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.