appropriate. You should also show your wider understanding of Design and Technology issues such as the environmental implications of your project. The Written Exam Paper This will take place at the end of year 11 and will make up 40% of your final GCSE grade. At the beginning of year 11 you will sit a mock exam paper. There is only one exam paper, you will be entered either for the higher tier or the Foundation tier. The foundation tier will not allow you to gain more than a grade C. The Higher tier is focused on students expected to gain grade C or above. Which tier you are entered for is usually done in January of Year 11, before you complete your coursework. Students who are behind at this stage can be expect to be entered for the foundation tier and their parents contacted, so do not leave all your work for the last couple of weeks. Both Higher and Foundation papers will be two hours in duration so you will need to prepare thoroughly for this part of the assessment. The Examiner will write the paper to test your Knowledge and understanding relating to designing and manufacturing of commercial products. As a general guide, they plan questions to earn you a mark a minute, if you have a 10 mark question, you are expected to spend roughly ten minutes answering that question. Coursework and Written Paper

4. Coursework Deadline Dates Major Project Research Complete – 11th September 2009 Major Project Concept Ideas Complete – 9th October 2009 Major Project Development Complete – 27th November 2009 Major Project Manufacturing Complete – 26th February 2010 Major Project Final Hand In – 26th March 2010 Essential Equipment List A3 Folder HB & 2H Pencils Rubber & Sharpener Ruler A range of Coloured Pencils A fine Line Black Pen A Can of Spray Mount You will need to purchase all your fabrics, trims, zips etc, that you need to make your final product. Please speak to your teacher for advise on where to purchase your fabrics. Important Dates & Equipment List

5. Coursework Criteria • As described in the coursework outline, your design folder should provide a range of information and examples of your knowledge and skills. Below is a brief description of what each section of your folder should provide. • Task & Research Analysis - A Design Situation and Design Brief, explaining what your project is about. You should analyse the task and research materials logically, thoroughly and effectively, showing evidence of your thought process and planning. • Research - Details of the research you intend to undertake and what you are going to do with it, including market research, product environment research, User/ client advice, professional advice and analysis of this material • Detailed Specification – After your research analysis you will have a better understanding of what you will be designing, you can now write a more detailed specification which will include specific fabrics, style, colours, how much it will cost, what techniques you will use, quality, quantity and target audience information. • Design Ideas – Always design with your specification in mind. Use your understanding of sketching and rendering techniques to enhance your presentation. Remember to annotate your designs, explaining all of your design decisions. • Development of Final Design – Develop at least three design proposals. Annotate as you develop your designs. Use sketches, CAD & models to explain your concept. • Production Plan – Produce a flow chart plan for making your product, taking into account time, processes, materials and tools to be used. Explain how you intend to manufacture and achieve accuracy and quality assurance. • Testing and Evaluation – When you have finished your product, carry out a critical evaluation of the product and the process of designing and manufacturing it. Compare your product to the original specification, point by point. Make suggestions for modifications or improvements to your final product. • Communication – Your folder should communicate your design thoughts and ideas, both to yourself and to other people. In order to do this effectively, you should use a variety of presentation techniques and media. • Industrial Practice – Throughout your folder, you should make reference to the way your product would be designed and manufactured in an industrial situation. Major Project Coursework Criteria

6. Year 11 Project Tracker Suggestions for Amendments Task & Research Analysis Starting Point Mind map Design Situation & Brief Initial Specification Research Plan Time Plan Theme Research Mood Board Market Research Letters/Email Survey/Questionnaire Survey/Questionnaire Results Product Environment Product Analysis Research analysis Detailed Specification Design Ideas Development Ideas At least three ideas developed Final presentation design. Focused Fabric/Component research Industrial practice/construction techniques Production Planning Manufacturing Specification Product Plan Materials & Components list Costings Evaluation / Testing Final Product Photo’s Client Interview Feedback / Survey Final Evaluation with Suggested Improvements Communication and Modeling Year 11 Project Tracker