Year 12 Product Design (DT) - AQA Product Design specification for Design & Technology

Sep 5, 2026

AQA Product Design specification for Year 12 Design & Technology focuses on building GCSE-to-A level knowledge through iterative design, independent thinking, and self-reliance. Students use primary and secondary research to define needs, outline requirements, and communicate design thinking through sketching, drawing, and modelling guided by technical specifications. Learners develop prototypes of saleable quality and apply objective evaluation to improve future iterations, including NEA project preparation for Year 13.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Curriculum Intent

Iterative Design Process and NEA Pathway

Term 1 Topics

Theory

Practical

Term 2 Topics

Theory

Practical

Term 3 Topics

Theory

Practical

Key Knowledge / Retrieval Topics

Understanding / Sequence of Delivery

| Year: 12
Subject: Product Design (DT) | Curriculum Intent: AQA Product Design specification for Design & Technology: Exam and NEA. The aim of the A-Level is to build and reinforce the skills both theoretical and practical that students would have learnt at GCSE. The tasks are set up to develop independent thought and to encourage self-reliance. Students will learn through a range of opportunities to employ their technical understanding and relate it to practical problems and solutions. One of the key differences of A-Level over GCSE is students are expected to demonstrate not just an understanding of theoretical practices but be able to question and evaluate their importance and need in the wider design context. This is building towards the students being able to choose an appropriate NEA project that will be carried through to Year 13. The broad strokes of the structure is based around an iterative design process which starts with the recognition and identification of a need or problem and development or their understanding through primary and secondary research. From this, students should be able to outline the requirements to solve the problem, then communicate their thought processes through sketching, drawing and modelling using their specification to guide the iterative design process. Once a solution has been established students are expected to produce a workable prototype of a saleable quality and finally, they should have the tools and skills required to objectively evaluate their solution and recognise potential for future iterations and improvements. | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | Term 1 | | Term 2 | | Term 3 | | | Topic Titles (in order of delivery) | Theory
1. How can safety be ensured when working with materials in a workshop environment
2. What are the implications of health & safety legislation on product manufacture
3. What factors influence the selection of materials that are used in products
4. What materials and components should be selected when | Practical
1. Foam Modelling – Glue Gun
2. Skills based woodwork project demonstrating a range of joining methods. | Theory
1. What considerations need to be made about the structural integrity of a design solution
2. How products can be designed to function effectively within their surrounding
3. Opportunities through using smart & modern technologies
4. Factors to be considered when investigating | Practical
1. Laser cutter, prototype modelling – slot together/joint product
2. Use of 3D printers as a method of prototyping, investigating, uses and limitations. | Theory
1. Exploring Contexts that design solutions are intended for
2. Stakeholder analysis
3. Usability when designing prototypes
4. Using 2D & 3D sketching/digital tools to graphically communicate ideas
5. How industry pros use digital design tools to support/communicate the exploration, | Practical
1. Design and model challenges
2. NEA assessment /coursework started | | | designing & manufacturing products/prototypes
5. Why is it important to consider properties/characteristics or materials in design & manufacture
6. How can materials & processes be used to:
- Make iterative models
- Final prototypes
- Commercial products
7. How is manufacturing organised/managed for different scales of production
8. How is quality controlled through manufacture
9. Portfolio, university and apprenticeship applications | | design possibilities
5. Factors to be considered when developing design solutions for manufacture
6. Factors to consider when manufacturing a product
7. Factors to consider when distributing to market
8. Skills & knowledge from other subject areas & how they affect design
9. Analyse & evaluate products both in design & manufacturing process
10. Understand technological developmentsin product design
11. Understand past & present developmentsin design | |

FAQs

What is the main aim of the AQA A-Level Product Design specification in Year 12?

It builds and reinforces theoretical and practical skills from GCSE, while developing independent thought and self-reliance through design, research, and evaluation activities.

How do students progress through the iterative design process?

Students identify a need or problem, conduct primary and secondary research, define requirements, communicate ideas using sketching/drawing/modelling, produce prototypes, and then evaluate to guide improvements.

Which practical making and prototyping activities are included across the terms?

Topics include foam modelling with glue gun, workshop woodwork joining methods, laser cutter slot-together/joint modelling, 3D printing for prototyping with limits and uses, and NEA assessment/coursework starting plus design and model challenges.

Sep 5, 2026

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