ART & DESIGN - 3D DESIGN GCSE

Exam Board: AQA

Course Overview / Introduction

In Year 10 students will participate in practical workshops involving a range of materials from wood, plastic, card, modroc etc. In the first year of this course you will learn many skills from Design Technology whilst also incorporating creative and artistic skills. In Year 11 you will refine your ideas further by delving into more detail towards your final outcome with exploration of further development and design work related to Artist, Designers and Craftspeople.

What will you study?

Over the course of the 2 years, you will study many different types of three-dimensional design, including:

• architectural design

• interior design

• ceramics

• sculpture

• jewellery and body adornment

• exhibition design

• product design

• 3D digital design

• designs for theatre, film and television

• environmental/landscape/garden design

You will undertake 2 extended projects as part of your coursework, evidencing your understanding of the way sources inspire the development of ideas relevant to three-dimensional design; and the ways in which meanings, ideas and intentions relevant to three-dimensional design can be communicated.

How many exams are there? 

Coursework: (60% of final mark): Evidence will take the form of sketchbooks, development pages and test pieces. Projects will be concluded by a final piece outcome, usually taking the form of a larger scale model or sculptural piece.

Externally Set Assignment (10 hr exam, 40% of final mark): In Year 11, students are given their ESA paper and have 10 to 11 weeks to create a personal response to their chosen theme and to develop preparatory work. The ESA finishes with a 10 hours supervised time, in exam conditions, to produce a final outcome.

What will you gain from this course?

This course offers many exciting opportunities for creative students who have enjoyed KS3 Design and Technology and who would like to now be more experimental and push the boundaries of Three-Dimensional Design. This course would suit all students who enjoy sketching, designing and making actual 3D products as well as models, and prototypes. The course gives students the opportunity to develop a wide variety of both hand-drawn and hand manufacturing techniques using a wide variety of media, materials and equipment as well as building upon their IT (Photoshop/PowerPoint) and CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Manufacture) skills.

What does this lead to?

3D Design is a very broad course and is designed to provide students with a wide range of skills that would assist in any career path, including a varied range of design course opportunities from A Level through to degrees in Product Design, Architecture, Engineering, and Interior Design. Alternatively, it gives students a critical awareness of the world around them and it develops important ‘independent learning’ skills which are crucial for any future career route.

Staff Contact:

Miss T Wilhelmy,
Head of Creative Arts