Why choose Design and Technology: Resistant Materials Technology?
This specification has been designed to encourage candidates to be able to design and make products with creativity and originality, using a range of materials and techniques. Candidates will be enthused and challenged by the range of practical activities possible. A working knowledge of woods, metals, plastics and composite materials will be required, but other materials may be used in addition. The use of new technologies is encouraged in this specification.
Design and Technology is a practical subject area which requires the application of knowledge and understanding when developing ideas, planning, producing products and evaluating them.
The new specification is designed to foster awareness amongst candidates, of the need to consider sustainability and environmental impact of their designing.
Design and Technology is a practical subject area which requires the application of knowledge and understanding when developing ideas, planning, producing products and evaluating them.
The distinction between Designing and Making is a convenient one to make, but in practice the two often merge. For example, research can involve not only investigating printed matter and people’s opinions, but also investigating e.g. proportions, adhesives, colour, structures and materials through practical work.
Designing Skills
Candidates should be taught to:
- be creative and innovative when designing;
- design products to meet the needs of clients and consumers;
- understand the design principles of form, function and fitness for purpose;
- understand the role that designers and product developers have, and the impact and responsibility they have on and to society;
- analyse and evaluate existing products, including those from professional designers;
- to develop and use design briefs and specifications for product development;
- consider the conflicting demands that moral, cultural, economic, and social values and needs can make in the planning and in the designing of products;
- consider environmental and sustainability issues in designing products;
- consider health and safety in all its aspects;
- anticipate and design for product maintenance where appropriate;
- design for manufacturing in quantity and to be aware of current commercial/industrial processes;
- generate design proposals against stated design criteria, and to modify their proposals in the light of on-going analysis, evaluation and product development;
- reflect critically when evaluating and modifying their design ideas and proposals in order to improve the products throughout inception and manufacture;
- use, where appropriate, a range of graphic techniques and ICT (including digital media), including CAD, to generate, develop, model and communicate design proposals;
- investigate and select appropriate materials and components;
- plan and organise activities which involve the use of materials and components when developing or manufacturing;
- devise and apply test procedures to check the quality of their work at critical/key points during development, and to indicate ways of modifying and improving it when necessary;
- communicate the design proposal in an appropriate manner;
- be flexible and adaptable when designing;
- test and evaluate the final design proposal against the design specification;
- evaluate the work of other designers to inform their own practice;
- understand the advantages of working collaboratively as a member of a design team;
- understand the need to protect design ideas.
Making Skills
Candidates should be taught to:
- select and use tools/equipment and processes to produce quality products;
- consider the solution to technical problems in the design and manufacture process;
- use tools and equipment safely with regard to themselves and others;
- work accurately and efficiently in terms of time, materials/ingredients and components;
- manufacture products applying quality control procedures;
- have knowledge of Computer-Aided Manufacture (CAM) and to use as appropriate;
- ensure, through testing, modification and evaluation, that the quality of their products is suitable for intended users and devise modifications where necessary that would improve the outcome(s);
- understand the advantages of working as part of a team when designing and making products.
Aims and learning outcomes
This specification in Design and Technology: Resistant Materials Technology encourages candidates to be inspired, moved and challenged by following a broad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study and gain an insight into related sectors, such as manufacturing and engineering. It prepares candidates to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices.
For more information, please see Mr Blackburn in the technology department
