DT (3D Design)

Why study this subject?

This course offers many exciting opportunities for creative students who have enjoyed KS3 Design and Technology and who would like to now be more experimental and push the boundaries of Three Dimensional Design.
This course would suit all students who enjoy sketching, designing and making actual 3D products as well as models, and prototypes and thinking about the marketing and display of products.
The course gives students the opportunity to develop a wide variety of both hand-drawn and hand manufacturing techniques using a wide variety of media, materials and equipment as well as building upon their CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) skills.

The course is assessed through 3 projects during Year 10 and 11 and a 10-hour exam in Year 11 where the students make a final product (there is no longer a written theory paper for this course and all work is marked within sketchbooks).
Students investigate the work of designers and artists as well as consumers as starting points for their ideas. Projects may include jewellery making, lighting design, low relief tiles, hanging mobiles, natural sculpture, design for clients and more.
Students are expected to develop their ideas through experimenting with a range of materials including woods, metals, plastics, clay as well as natural and upcycled materials and they will develop making skills in drawing and collage as well as using specialist equipment and 3 dimensional processes including casting, sculpture, shaping and forming, creating surface texture, computer aided design, and 3D printed work.

3D Design is a very broad course and is designed to provide students with a wide range of skills that would assist in any career path, including a varied range of design course opportunities from A Level through to degrees in Product Design, Architecture, Jewellery Design, Engineering, Media, Graphic Design and Interior Design. Alternatively, it gives students a critical awareness of the world around them and it also develops important ‘independent learning’ skills which are crucial for any career route that students decide to take and gives students confidence with practical skills that they will use in the future.

Homework: Students are expected to carry out homework every week and this will normally involve completing or extending classwork, research tasks or putting together sketches/studies or design ideas in preparation for the lesson.
Equipment: All students are required to have basic drawing equipment including a pen, pencil, ruler, rubber and colouring pencils. Students are also encouraged where possible to invest in additional equipment such as drawing pencils, A2 art folder and paint.

Students are always encouraged to visit as many different galleries, exhibitions and museums as possible such as the Brighton Museum, Hove Museum and museums in London such as the Design Museum, V&A, the British Museum and the Science Museum.
There are many useful websites available but www.technologystudent.com and www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/ are very useful and are used within lessons and encouraged as a fantastic resource for independent learning.