GCSE Product Design

Products have a huge influence on the form, function and style of many of the objects we use in our daily lives – everything from kettles to telephones to adverts and posters – as well as creating much more specialist products, such as medical equipment. Balancing technology, engineering, art and science with problem solving, Product Design could be the GCSE for you. 

The Product Design GCSE course is an extension of the work carried out in Years 7-9 and provides an excellent basis for those who wish to continue studying to A Level with us, or go beyond to study design at Degree level. 

This course offers a unique opportunity for students to identify and solve real problems by designing and making products in a wide range of materials. As well as developing all six Key Skills students will develop their capacity for imaginative, innovative thinking, creativity and independence. 

Learners will have the opportunity to analyse real situations; design and make products and then evaluate their performance. They will be provided with the opportunity to develop their Graphics skills, using ICT to produce 2D and 3D ICT images, as well as hand sketching, rendering and formal engineering drawing skills. Students will be encouraged to generate a range of ideas, developing creative solutions and then produce the details of the final solution using activities related to industrial practices. Students will plan the making process with a range of workshop processes and materials at their disposal. 

Year 10 

Students will design and make products following the design process and study the Theory of Product Design through practical applications. They will develop their design skills with an appreciation of modern designers such as James Dyson, Bethan Gray and Airbus. Creating innovative concepts and prototypes of ideas, their understanding of iterative design and ergonomics will be enhanced. Students will work through a series of focused practical tasks that introduce them to joining and shaping methods using a variety of materials including card, wood, metal, plastics, and smart materials. The use of CAD, digital literacy and the experience of new skills will be encouraged at all stages of the course along with graphical techniques needed to portray their ideas and creations to cope with whatever brief is offered by the examination board in September of Year 11. 

Year 11

This year is an exciting opportunity for pupils to develop their newly learnt skills by designing and making a product of their own choosing. In this non-examined assessment, pupils will choose one contextual challenge from a range of three possible challenges set by the WJEC. Approximately 35 hours will be devoted to this task. The design folio should be iterative and the pupils will be encouraged to manage their time appropriately. Pupils will record their design journey in an A3 sketchbook. When completing the design & make task, the pupils will be required to produce a final prototype based on their design brief.  The design and make task is worth 50% of the total marks available for this GCSE Product Design qualification. The design and make task is assessed by the school and moderated by WJEC. The written theory examination is worth 50% and will be taken in the Summer term during Year 11. 

Possible careers and further education 

Product Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Engineering, Game Design, Project Managers, Lighting Designers, 3D Designers, Exhibition Designers, Bathroom Designers, Kitchen Designers, Industrial Design, CAD Technicians, Furniture Design, Interior Design, Film Set/Theatre Design, Special effects, Advertising, Media, Animation and Web Design.