The course intends to reflect the demands of a truly modern and evolving society and enable students to apply themselves and give them the skills to succeed in their chosen pathway.

Equipping students with design skills for the future - Students will be able to recognise design needs and develop an understanding of how current global issues, including integrating technology, impacts on today’s world.

Encourages creativity and innovation - At A level students will have the confidence to innovate and produce creative design solutions as they develop their own design brief with a client/end user.

Content and assessment overview

The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Design and Technology (Product Design) consists of one externally-examined paper and one non-examined assessment component. Students must complete all assessment in May/June in any single year.

Component 1: Principles of Design and Technology
Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes
50% of the qualification
120 marks

Content overview
Topic 1: Materials
Topic 2: Performance characteristics of materials
Topic 3: Processes and techniques
Topic 4: Digital technologies
Topic 5: Factors influencing the development of products
Topic 6: Effects of technological developments
Topic 7: Potential hazards and risk assessment
Topic 8: Features of manufacturing industries
Topic 9: Designing for maintenance and the cleaner environment
Topic 10: Current legislation
Topic 11: Information handling, Modelling and forward planning
Topic 12: Further processes and techniques.

Component 2: Independent Design and Make Project
Non-examined assessment
50% of the qualification
120 marks

Content overview

• Students individually and/or in consultation with a client identify a problem and design context.
• Students will develops a range of potential solutions which include the use of computer aided design and evidence of modelling.
• Students will be expected to make decisions about the designing and development of the prototype in conjunction with the opinions of the user group or client.
• Students will realise one potential solution through practical making activities with evidence of project management and plan for production.
• Students will incorporate issues related to sustainability and the impact their prototype may have on the environment.
• Students are expected to analyse and evaluate design decisions and outcomes for prototypes/products made by themselves and others.
• Students are expected to analyse and evaluate of wider issues in design technology, including social, moral, ethical and environmental impacts.