1. GCSE Product Design Maximising exam success Brian Russell

2. What we are likely to remember 10% of what we read 20% of what we hear 30% of what we see 50% of what we see and hear 70% of what we talk over with others 80% of what we do for real 95% of what we teach someone else to do

3. In just two hours..... You can improve your grade or you can blow all the marks you have picked up during your controlled assessment. Preparation is essential. Don’t let AQA steal your grade

4. What a waste Shahzeb scored 65 marks which was only a few marks away from an A Grade Shahzeb gained D grade overall because he did not take the exam preparation seriously enough. He was not the only one to waste his hard work during the controlled assessment.

5. Patterns over time – legacy to new YearA*ABCDEFG 118674625041332617 128673604840322518 138774614940322416 148473625142342618

6. Exam expectations On March 1 st AQA publish to students the theme for the designing question so this time next week you will know exactly what to start preparing for.

7. The designing question What are the alternatives for PD? Paper/card product as that is the compulsory material to be studied (2012, 2013, 2014) Image board with freedom for candidates to generate ideas using their materials of choice (2010, 2011) I believe that this last approach will be used this year.

8. What to design? What might we use nature for as an inspiration for designing? Shape Pattern Structure Form Colour Biomimicry

9. Your problem? In 2010 candidates were given five choices of user elderly person teenager young parent toddler male mid 20s In 2011 they were asked to design for the under - sevens You should be prepared for both approaches and should look at a wide range of users

10. Where to start Potentially this is a large topic : The product is more important at this stage than any decoration. You should have a design notebook to stick in examples of anything you see in magazines /newspapers that could fit the theme The classroom needs to become the design studio...it needs to be as visual as possible..and should be constantly growing along with a relevant word bank of key words to help everyone.

11. Decision making Drawing is the last part of the process to tackle as so many decisions should be made ahead of sketching.

12. The product Be aware that in the past students have had freedom of choice with the product but matched to a specific user Avoid complex products – there is not enough time to fully detail these (only 12 minutes in 2010) Keep it simple!

13. Design criteria Question one often starts with asking candidates to specify some design criteria This is not an easy start to the paper! You need a structure Make sure you practice this with different scenarios

14. ACCESS FM AESTHETICS: colour/shape/form/detail COSTS: raw materials/production type/packaging/despatch CONSUMER: needs/demands - is the product appropriate for age range/social group/special needs ENVIRONMENT: how it is affected by materials used/production/waste/transport SIZE: Ergonomics – is the size of the product designed to meet the needs of human body shape and size. Anthropometrics – does the product fit human measurements when still and moving SAFETY: How does the product comply FUNCTION: how well does the product behave MATERIALS: type/characteristics/properties/suitability

15. CAFE QUE Cost - How much does it cost and will it be good value for money? Aesthetics - Is it attractive, why and what makes it so? Function - What does it do and how does it work? Ergonomics - How easy or comfortable is it to use? Quality - How well will it be built, what materials are used? User - Who is it for and is it appropriate? Environment - What effect do the product's manufacture, use and disposal have?

16. FACE value Function - What does it need to do and how will it work? Aesthetics – Will it be attractive and what will make it so? Construction - What will it be made from, how and why? Economics - How much should it cost and will this be good value for money? Would this make a better framework as easier to remember?

17. Best answers? Listing and justifying two or three design criteria has been a common start to question one – use these headings

18. Manufacturing processes Work in materials you know about and are able to manufacture with Think in terms of typical KS3 projects and keep designs simple but fully detailed The design does not need to be complex to gain top marks!

19. Repeat patterns In 2010 candidates were asked to create repeat patterns Make sure that you know how to create repeat patterns

20. Stylised shapes Stylised shapes look like a simplified version of something more complex The designer removes the details and simplifies the shapes but ensures that the main features can still be recognised

21. Stylised shapes Stylising is often better done in a number of stages Breaking it down into geometric shapes is a good strategy to use. Make sure that you can stylise natural shapes

22. Speed drawing Make sure that you can draw quickly You are not trying to create photographic representations Create sample design sheets based on observational drawings

23. Before the exam Over the next few weeks your teachers will go over topics you have not yet covered Some of this will be revision some will be new to you For question 1 you will need to think more like an art student This is probably your last exam on June 22 nd We are running a final session on Friday 19 th at 11.00 make sure you put this date in your diary

24. Finally Fail to Prepare... Prepare to Fail