The Product Design department at George Salter Academy is a successful department. It is forward thinking in its delivery of Product Design at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5, and Engineering at Key Stage 4. Product Design and Engineering are taught in 2 specialist rooms which allow students to design and realise their ideas.
To ensure all students are exposed to problem solving, creativity that allow them to think about society and create a deeper connection with the world around them. Students will be equipped with the ability to produce detailed, accurate and technically correct work through exploring creative design briefs thoroughly using a range of mediums.
Students will become proficient in hand rendering and using processes and techniques to create dynamic and thoughtful designs. Digital media such as Photoshop will be utilised to aid students to professionally develop their ideas and students will become confident in using digital means to produce meaningful artwork.
Students will learn how to apply these fundamentals of design onto products, marketing materials and therefore understand the world around them further. Celebrated Graphic designers will be used to help students visualise their designs and further enhance their appreciation of society and day-to-day life.
Graphics Key Concepts and GSA Journey
The Product Design & Engineering Department offers a number of study support sessions for students across different year groups. Key Stage 4 and 5 students are well supported in preparation for both internal and external assessments with after school revision, twilight sessions, and holiday activities.
Mrs L Devi – Head of Faculty [email protected]
“My teachers have really taught me that mistakes are okay. It is how we learn a better way to do something.”
“The department is fun and are really encouraging of our individual ideas.”
Graphics is taught in rotation in key stage three. Students have 2 lessons of 50 minutes each week delivered as a double lesson. Students are taught in mixed ability groups of around 25. At KS3 students rotate through Graphics, Product Design and Food. All areas of the KS3 National Curriculum are taught through the wide variety of design projects.
In key stage three, students learn the basics of Graphics and throughout the years, they are able to refine the skills, knowledge and techniques needed to successfully render objects and imagery. Students learn to apply the fundamentals of Graphic Design manually but also as their understanding of the subject strengthens, they will experience the use of Photoshop to aid their Graphic designs. Students will develop their understanding of creative design briefs and being able to respond to a set task. They will deepen their knowledge of how to put together a project and respond to client’s needs in creative and imaginative ways.
Graphics at key stage three can lead to a variety of pathways including Product Design and Art pathways. Both these subjects at GCSE can lead to careers in Graphic Design, Game Design, Illustration, Marketing, Graphic Communication, Creative Director etc.
Students have a range of GCSE options to choose from, based on their chosen design journey. We offer Edexcel GCSE Design and Technology, OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Engineering Design, NCFE Graphics Design and BTEC Production Arts.
BTEC Production Arts
Production arts enables you to acquire technical knowledge and skills through vocational contexts. Studying design, production and technical areas of live performance you will examine the roles and responsibilities of different practitioners; as well as the different approaches and styles used, such as comedy, ballet or musical theatre. You will develop key skills; being able to respond to and interpret different ideas and experiencing the ways in which production teams work through the development of ideas, rehearsal and then performance.
NCFE Graphic Design
Graphic design is a form of visual communication. It is the process by which visual information is given form and structure to communicate a message. This qualification focuses on an applied study of the graphic design sector and learners will develop their understanding of graphics in the wider world.
Edexcel GCSE Design and Technology
The GCSE in Design and Technology enables students to understand and apply iterative design processes through which they explore, create and evaluate a range of outcomes. The qualification enables students to use creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems. Students continue to learn how to take design risks, helping them to become resourceful, innovative and enterprising citizens
OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Engineering Design
Engineering design is an opportunity for students to develop their understanding of design and study the processes involved in designing new engineered products. They’ll use practical skills such as drawing, computer modelling and model making to communicate design ideas. The qualification will also encourage them to consult with a client and, with its practical focus, will engage them in producing, testing and evaluating a prototype in the form of a model.
Year 10 OCR Engineering Design Product Design Curriculum Map
Product Design can be studied at A Level, please see our sixth form section for more information.