AQA A Level Product Design is a dynamic and creative two-year qualification that challenges you to think like a designer, architect, engineer and innovator. This course combines real-world problem-solving, technical understanding, and hands-on making to prepare you for further study or careers in design, engineering, architecture, product development, and beyond. You will explore how products are conceived, developed, manufactured, and improved — from initial research through to prototype creation and evaluation — while considering sustainability, user needs, manufacturing systems, and industry practice. The course encourages creativity and critical thinking.

Course Structure and Core Themes

The AQA A level is split into three key components: two written examinations and a substantial non-examined portfolio project.

Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes with a mixture of short-answer and extended-response questions. Topics Includes:
Performance characteristics and enhancement techniques

• Manufacturing processes, digital technologies (CAD/CAM) and prototyping

• Health, safety and environmental considerations

• Design for maintenance, lifecycle and sustainability

• Industrial practice and production systems

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes with product analysis stimulus questions and extended responses on commercial design, materials choice, and manufacturing. 

Topics include:

• Product evaluation and comparative analysis

• Visual and functional assessment of products

• Commercial manufacture and scalability

• Integrated design thinking and decision justification

The NEA is the heart of the course — your opportunity to lead your own real design project from brief through to prototype.