Subject Intent: Why Design and Technology?
From phones and drones to aeroplanes, buildings and everything inside them, in a world where every single product we look at or touch has been designed and manufactured, this course gives students an insight to how it’s all possible. Exploring wide ranges of materials, processes, user needs and environmental considerations, students become familiar with the responsibility and demand on designers and manufacturers. The two Design & Technology pathways offer learners the opportunity to build knowledge, skills and understanding of design and manufacture and are a steppingstone for students who wish to continue studies or work in any area of design or engineering.
What will I study?
- Materials - origin, suitability and application of manufacturing processes and techniques
- Industrial and college-based CAD/ CAM/ CAE.
- Structures
- Mechanisms
- Forces and Motion
- Electronics and energy forms
- Programming
- Communication skills - drawing, sketching and modelling techniques
- Practical manufacturing skills
- Sustainability and environmental impacts
- Stakeholders, users and their requirements
Design and Technology
Please note: Subject videos have been filmed from colleges across our Trust.
What are lessons like in this subject?
The two Design & Technology pathways available, Product Design & Design Engineering, incorporate elements of subjects including maths, science, geography and business studies, complementing them with skills like problem solving, creativity, design and manufacture.
Both strands allow students to become elaborative interrogators and build an understanding of the world they live in. The pathways prepare students for examined content as well as a non-examined assessment project. Lessons are varied, developing a mixture of design techniques including technical drawing and computer aided design as well as access to a broad range of tools for prototyping such as laser cutting, woodwork and 3D printing. Both pathways involve research, rigorous investigation, iterative design, development and manufacture.
Design Engineering has much more of an expectation on functioning products, electronics and the incorporation of Maths and Physics whereas Product Design has a greater focus on consumer products and their applications.
What our
students
In D & T you learn about anything and everything. It allows you to be creative in a formal manner, helping your progress into the next level of education.
Hana Talib, Trinity Academy
