Design and Manufacture is predominantly a design-based course. There is some practical work but most of the work is focused on product design. Pupils who are interested in practical work only should consider the Practical Woodworking course.

The three broad aims of the course are to develop:

· Skills in the design and manufacture of models, prototypes and products.

· Knowledge and understanding of manufacturing processes and materials.

· An understanding of the impact of design and manufacturing technologies on our environment and society.

Pupils will be given the chance to develop their abilities in Sketching, Rendering, Computer 3D modelling and a practical ability within the workshop. Pupils are given the chance to be very creative and take an exciting idea from its initial stages into a fully functioning product, that they get to keep at the end of the year.

The assignment will give learners an opportunity to:

• Generate, explore and refine a range of creative ideas in response to brief or situation

• Apply graphic and modelling techniques appropriate to stage and design activity and which communicate necessary information and details

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of materials and processes through application when resolving design tasks and providing solutions and justifying design decisions

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of design issues through application when resolving design tasks and providing solutions and justifying design decisions

Candidates will have the chance to be exceptionally creative. They will generate ideas and develop skills to sketch, render, CAD model and to fully understand the commercial manufacturing process. Pupils if they have the need can use CAM to aid the modelling process.

Pupils will develop skills in manual and electronic graphic techniques. They will acquire knowledge in the use of CAD (computer-aided design), CAM (computer aided manufacture) and DTP (desktop publishing) software as well as how graphic communication directly impacts their lives, environment and society they live in.

Whilst working through various design briefs pupils will experience the three “P’s” of the design process:

Preliminary - sketching and layout techniques including pencil and marker pen rendering. They will use these skills to plan to produce desktop published items, computer CAD models and construction drawings.

Production - drawn visuals to produce magazines, posters and web pages. Technical drawings for the manufacture of products and buildings using CAD software.

Promotional - advertising posters, shop signage, web pages and product branding.

Pupils will build on skills from Nat 5. They will acquire knowledge in the use of CAD (computer-aided design), CAM (computer aided manufacture) and DTP (desktop publishing) software as well as how graphic communication directly impacts their lives, environment and society they live in.

Whilst working through various design briefs pupils will experience the three “P’s” of the design process:

Preliminary - sketching and layout techniques including pencil and marker pen rendering. They will use these skills to plan to produce desktop published items, computer CAD models and construction drawings.

Production - drawn visuals to produce magazines, posters and web pages. Technical drawings for the manufacture of products and buildings using CAD software.

Promotional - advertising posters, shop signage, web pages and product branding 

The National 4/5 Practical Woodworking courses provide opportunities for candidates to gain a range of theoretical and practical woodworking skills relating to tools, equipment, processes and materials. They also develop skills in reading and interpreting working drawings and related documents as well as an understanding of health and safety.

Through this, they develop skills, knowledge and understanding of:

·       woodworking techniques

·       measuring and marking out timber sections and sheet materials

·       safe working practices in workshop environments

·       practical creativity and problem-solving skills

·       sustainability issues in a practical woodworking context