Sustainable product redevelopment

This unit focuses on the analysis, modification and improvement of a product design with consideration of sustainability. 

AREA OF STUDY 1: Sustainable redevelopment of a product 

This area of study introduces students to the product design process, lifecycle analysis/assessment (LCA), IP and the product design factors, with an emphasis on sustainability. Students consider contemporary practices of designers who claim to incorporate sustainable practices. 

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to design and plan the redevelopment of a product with the intention of developing a different product with consideration of sustainability issues.

AREA OF STUDY 2: Producing and evaluating a redeveloped product 

This area of study focuses on the implementation of the design and planning completed in Area of Study 1. Students refer to their working drawings and scheduled production plan, and apply a range of techniques and processes safely to make a redeveloped product. 

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to select and apply materials, tools, equipment and processes to make a redeveloped product, and compare this with the original product.

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

The two compulsory assessment tasks for this unit are: 

• a design folio that contains an analysis of a product’s sustainability, a design brief, evaluation criteria, research, visualisations and design options, working drawings, a scheduled production plan, and an evaluation report on the finished product 

• a finished product and records of production and modifications. 

Additionally, suitable tasks for assessment may be selected from the following: 

• an oral presentation supported by notes and/or visual materials 

• a short written report that includes materials testing or trialling activities, industry visits, technical reports 

• a case study analysis.

Collaborative design 

In this unit students work in teams to design and develop an item in a product range or contribute to the design, planning and production of a group product. They focus on factors including end-user/s’ needs and wants; function, purpose and context for product design; aesthetics; materials and sustainability; and the impact of these factors on a design solution. 

AREA OF STUDY 1 - Designing within a team 

This area of study enables students to apply the product design process collaboratively and individually. Each student works in a design team to generate one design brief collaboratively from a scenario, based around a theme and contributes to the design, planning and production of a group product. Individual roles and responsibilities are allocated. Students develop evaluation criteria for the finished product to determine if each criterion has been met through testing and feedback. 

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to design and plan a product or range of products collaboratively in response to a design brief. 

AREA OF STUDY 2 - Producing and evaluating within a team 

In this area of study students apply knowledge, skills, techniques and processes, including risk management, to make their product, designed in Area of Study 1, in accordance with the team requirements. To ensure consistency throughout production, the team refers to the historical or contemporary cultural design movement or style that inspired their designs. To facilitate communication, students may use digital and project management tools. 

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to justify, manage and use appropriate production processes to make a product safely and evaluate individually and as a member of a team, the processes and materials used and the suitability of a product or components of a group product/s against the design brief. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Contribution to final assessment School-assessed Coursework for Unit 3 will contribute 12 per cent to the study score. 

Outcome 3 

Investigate and define a design problem, and discuss how the design process leads to product design development.

A structured, annotated design brief, evaluation criteria and an explanation of how the designer will research and develop design ideas from the design brief, with reference to product design factors. [25 marks]

Outcome 2 Explain and analyse influences on the design, development and manufacture of products within industrial settings. The student’s performance on the outcome is assessed using one or more of the following: [35 marks]

• extended response 

• a short written report 

• an oral presentation accompanied by notes and/or visual materials.

Applying the product design process

In this unit students are engaged in the design and development of a product that addresses a personal, local, or global problem (such as humanitarian issues), or that meets the needs and wants of a potential end-user/s. The product is developed through a design process and is influenced by a range of factors including the purpose, function and context of the product; user-centred design; innovation and creativity; design elements and principles; sustainability concerns; economic limitations; legal responsibilities; material characteristics and properties; and technology. 

AREA OF STUDY 1 - Designing for end-user/s 

In this area of study students examine the product design process and develop skills in writing a design brief, which is vital for the development of a viable solution. They focus on identifying and designing for a potential end-user/s of an intended product. They consider methods used to establish an end-user/s’ needs for the development of a solution to a design problem. 

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to investigate and define a design problem, and discuss how the design process leads to product design development. 

AREA OF STUDY 2 - Product development in industry 

This area of study focuses on the factors, processes and systems that influence the design and development of products within industrial settings. Students explore specific cases and the reasons why design and innovation are integral to value-adding to products. They also examine how companies react to market demands and technological developments. Students look at the role of market research in determining end-user/s’ needs in relation to sustainability. 

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain and analyse influences on the design, development and manufacture of products within industrial settings. 

AREA OF STUDY 3 - Designing for others 

This area of study focuses on students working as designers and applying the product design process to meet the requirements of an end-user/s. Students identify specific needs of the end-user/s by referring to the product design factors and conducting research. Students prepare a design brief that guides their work for this area of study and for Areas of Study 2 and 3 in Unit 4. They examine appropriate techniques for recording and communicating data, information, visualisation of ideas, design options and working drawings and for obtaining end-user/s’ feedback. They appropriately acknowledge resources and the IP of others. Students use creative and critical design thinking techniques throughout the product design process. 

OUTCOME 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to document the product design process used to meet the needs of an end-user/s, and commence production of the designed product. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Contribution to final assessment School-assessed Coursework for Unit 4 will contribute 8 per cent to the study score.

Outcome 1 Compare, analyse and evaluate similar commercial products, taking into account a range of factors and using appropriate techniques. [40 marks] 

The student’s performance on the outcome is assessed using one or more of the following: 

• an extended response

• a short written report

• structured questions 

• an oral presentation accompanied by notes 

• an annotated visual report. Total marks 40 

School-assessed Task Assessment for Product Design and Technology.

Outcome 3 in Unit 3, and Outcomes 2 and 3 in Unit 4

• A folio comprising: – An end-user/s’ profile, a design brief, evaluation criteria, research, visualisations, design options with justification of the selected option, working drawings of final option, a scheduled production plan, a list of relevant processes used for larger scale production, and a record of progress and modifications. The design folio must include documentation of decisions, and acknowledge sources of information. – Production work accompanied by a record of production progress and documentation of modifications with justification of these changes (text and images should be included). 

Unit 4 Outcome 2 

Apply a range of production skills and processes safely to make the product designed in Unit 3, and manage time and resources effectively and efficiently.

AND 

• A functional product that conforms to standards of quality indicated in the design brief outline of context. 

Outcome 3 Evaluate the finished product through testing and feedback against the criteria, create end-user/s’ instructions or care labels and recommend improvements to future products.

AND

• A written report that includes evaluation of the product. 

AND 

• Relevant end-user/s instructions or care labels which highlight the features, assembly, care and/or repair of the product in any of the following formats: video tutorials, annotated image of the product or other multimedia format.

Product development and evaluation 

In this unit students engage with an end-user/s to gain feedback throughout the process of production. Students make comparisons between similar products to help evaluate the success of a product in relation to a range of product design factors. The environmental, economic and social impact of products throughout their life cycle can be analysed and evaluated with reference to the product design factors. 

AREA OF STUDY 1 - Product analysis and comparison 

In this area of study students examine design factors that influence the success of commercially available products. Products are analysed and evaluated in terms of the product design factors. Students develop an understanding of what people value and how they evaluate products using qualitative and quantitative methods, and consider the impacts and consequences of product design success and failure. 

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to compare, analyse and evaluate similar commercial products, taking into account a range of factors and using appropriate techniques. 

AREA OF STUDY 2 - Product manufacture 

This area of study focuses on the skills, production techniques and processes employed to make a product to suit the needs of an end-user/s. Students continue to implement their scheduled production plan, apply skills and processes including risk management in the safe use of materials, tools, equipment and machines, and complete the product to specified standards of quality. They monitor and record their progress and make modifications if necessary. 

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to apply a range of production skills and processes safely to make the product designed in Unit 3, and manage time and resources effectively and efficiently. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

The two compulsory assessment tasks for this unit are: 

•  a design folio that contains a design brief, evaluation criteria, research, visualisations and design options, working drawings, scheduled production plan, and evaluation report 

• product and records of production and modifications

Additionally, suitable tasks for assessment may be selected from the following: 

• an oral report supported by notes and/or visual materials 

• a short written report that includes materials testing or trialling activities, industry visits, technical reports.

AREA OF STUDY 3: Product evaluation 

This area of study focuses on the student’s application of evaluation criteria, the performance of checks and tests, and gaining end-user/s’ feedback to determine how well a product meets the needs and requirements outlined in the design brief developed in Unit 3. 

OUTCOME 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to evaluate the finished product through testing and feedback against criteria, create end-user/s’ instructions or care labels and recommend improvements to future products. 

For more information about Product Design & Technology, see Rebecca Crook