Design Technology:
Resistant Materials

Creativity is a fundamental part of Resistant Materials. Many designers believe the quality of the initial idea and thought-provoking, innovative design, are cornerstones of every successful product. 

The creative design-and-make activities within Resistant Materials seek to develop creativity and confidence in students’ abilities to think, question, explore, create and communicate their ideas. 

Students will develop their designing skills and practical experiences so that they can get a broad understanding of the physical and working properties of a range of materials and their processing rather than an in-depth knowledge of any particular material, technology or process. 

Combining knowledge and understanding of materials and industrial processes with practical skills, the course provides breadth in creative learning and depth in the application of practical and transferable skills. Students are given the opportunity to design and manufacture a fully-functioning full-size product as part of their Grade 10 Major Project from a range of resistant materials, considering both batch or commercially produced components as a solution to a real need.

This IGCSE course is suited for students interested in engineering, architecture, manufacturing and industrial design and supports topics leading to the IB Diploma course in Design Technology at both Higher and Standard Levels.

Through regular conferencing with a client, students develop and manufacture a fully-functioning, 1:1 scale product to solve a real need. Throughout the design process students consider the needs, wants and opportunities that arise at each step of the design process, recognising the impact on the end user and the environment. 

Grade 9

The course covers and wide range of topics with specific focus on the following:

• The properties and impacts of wood, metals, plastics and composites

• Product Analysis

• Concept drawing

• Industrial and workshop manufacturing processes

• Design Specifications

• Computer Aided Design and Manufacture (CAD/CAM)

• Prototyping 

• Problem finding and empathy studies

Grade 10

The course focuses on the development of the Major Project and builds on the content covered in Grade 9.

• Analysis of a design problem leading to a design brief

• Research into existing products, target market needs and wants resulting in a specifications

• Generation and exploration of design ideas through concept drawing, CAD and prototyping

• Development and selection of ideas through material tests and investigation into joining and production processes

• Testing and measuring the success of a product based on user trials, leading to an evaluation

• General physical and working properties of common construction materials (plastics, woods and metals) in relation to specific designing and making tasks

• Simple comparative testing leading to the reasoned selection of materials and processes for specific design and making tasks

• Creative thinking through aspects of the design cycle of investigation, research, planning, designing, making, testing and evaluating 

• Working with traditional hand-drawing techniques, engineering drawings, CAD/CAM and digital media

• Use of a range of materials, processes and tools including CNC, Laser Cutting and 3D printing

• Solve practical and technological problems operating through processes of analysis, synthesis and realisation

• Develop a range of communication skills which are central to design-making and evaluation and the development of a range of making skills

• Understand the use of a wide range of materials in practical scenarios to develop curiosity, enquiry, initiative, ingenuity, resourcefulness and discrimination with their use

• Encourage technological awareness, foster attitudes of cooperation and social responsibility

External assessment – 50%

• paper 1: Product Design (drawing and design)

• paper 2: Resistant Materials (theory) 

Internal assessment – 50%

• Design Project for an intended user group

Successful completion of this subject will lead to the CAIE qualification 0445 Design Technology.