← Design and Technology syllabus

EnglandDesign and Technology

1. Core design principles

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do anthropometric data, percentiles and ergonomics make a product comfortable, safe and easy to use for its target users?

Anthropometrics and ergonomics: using anthropometric data and percentile ranges to size a product, designing for the human user, inclusive and accessible design, and how ergonomics affects comfort, safety and ease of use.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE Design and Technology (C600) on anthropometrics and ergonomics: using anthropometric data and percentile ranges to size a product, inclusive design, and how ergonomics shapes comfort, safety and ease of use.
9 min answer →

How do designers communicate ideas using sketching, pictorial and working drawings, and CAD?

Communicating design ideas: freehand sketching, 2D and 3D pictorial drawing (isometric and perspective), exploded and assembly drawings, working (orthographic) drawings with dimensions, and computer-aided design (CAD).
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE Design and Technology (C600) on communicating design ideas: freehand sketching, isometric and perspective drawing, exploded and working (orthographic) drawings, and CAD, with the strengths of each.
9 min answer →

What design strategies do designers use to generate and develop ideas, and why is design an iterative process?

Design strategies and the iterative design process: investigation, primary and secondary research, collaboration, user-centred design, avoiding design fixation, and the explore, create and evaluate cycle that develops a product through testing and feedback.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE Design and Technology (C600) on design strategies and the iterative design process: investigation, user-centred and collaborative design, avoiding design fixation, and the iterate-and-test cycle that improves a product.
9 min answer →

How do enterprise, marketing and modern production systems such as FMS, JIT and lean manufacturing bring a product to market?

Enterprise, innovation and marketing in business and industry, and the production systems that support them, including flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), just in time (JIT) production, lean manufacturing, crowd funding and the marketing of products.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE Design and Technology (C600) on enterprise, innovation and marketing and the production systems behind them: flexible manufacturing (FMS), just in time (JIT), lean manufacturing and crowd funding, with a worked efficiency calculation.
10 min answer →

How does a designer turn a context and user need into a design brief and a measurable design specification?

Investigating needs and writing a design brief and specification: identifying the primary user and wider stakeholders, primary and secondary research, analysing existing products, and writing measurable design and manufacturing specification criteria.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE Design and Technology (C600) on investigating needs and writing a brief and specification: primary and wider stakeholders, primary and secondary research, product analysis, and measurable specification criteria.
9 min answer →

How do new and emerging technologies change the way products are designed, made and used, and who do they affect?

New and emerging technologies: how they impact industry, enterprise, people, culture, society and the environment, including automation, CAD/CAM, the changing workforce, and the positive and negative effects of technological change.
A focused answer to Eduqas GCSE Design and Technology (C600) on new and emerging technologies: how they reshape industry, the workforce, people, culture, society and the environment, with automation, CAD/CAM and a balanced evaluation of their impact.
10 min answer →