dt coursework aqa

Design Communication

Design communication: drawings.

You need to be able to produce a range of design ideas and solutions for your NEA/coursework. You will need to develop your design ideas through sketching, CAD, modelling, testing and feedback.

Freehand sketching

• These can later be refined and presented.
• Do not be worried about rough or scruffy sketches in your work as these are a great starting point.
• Annotation (notes) are key to make sure your idea and sketch are fully explained.

3D sketching

• 3D sketching brings your ideas to life.
• Use isometric or perspective drawing to help with the layout of your work.
• These drawings and ideas should be better presented than the freehand sketching and more detail, colour and time should be added and taken with these drawings.

Exploded drawing

• This can be done by hand or on a computer.
• This style is to show the different parts of the product so the product is exploded.
• It is used a lot for furniture design especially instruction booklets like IKEA.

• Adding notes explains your thoughts.
• What do you like or dislike about the design?
• How does the design link to your brief/ client needs?
• What material will it be made from?
• What processes are required to make it?
• Will it be easy or difficult to make?
• Where did the inspiration come from?

Working drawings

• Working drawings such as orthographic allow you to look at a plan view of a product.
• The drawings are technical and show the sizes of the product in a set format.
• All parts should line up across the three views of plan(top), side and front view.
• These drawings need to be drawn in scale e.g. 1:2 so the object is half the size of the actual product.

Schematic drawings

• Schematic drawings are used for circuit boards and show the layout of the components and which components are being used throughout the circuit.

Design Communication: Modelling

• CAD (Computer Aid Design) models allow you to develop an idea and make very quick changes to it on the computer.
• There are lots of different types of CAD software from 2D packages to 3D packages and many of them free to students studying Design Technology.

CAD models cont.

• CAD is any design drawn on a computer rather than by hand.
• This makes it quicker to edit, can provide you with working drawings automatically and the design can be sent to CAM, (computer aided manufacture) machines such as a laser cutter or 3D printer.

• Use plasticine, card, styrofoam (blue foam), timber and plastic to make your models.
• Start off simple and then get more detailed with the models you make.
• You do not always have to model all of your design just test out the different parts to see if they work.

Modelling cont.

• Is it the right size?
• Is it the right shape?
• Is it aesthetically pleasing (colour, shape design)?
• What are the options?

Other modelling techniques

• Card modelling works as parts can be joined together using masking tape and a hot glue gun.
• Toiles are used in the fashion industry to test out a design using cheaper material. You can check the pattern and the style before using the more expensive material.
• For electronics, test your circuit out using breadboards. No soldering is involved and it is an easier way to change the circuit. It is a quicker way to test out the circuit design.

Mathematical modelling

• Mathematical modelling is a way of simulation on a PC real life situations using a maths formula.
• It can be used to demonstrate how a system will work or change if options are modified in the settings.
• It is used a lot when designing cars to see how streamline the car is and how much drag is created by the shape of the car.

Design Communication: Other Techniques

Audio and visual recordings

• Audio and visual recordings allow you to capture either your client's thoughts and feedback or your target market's reactions and suggestions.
• Ensure you have people's permission to do this.

Analysing recordings

• You can upload the video/recordings and use them to write up their comments if you have recorded the interview.
• Most importantly you can analyse and evaluate what people said and how they reacted.
• Most mobiles will allow you to record without the need to buy expensive equipment.

• Testing - you need to ensure that the models you make you test out, from reviewing the shape and size of the models through to the colour and the style.
• Get feedback from your client and target market about your design ideas.

1 Core Technical Principles

1.1 New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.1 Industry

1.1.2 Enterprise

1.1.3 Sustainability

1.1.4 People

1.1.5 Culture & Society

1.1.6 Environment

1.1.7 Production Techniques & Systems

1.1.8 Emerging Technologies & Design

1.1.9 End of Topic Test - New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.10 Exam-Style Questions - Emerging Technologies

1.2 Energy Generation & Storage

1.2.1 Fossil Fuels & Nuclear

1.2.2 Renewable Energy

1.2.3 Energy Storage Systems

1.3 Developments in New Materials

1.3.1 Modern Materials

1.3.2 Smart Materials

1.3.3 Exam-Style Questions - Smart Materials

1.3.4 Composite Materials

1.3.5 Technical Textiles

1.4 Systems Approach to Designing

1.4.1 Inputs

1.4.2 Processes

1.4.3 Outputs

1.4.4 Looped Systems

1.5 Mechanical Devices

1.5.1 Types of Movement

1.5.2 Levers

1.5.3 Linkages

1.5.4 Rotary Systems

1.5.5 End of Topic Test - Designing & Mechanical Devices

1.6 Materials Categories

1.6.1 Timbers

1.6.2 Metals & Alloys

1.6.3 Metals & Alloys 2

1.6.4 Polymers

1.6.5 Polymer Types

1.6.6 Textiles

1.6.7 Textile Types: Fibres

1.6.8 Textile Types: Weave

1.6.9 Paper & Boards

1.7 Material Properties

1.7.1 Physical & Working Properties

1.7.2 End of Topic Test - Materials

1.7.3 Exam-Style Questions - Materials

2 Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

2.1 Selection of Materials

2.1.1 Paper & Boards

2.1.2 Working with Paper & Boards

2.2 Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.1 Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.2 Cardboard & Paper

2.3 Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.1 Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.2 Paper & Board: The Six Rs

2.3.3 Social Issues

2.4 Paper & Board: Sources & Origins

2.4.1 Paper & Board

2.4.2 End of Topic Test - Paper & Board

2.5 Paper & Board: Using Materials

2.5.1 Paper & Board: Properties of Materials

2.5.2 Paper & Board: Modification of Materials

2.5.3 Paper & Board: Shape & Form

2.6 Paper & Board: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

2.6.1 Paper & Board: Forms

2.6.2 Paper & Board: Types

2.6.3 Paper & Board: Sizes

2.6.4 Paper & Board: Standards Components

2.7 Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.1 Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.2 Exam-Style Questions - Scales of Production

2.8 Paper & Board: Specialist Techniques & Processes

2.8.1 Paper & Board: Techniques & Processes

2.8.2 Paper & Board: Quality Control

2.9 Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.1 Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.2 End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

3 Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

3.1 Timber: Selection of Materials

3.1.1 Timber Based Materials

3.1.2 Timber: Environment & Ethics

3.2 Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.1 Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.2 Timber

3.3 Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.1 Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.2 Timber: The Six Rs

3.3.3 Timber: Social Issues

3.3.4 Exam-Style Questions - Timber

3.4 Timber: Sources & Origins

3.4.1 Timber

3.4.2 Timber: Processing & Seasoning

3.4.3 Manufactured Board

3.4.4 End of Topic Test - Timber

3.5 Timber: Using Materials

3.5.1 Timber: Properties of Materials

3.5.2 Timber: Modification of Materials

3.5.3 Timber: Shape & Form

3.5.4 Timber: Shape & Form 2

3.6 Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.6.1 Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.7 Timber: Scales of Production

3.7.1 Timber: Scales of Production

3.8 Timber: Specialist Techniques & Processes

3.8.1 Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes

3.8.2 Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 2

3.8.3 Timber: Quality Control

3.9 Timber: Surface Treatments & Finishes

3.9.1 Timber: Surface Treatments

3.9.2 Timber: Finishes

3.9.3 End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

4 Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

4.1 Metals: Selection of Materials

4.1.1 Metal-Based Materials

4.1.2 Ferrous Metals

4.1.3 Non-Ferrous Metals

4.1.4 Alloys

4.1.5 Metals: Environment & Ethics

4.2 Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.2.1 Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.3 Metals: Ecological & Social Footprint

4.3.1 Metals: Ecological Footprint

4.3.2 Metals: Social Footprint

4.3.3 Metals: The Six R's

4.3.4 Metals: Social Issues

4.4 Metals: Sources & Origins

4.4.1 Origins of Metal

4.4.2 Processing Metals

4.5 Metals: Alloy-Based Materials

4.5.1 Types of Metal Alloys

4.5.2 Alloying Elements

4.5.3 Properties & Benefits

4.5.4 Processing & Fabrication

4.5.5 Applications of Alloys

4.5.6 Metal Alloys in Industry

4.5.7 Applications of Metal Alloys

4.6 Metals: Using Materials

4.6.1 Properties of Metals

4.6.2 Modification of Metals

4.6.3 Metals: Shape & Form

4.7 Metals: Scales of Production

4.7.1 Metals: Scales of Production

4.8 Metals: Specialist Techniques & Processes

4.8.1 Metals: Tools

4.8.2 Metals: Tools & Equipment

4.8.3 Metals: Cutting, Forming & Machining Processes

4.8.4 Metals: Joining, Casting & Heat Treatment Process

4.9 Metals: Quality Control

4.9.1 Metals: Quality Control

4.9.2 Metals: Quality Control Processes

4.10 Metals: Surface Treatments & Finishes

4.10.1 Metals: Surface Treatments

4.10.2 Metals: Surface Treatments for Metals

4.10.3 Metals: Finishes

4.10.4 Metals: Finishing Techniques for Metals

5 Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

5.1 Polymers

5.1.1 Polymers: Functionality & Aesthetics

5.1.2 Polymers: Environment & Ethics

5.1.3 Polymers: Sources, Origins & Properties

5.1.4 Polymers: Forces & Stresses

5.1.5 Polymers: Ecological & Social Footprint

5.1.6 Polymers: The Six R's

5.2 Polymer Categories

5.2.1 Categories of Polymers

5.2.2 Thermoforming Polymers

5.2.3 Thermosetting Polymers

5.3 Polymer Forms

5.3.1 Polymers: Stock Forms

5.3.2 Polymers: Shape & Form

5.4 Polymer Production, Techniques & Quality Control

5.4.1 Polymers: Scales of Production

5.4.2 Polymers: Specialist Techniques & Processes

5.4.3 Polymers: Quality Control Systems: Tolerance

5.4.4 Polymers: Finishes

6 Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

6.1 Textile Materials

6.1.1 Origin of Textiles

6.1.2 Textile Industry

6.2 Selection of Materials

6.2.1 Natural Fibres

6.2.2 Synthetic Fibres

6.2.3 Environmental Concerns

6.2.4 Environmental Impact

6.2.5 Ethical Challenges

6.3 Forces & Stresses

6.3.1 Forces & Stresses

6.4 Ecological & Social Footprint

6.4.1 Ecological Footprint

6.4.2 Social Footprint

6.4.3 Addressing Ecological & Social Footprints

6.4.4 The Six R's

6.4.5 Labour Conditions

6.4.6 Social Issues

6.4.7 Addressing Social Issues

7 Designing & Making Principles

7.1 Investigation & Data

7.1.1 Iterative Design

7.1.2 Primary & Secondary Data

7.1.3 Market Research

7.1.4 Ergonomics

7.1.5 Specifications

7.1.6 End of Topic Test - Investigation & Data

7.1.7 Exam-Style Questions - Specifications

7.2 Environmental, Social & Economic Challenges

7.2.1 Challenges

7.2.2 Your Research

7.3 The Work of Others

7.3.1 Designers

7.3.2 Architects

7.3.3 Product Design

7.3.4 Industrial Designers

7.3.5 Product Design Companies

7.3.6 Textile Design Companies

7.3.7 End of Topic Test - The Work of Others

7.4 Design Strategies

7.4.1 Design Strategies

7.5 Communication of Design Ideas

7.5.1 Design Communication

7.6 Prototype Development

7.6.1 Prototype Development

7.7 Selection of Materials

7.7.1 Materials

7.8 Tolerances

7.8.1 Tolerances

7.9 Material Management

7.9.1 Managing Material

7.9.2 Tools

7.10 Specialist Equipment

7.10.1 Health & Safety

7.11 Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.1 Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.2 Surface Finishes

7.11.3 End of Topic Test - Designing & Making

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Design Strategies

Prototype Development

The Work of Other Designers

You will have to research, analyse and evaluate the work of past and present designers and companies to help inform your designing.

For your exam you will need to research the work of at least two of these designers. Use these bullet points as a starting point to find your own information ready for the exam.

Harry Beck (1902-1974) was a technical draughtsman who redesigned the London Underground map. It was a radically different map to anything produced before but was soon copied by many other cities.

Marcel Breuer (1902 – 1981) was one of the world’s most popular architects of the 20 th Century. Before architecture he designed and made a series of design classic chairs including the Wassily chair and bicycle handle inspired tubular steel chairs.

Coco Chanel (1883-1971) is one of the world’s most famous fashion names. Her trademark suits and famous little black dress show timeless, classic design.

Norman Foster (1935-) an architect who specialises in glass and metal buidings such as the Gherkin building and the Millennium Bridge in London.

Alexander Issigonis (1906- 1988) designed the ground breaking Mini and Morris Minor.

Williams Morris (1834-1896) a designer and artist best known for bold nature themed fabric and wallpaper prints. He was part of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Alexander Mcqueen (1969-2010) a British fashion designer well known for wild and theatrical fashion shows. He was 4 times winner of British Designer of the year.

Mary Quant (1934 -) was an instrumental figure in 1960’s fashion. She is credited with inventing the mini skirt and hot pants. Famous for designing simple, brightly coloured clothing which revolutionised youth fashion.

Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) an Art Nouveau designer of jewellery and glass. Tiffany lamps use a mixture of coloured glass and leaded panes.

Raymond Templer (1891-1968), jewellery designer in the Art Deco geometric style.

Gerrit Reitveld (1888-1964) a Dutch Modernist designer and architect, his designs are famous for their straight lines, simple shapes and use of primary colours.

Charles Rennie Macintosh (1868-1928) designed the Glasgow School of Art, he was an Art Deco designer of furniture and jewellery as well as an architect.

Aldo Rossi (1931-1997) an Italian architect and designer famous for a range of buildings and classic product designs.

Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007) was the founder of the Memphis Movement, as an architect and designer his designs were known for geometric shapes and bright colours.

Philippe Stark (1949-) an architect and designer particularly famous for furniture and kitchenware designs.

Vivienne Westwood (1941-) credited for starting the Punk Rock movement, her fashion collections often take inspiration from historical costume such as pirates and witches.

You will also need to study a minimum of two of these companies:

Alessi : During the 1970’s Alberto Alessi began employing product designers to make original and fun designs for every day kitchen equipment. The bright colours and stylish designs were mass produced and affordable to everyone.

Apple : Apple phones and iPods were the first hand held electrical products to have smooth, sleek edges and simple intuitive design. Jonathon Ives took the ‘less but better’ (see Braun below) ethos to create the instantly recognisable design.

Braun : Braun is a German electrical company whose most famous designer Dieter Rams used the idea of ‘less but better’ to create a range of products including the electric shaver.

Dyson : Sir James Dyson reinvented the vacuum cleaner to no longer need a bag. He famously prototyped thousands of designs before refining his cyclone suction and bag-less design.

Gap : Opened in America in 1969 the Gap shop specialised in everyday jeans and shirts. Through creative advertising and staple products they have maintained popularity across the world.

Primark : Production of high fashion clothes, mass produced and changed regularly to keep up with market trends. Low cost due to large numbers and production abroad.

Under Armour : American footballer Kevin Plank started this sportswear company with an undershirt which wicks away sweat. The company now sells a range of sports equipment.

Zara : A Spanish company which sells up to the minute fashion at a mid-price point. It aims to keep up with current trends as they evolve.

9705 D&T coursework examples

Topic outline.

A range of coursework submissions (for both components) for this Syllabus have been included here along with a breakdown of the marks awarded, and a moderator commentary explaining how the marks were decided. You should always refer to the syllabus for specific details about the requirements for and assessment of coursework. Additionally, the Cambridge Handbook sets out the process and requirements for submitting coursework for moderation by Cambridge International.

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GCSE DT Coursework Exemplar - A* NEA

Subject: Design, engineering and technology

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Unit of work

Last updated

30 October 2022

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Resource includes powerpoint of GCSE Design Technology Coursework NEA component.

Project received a grade 9/ A* for GCSE DT, with the NEA Coursework as a key component.

This prompt was part of the 2019/2020 choice of NEA, which was ' Working towards a Sustainable Future’.

This resource would be fantastic as an exemplar coursework for anyone studying/ teaching GCSE DT. It includes:

• variety of primary and secondary research,
• client interviews,
• a design brief and specification,
• initial concepts sketches,
• evaluation/ evaluation charts,
• key links to design movements/ designers,
• material investigations,
• CAD drawings and final product sketches.
• The resource powerpoint follows the specification requirements for a high level, grade 9 response, and could be used as a template for student’s to create their own projects.

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

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