All higher-level courses require you to demonstrate your understanding of the design process through the preparation of a design folio and the construction of a high quality practical product.

The stages of the design process that will be covered are:

Initial Thinking
Recognising and investigating design opportunities
Brainstorm initial ideas

Research
Investigation and clarification of problem
Research similar products/ costings/ materials / best practice examples etc. using a variety of different media including ICT.

Development
Development of design proposal
Production of first stage designs and alternative options. Evaluation,
leading to choice of project.

Design
Communicating and modelling
Production of design boards featuring different representations of the design, annotated notes on choices made and reasons why.

Production
Making
Refinement of ideas following evaluation

Evaluation
Evaluation and testing
Presentation of designs, final design submission and supporting account.

You will be guided through the process of product design through a series of screens and printable ‘note sheets’. On each screen if you click on a heading you will be taken to a new screen associated with that heading. You need to apply this outline to the process of designing and making your own product.

Remember — Examiners can only mark what is in your folio and your practical work, not what is in your head!

A big thank you to Tim Weston and Oakham school for the Examples of Good Practice