Students start their NEA by analysing the contextual challenge. Students will identify design possibilities, investigate client needs and wants and factors including economic and social challenges. Students should also use the work of others (past and/or present) to help them form ideas. Research should be concise and relate to their contextual challenge. Students are also advised to use a range of research techniques (primary/secondary) in order to draw accurate conclusions. Students should be encouraged to investigate throughout their project to help inform decisions.
Based on conclusions from their investigations students will outline design possibilities by producing a design brief and design specification. Students should review both throughout the project.
Students should explore a range of possible ideas linking to the contextual challenge selected. These design ideas should demonstrate flair and originality and students are encouraged to take risks with their designs.
A clear introduction to the page explaining what you are intending to analyse and find out.
Design possibilities identified and thoroughly explored, directly linked to a contextual challenge demonstrating excellent understanding of the problems/opportunities.
Extensive evidence that investigation of design possibilities has taken place throughout the project with excellent justification and understanding of possibilities identified.
Cultural
relating to the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a society.
Social
relating to society or its organization.
Investigate
carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of (an incident, allegation, design problem etc.) so as to establish the truth.
Moral
concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour.
Analysis
detailed examination of the elements or structure of something.
Economic
is - of, relating to, or based on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. How to use economic in a sentence.
Comprehensive
including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.
Contextual
depending on or relating to the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea.
Justification
the action of showing something to be right or reasonable.
Client
a person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company.
Develop the individual:
Research skills and analysis of information. Thinking about the needs of others.
Create a supportive community:
Considering the needs of others
Students will work with a range of appropriate materials/components to produce prototypes that are accurate and within close tolerances. This will involve using specialist tools and equipment, which may include hand tools, machines or CAM/CNC. The prototypes will be constructed through a range of techniques, which may involve shaping, fabrication, construction and assembly. The prototypes will have suitable finish with functional and aesthetic qualities, where appropriate. Students will be awarded marks for the quality of their prototype(s) and how it addresses the design brief and design specification based on a contextual challenge.
Within this iterative design process students are expected to continuously analyse and evaluate their work, using their decisions to improve outcomes. This should include defining requirements, analysing the design brief and specifications along with the testing and evaluating of ideas produced during the generation and development stages. Their final prototype(s) will also un
Development work is, a wide range of 2D/3D techniques (including CAD where appropriate) in order to develop a prototype
Modelling, variety of methods to test their design ideas, fully meeting all requirements.
Tolerances
Engineering tolerance is the permissible limit or limits of variation in: a physical dimension; a measured value or physical property of a material, manufactured object, system, or service; other measured values (such as temperature, humidity, etc.);
Quality Control
a system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample of the output against the specification.
Fabrication
he action or process of manufacturing or inventing something.
Prototype
a first or preliminary version of a device or vehicle from which other forms are developed.
Testing
take measures to check the quality, performance, or reliability of (something), especially before putting it into widespread use or practice.
Commercially Viable
defined as business, product, and service which has the ability to compete effectively with it's competitors and to make profit.
Development
an event constituting a new stage in a changing situation.
Modify
make partial or minor changes to (something).
Market Testing
To test multiple marketing scenarios and select the most promising for expansion.
Marking out
Marking out or layout means the process of transferring a design or pattern to a workpiece, as the first step in the manufacturing process.
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
Students will develop and refine design ideas. This may include, formal and informal 2D/3D drawing including CAD, systems and schematic diagrams, models and schedules. Students will develop at least one model, however marks will be awarded for the suitability of the model(s) and not the quantity produced. Students will also select suitable materials and components communicating their decisions throughout the development process. Students are encouraged to reflect on their developed ideas by looking at their requirements; including how their designs meet the design specification. Part of this work will then feed into the development of a manufacturing specification providing sufficient accurate information for third party manufacture, using a range of appropriate methods, such as measured drawings, control programs, circuit diagrams, patterns, cutting or parts lists.
November Mock examination and deadline for section A-C for NEA
Specification
an act of identifying something precisely or of stating a precise requirement.
Design Brief
A design brief is a written explanation - given to a designer - outlining the aims, objectives and milestones of a design project. A thorough and articulate design brief is a critical part of the design process.
Schematic Diagram
A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures. A schematic usually omits all details that are not relevant to the information the schematic is intended to
Manufacture
make (something) on a large scale using machinery.
Design Fixation
Sometimes, your first idea is not your best one. But you might fixate on it, especially if the idea has worked for you before. In academic terms, this phenomenon is called design fixation. In layman’s terms, we might call it getting set in your ways.
Computer Aided Design
CAD stands for any of Computer-aided design Computer-aided drafting Computer-aided drawing.
Computer-Aided Manufacture
Computer-aided manufacture. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) means using machines that are controlled by computers.
Material Properties
The choice of material will depend upon the properties needed by the product. For example, the enclosure for an outside alarm will need to be waterproof.
Fit for Purpose
something that is fit for purpose is good enough to do the job it was designed to do.
Manufacturing Specification
The specification records the stages of the production process, with details of all the characteristics (shape, size, texture, colour, flavour etc) required in the final product. ...
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
Students use a wide range of 2D/3D techniques (including CAD where appropriate) in order to develop a prototype.
Students model, using a wide variety of methods to test their design ideas, fully meeting all requirements.
Appropriate materials/components selected with extensive research into their working properties and availability.
Iterative design.
Section D-F of the NEA
Develop the individual:
Create a supportive community:
Responding to formative data taken from the mock exam. Weak areas in students’ knowledge will be identified and personalised lessons utilised for students to strengthen their knowledge in those weak areas.
Past papers and style of exam questions will be studied. Areas of student knowledge assessed, weak areas identified and topics and lesson plans derive from this.
Students must be prepared for the exam format and be well practised in exam techniques and the range of practical skills that can be employed.
Past paper exam questions
Develop the individual:
Confidence and exam preparation
Create a supportive community:
Exam technique