The Course provides a broad and practical experience in product design and manufacture. It provides opportunities for learners to gain skills in designing and communicating design proposals and opportunities for learners to refine and resolve their design ideas effectively.

The Course provides opportunities for learners to apply practical skills and an understanding of the properties and uses of materials and manufacturing processes.

The Course combines elements of creativity and designing for aesthetic or visual impact with elements of designing for the practicalities of manufacturing. It helps the learner appreciate the importance to a product of form, function, and performance.

The Course allows learners to consider the various factors that impact on a product’s design. It will consider the life cycle of a product from its inception through design, manufacture, and use, including its disposal and/or re-use — cradle-to-cradle.

The Course provides learners with opportunities to develop:

·         research skills

·         idea generation techniques

·         the ability to read drawings and diagrams

·         the ability to communicate design ideas and practical details

·         the ability to devise, plan and develop practical solutions to design opportunities

The course will be assessed through a combination of an assignment and a question paper.

SQA Subject Page for Higher Design and Manufacture

Click here for careers in Design and Manufacture