Design & Technology Subject Overview
Includes Food Preparation & Nutrition, Graphic Communication, Creative Design & Production, and Textile Design
Statement of Intent
Design & Technology
In Design Technology we teach students how to take risks, to become more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and to develop skills such as creative problem solving, working with others and communication skills. This prepares students for the world of work, develops the whole person, allows students to challenge themselves and work both collaboratively and as a community. Our Design Technology curriculum allows students to understand the core principles of good design, allows them to take creative risks and builds awareness of global issues including FairTrade, sustainability, cultures and contemporary design.
The curriculum consists of a range of creative, imaginative and innovative experiences of theory, design and practical based activities. Using a range of materials from four main areas Product Design, Graphics, Textiles and Food in conjunction with drawing on additional knowledge from other STEM subjects and links to other curriculum areas such as Geography and Art allows our students to develop their practical skills and work with a wide range of specific materials and tools such as wood, plastic, card and fabric.
- Prepare students with the skills and knowledge for the world outside the classroom.
- A progressive curriculum, so that students can build on the skills and knowledge they learn and master them.
- Develop creative, innovative and independent thinkers and learners.
- Enable students to feel safe and confident in their learning environment to take risks and learn from mistakes.
- Foster intellectual inquisitiveness about how and why things work the way they do.
- Have a greater understanding of how the real world of design and technology works around them, looking back at the past, seeing the present and looking forward to the future.
- Allow students to appreciate the work of world class designers in a wide range of fields and allow them to consider the needs of individuals and society.
- Enjoy learning in a practical manner having experienced the best possible engaging and challenging lessons which foster and promote interests for later life.
- Encourage and inspire students who wish to take on further study from selecting this as an option at GCSE, A level, University and the world of work.
- Equip students with the knowledge and skills to go into adult life both at work and leisure with a sound understanding of practical applications to enhance their lifestyles and the joy of learning.
Currently all students study Design Technology in Years 7 & 8 and then they have the option to study the subject in Year 9. Students can then opt to study Art & Design: Textiles; NCFE: Graphic Design, NCFE: Creative Design & Production or EDUQAS: Food Preparation and Nutrition at GCSE level. Students can then progress onto A level Art & Design: Graphic Communication.
Key Stage 3: Textiles, Food, Product Design and Graphic Design
Key Stage 4: Textile Design, Food Preparation & Nutrition, Creative Design & Production and Graphic Design
Key Stage 5: Graphic Communication
Subject Overviews
KS3 Curriculum Map
Year 7 Overview
Year 7 Topics
Eatwell Guide and Healthy Eating
Healthy eating, eatwell guide, nutrition, safety and hygiene, knife skills, bridge and claw grip, rubbing in method, layering, safe use of the oven, dough making and shaping.
Blockhead Characters
Research, design specification, ACCESSFM, workshop health and safety, design development, drawing skills, technical drawing, hand and machine tools and equipment, timber theory, systems and control elements, material finishes and how to evaluate.
Screen Buddy
Research ideas, develop design ideas, stencil and print making, fabric construction, health and safety, how to use the sewing machines, hand stitching techniques, textile theory and how to evaluate.
Pattern Making
How to mindmap and moodboard, print and pattern design, net design, existing designer research and influences, cultural patterns, pattern overlay and flip repeat designs.
Year 8 Overview
Year 8 Topics
Energy Balance
Eatwell guide and healthy eating, energy balance, positive and negative energy, starchy carbohydrates, use of the hob, knife skills, bread making, kneading, shaping, proving, use of the oven, where food comes from and seasoning.
Jon Burgerman Keyring
Working in the style of an illustrator, research skills, developed design ideas working towards a brief, technical language when annotating, thermoset and thermoplastic theory, finishing techniques of working with acrylic, hand and machine tools, workshop health and safety and packaging design.
Phone Cover
Fashion company research, idea generation, working to a design brief, smart and technical textile theory, printmaking, repeated patterns, learn how to measure and work to a tolerance, template making, construction of a product and how to evaluate a final outcome.
Typography
Key elements of graphic design, formal elements, typographer research and influences, typography theory, serif and sans serif, anatomy of a font, research skills, 3D advertising, typefaces, industry standard computer editing software.
Year 9 Overview
Students build on the skills and technical knowledge learnt in Years 7 & 8 preparing and enthusing them for GCSE.
Year 9 Topics
Healthy Eating & Seasonality
Making healthy choices, adapting recipes, healthy eating, tips for eating well, nutrients, seasonality of foods, Fairtrade, designing a starchy carbohydrate dish, use of the oven and hob and knife skills.
Modelling & Prototyping
Modelling, looking at design through to prototype, client profiles, IKEA, throw away culture, sustainability, 7 R’s, isometric, exploded and orthographic viewpoints, modelling skills and development, timber joining techniques, timber finishes, how to annotate design ideas, design a product, scaled-down prototype and using a range of hand and machine tools.
T-Shirt Upcycling
Research into famous fashion brands, writing a design brief, task analysis, theory of upcycling, environmental impact of the textile industry, social, moral and environmental impact of fashion, CAD/CAM, laser cutter, stencil design, screen printing, applique, decorative stitch, fabric manipulation, embroidery skills, fabric finish techniques, plan of making and how to evaluate a body of work.
Branding
Corporate identity and branding, composition rules, branding layout, how to design and experiment with logo development, functionality and purpose of packaging, net layouts, model making, typography, logo design, advertising and leaflet design.
KS4 Curriculum Map
Food Preparation & Nutrition Overview
Students study the EDUQAS GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition course.
50% – Written exam
50% – Non Exam Assessments (NEA) – NEA 1 & NEA 2
Year 10 Food Preparation & Nutrition Topics
- Course introduction
- Food, nutrition, diet & good health: macronutrients, micronutrients & water, nutritional needs and health
- Practical skills: cake making skills
- creaming method and whisking method; pastry making skills – shortcrust pastry, flakey pastry & choux pastry; bread making skills
- Science of Food: cooking of food & heat transfer, functional and chemical properties of proteins, carbohydrates, fats & oils and raising agents
- Food safety: food spoilage and contamination, principles of food safety
- Cooking and Food Preparation – Practical skills: sauce making skills, knife skills, pasta making
- Food science investigations
- Food choice: factors affecting food choice, British & international cuisine, sensory evaluation, food labelling & marketing
- Practical skills: sensory evaluation – presentation skills, sensory investigation, use of equipment and cooking methods
Year 11 Food Preparation & Nutrition Topics
- Completion of NEA 1 Food investigation (10 hours). Research; investigation & analysis and evaluation
- Start NEA 2 Food Preparation assessment (20 hours). Researching the task
- Complete NEA 2 Food Cooking & Preparation assessment. Demonstrating technical skills, planning for the final menu, 3 hour practical assessment – making the final dishes and analyse & evaluate
- Where food comes from:: environmental impact and sustainability of food, food production and processing
- Revision of theoretical knowledge for written examination
KS4 - Creative Design & Production
Students study the NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Creative Design & Production course.
Creative Design and Production is designed for learners who want an introduction to design and production that includes a vocational and project-based element, approached from a creative perspective with regular opportunities to experiment and create. The qualification will appeal to learners who wish to pursue a career in the design and production sector or progress to further study.
60% – Non Exam Assessment
40% – Written examination
Year 10 Creative Design & Production
Component 1 coursework (the theme of this can change each year)
- Design and production in context – design principles, movements, environmental impact of a product, impact of social factors
- Design materials and processes – materials, properties and characteristics, aesthetics, surface finishes, costs, design process, CAD/CAM
- Design brief and production processes – interpreting a design brief, design solutions, design presentation, client communication, graphic communication skills, feedback and modifications, production plans, production methods, safe working practice
- Presentation of a design solution – purposes, methods, presentation skills
- Review of processes and solution – formative reviews, summative reviews
- Working in the design production industries – employment and careers, skills for industry, product promotion, self promotion
Year 11 Creative Design & Production
- Mock NEA
- 40% NEA brief
- Revision – design and production in context, design materials and processes, design brief and production processes, presentation of a design solution, review of processes and solution and working in the design production industries
KS4 - ARt & Design: Textiles
Students study the AQA Art & Design: Textile Design course.
Textile design is defined as the creation of designs and products for woven, knitted, stitched, printed or decorative textiles that might have a functional or non-functional purpose. In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to work in one or more areas of textile design. Students must develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills specified in the subject content to realise personal intentions relevant to textile design and their selected area(s) of study.
60% – Component 1 – Project 1: Landscapes, Project 2: Student theme
40% – Component 2 – Externally set exam brief
Year 10 Art & Design: Textiles
Year 11 Art & Design: Textiles
KS4 - Graphic Design
Students study the NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Graphic Design
Graphic Design from getting to grips with industry standard digital design software to creating patterns, packaging design and typography. Students will learn about design briefs, how to unpick design briefs, write their own design briefs and learn how to respond to these in a number of creative and innovative ways. From planning and development through to designing and presenting –this Level 1/2 Technical Award will help creative pupils understand the work and the processes of a graphic designer, whilst helping them to take their first steps into a career or further study in this sector.
60% – Non Exam Assessment
40% – Written examination
Year 10 Graphic DEsign
- Main components of graphic design (line, colour, tone, composition, typography and imagery)
- Research into the work of famous graphic designers and design movements and experiment in working in that style.
- Requirements of a graphic design brief and practice being able to write their own brief as well as responding to a brief.
- Plan, develop and experiment in response to a design brief.
- Graphic design production building on the skills and experiments learnt within the year.
- Design, present and promote graphic design work and the key elements involved within this.
Year 11 Graphic DEsign
- Mock NEA
- 40% NEA brief
- Revision – components of graphic design, famous designers, design movements, design brief, plan, develop and experiment in response to a design brief, graphic design production, presentation of graphic design
A Level Curriculum Map
AQA Art & Design: Graphic Communication
Year 12 Topics
Skills based component
Component 1 portfolio (the theme of this changes each year)
During the first term, students will be introduced to the course and complete a mini skills based project. Topics and skills that will be covered during this project include; lino printing, mono printing, cellotape printing, collage, ink, watercolour, drawing ink, stencils, observational drawings, oil pastels, background making, mark making, developing design ideas, typography, logo development, Photoshop skills, line drawings, repeated patterns, working in the style of artists and illustrators, photoshoots, photoshoot edits and looking at how branding.
Students will be introduced to component 1 which is their main portfolio of work. Students will complete the following work; individual design briefs to work towards, contextual studies, written proposals, initial research into chosen theme and subtheme, artist and photographer analysis, photoshoots, how to write a shooting log and after shooting log and initial observational work (hand and Photoshop).
Year 13 Topics
Component 1 portfolio (the theme of this changes each year)
Component 2 externally set (15 hour exam)
Students will continue to work on component 1. Students will complete the following work; refinement of experiments, typography research and theory, brand analysis, brand idea generation, font development, logo development including initial sketches to final Photoshop evidence, logo and typography experiments, producing final outcomes and variations, final posters and products and completing a personal essay.