← Design and Technology syllabus

EnglandDesign and Technology

Core technical and designing and making principles

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you use measurements of the human body to make a product comfortable, safe and easy to use for almost everyone?

Ergonomics and the relationship between people and products, anthropometric data and percentiles, the use of percentile ranges to size products, and how ergonomic and anthropometric data are gathered and applied in design.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Design and Technology Product Design core content, covering ergonomics, anthropometric data and percentiles, the use of the 5th to 95th percentile range, and how human data is gathered and applied in design.
8 min answer →

How do laws, standards and safety marks make sure products and workshops are safe for users and makers?

Health and safety in design and manufacture, the role of risk assessment and legislation, and the standards and safety marks such as the British Standards Institution Kitemark, the CE and UKCA marks and ISO standards that products must meet.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Design and Technology Product Design core content, covering health and safety in design and manufacture, risk assessment and legislation, and standards and safety marks such as the BSI Kitemark, CE, UKCA and ISO.
8 min answer →

How can a designer or company legally protect an idea, a name or a product so competitors cannot simply copy it?

Intellectual property and how designs are protected through patents, registered designs, copyright and trademarks, the role of these protections in commercial success, and the difference between each form of protection.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Design and Technology Product Design core content, covering intellectual property and how designs are protected through patents, registered designs, copyright and trademarks, and the difference between each form of protection.
8 min answer →

How do you measure and reduce the environmental impact of a product across its whole life, from raw material to disposal?

Sustainable design and the six Rs, life cycle assessment from raw material extraction to disposal, the impact of manufacturing on the environment, and strategies such as design for disassembly, the circular economy and ethical sourcing.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Design and Technology Product Design core content, covering sustainable design, the six Rs, life cycle assessment, the environmental impact of manufacturing, and strategies such as design for disassembly and the circular economy.
9 min answer →