‘Design is what links creativity and innovation. It shapes ideas to become practical and attractive propositions for users or customers. Design may be described as creativity deployed to a specific end.’ The Cox Review

Design is a platform for the ‘thinking of tomorrow’. As a department we have established a layered set of opportunities, where learners are able to choose from a wide range of specialisms to produce a design folio.     These specialisms include – Architecture, Product Design Engineering, Animation, Interior Design, Illustration, Communication Design, Textile Design, Fashion Design, Sliversmithing and Jewellery, Design Photography.    Although these specialisms are very different they all share a strong culture of experimentation, innovation and visual dialogue. This process encourages the development of complex analysis and critical thinking skills.

The Design process aims to challenge learners and provide them with problem solving skills. These skills will include:

– planning and writing a coherent personalised design brief for an appropriate target market

– using ICT to develop research and presentation skills

– communicating ideas and sources of inspiration in a clear and concise way using Photoshop and Power Point

– developing ideas through learner conversation

– experimenting and exploring problems through drawing and construction by sampling and model making

– producing three dimensional final resolutions, using a wide variety of materials and techniques