DT - Textiles

To develop a range of practical skills and learn how to use a range of equipment and techniques safely.

There will be a multiple of different designs and make activities covering a range of different material groups. These projects will have an increasing level of challenge, and are planned to keep building your skill set and ability to work safely and become more independent. Mini projects include working with paper and card, acrylic and wood to textiles with electronic components.

You will learn how to do independent research and design by hand drawing and CAD designing to complete a range of different products and create something that is unique and fit for purpose. These will be evaluated to check they are fit for purpose and popular with the target user. Most items will be individual to your own design, which you may keep.

There will also be the opportunity to work on mass production techniques, where practicing teamwork and quality control techniques are the focus on the learning experience.

The final year of GCSE product design will concentrate in developing a unique textile product. The research, designing and technique sampling will be done independently. It will need to respond to the Edexcel brief, and the range of techniques and materials could be diverse and creatively challenging.

The ability to learn a variety of practical workshop skills and design techniques is something that will be beneficial into adulthood.

Creating a portfolio of evidence of your research, planning and creation of a unique product is a very important and effective way to prove in an interview situation the breadth of your skills set and your ability to work to a real world design brief.

It is a great” show and tell” opportunity to demonstrate your creativity and graphical communication skills. It proves the ability to be organised, it samples your literacy skills and ability to use the computer for research and presentation of your work.

Having made a series of small and then a final product, it is a great way to prove your progress and evaluate how you have met the design brief and considered target customer needs and environmental considerations during its manufacture.

This ability to work on all stages of design and making, including evaluation, is a great confidence builder and very relevant to how many jobs in the real working world.

• Fashion Designer

• Technical Designer

• Buyer

• Product developer

• Merchandiser

• Stylist