Intermediate 2 Product Design

RATIONALE

‘Manufacturing industry remains the cornerstone of the Scottish economy. Any decline poses a threat to the health, sustainability and diversity of the country and therefore to its infrastructure and the prosperity of its citizens... because of its diverse, dynamic nature, manufacturing needs people with equally diverse and adaptable skills.’ Make it in Scotland (www.makeitinscotland.co.uk)

This Course will help develop creative, flexible learners who are able to work autonomously, to achieve good quality, feasible proposals or outcomes through active experiences of product design. At its heart is creativity. The Course develops an ability to apply skills and knowledge in different situations — attributes which are becoming more and more valuable to individuals and organisations.

The Course offers candidates opportunities to explore the impact of design and technological activities in everyday life. Candidates will consider the complete life of a product from its initial conception, through manufacture and marketing, to its impact on society.

This Course uses a wide range of teaching and learning approaches. Candidates are encouraged to adopt a broad view of the process of design and manufacture, take responsibility for their own actions and decisions, devise plans and procedures, develop and organise ideas and solve problems, make use of new and existing knowledge and justify their design decisions.

The Course will also provide candidates with the opportunity to solve practical problems in applied contexts.

The Units of the Course cover the same areas of study as Higher Product Design. The Intermediate 2 Course aims to equip candidates with the knowledge and skills they need to progress to Higher Product Design.

AIMS

The aims of the Course are to:

·         develop the ability to produce solutions to design tasks

·       develop knowledge and understanding of considerations which have to be addressed when designing commercial products

·         develop graphic and modelling skills

·         develop an awareness of commercial manufacturing processes and materials

·       develop an awareness of economic considerations, and the social and environmental implications of design and manufacture

·         prepare for further study of product design and manufacture.

RECOMMENDED ENTRY

While entry is at the discretion of the centre, candidates will normally be expected to have attained one of the following or equivalent:

• Standard Grade Craft and Design at General level

• Standard Grade Graphic Communication at General level

• Standard Grade Art and Design at General level

COURSE CONTENT

The Course consists of three mandatory Units, each of 40 hours.

The Course has been designed to allow the Units to be delivered sequentially, leading the candidate through the design process from problem identification to product manufacture. However, it should be noted that the Units can be delivered as stand-alone Units and in any order.

The Course content can be broken down into three main sections: designing, communicating and manufacturing. The following lists detail the Course content. Centres must ensure that the content is covered over the duration of the Course. All areas of the Course content will be open for sampling in the Course assessment.

COURSE STRUCTURE

This Course has three mandatory Units:

All Courses include 40 hours over and above the 120 hours for the component Units. This may be used for induction, extending the range of learning and teaching approaches, support, consolidation, integration of learning and preparation for external assessment.

PROGRESSION

This Course or its component Units may provide progression to:

• Higher Product Design