Amiria Gale Design is increasingly shaped not only by what users want, but by legal requirements relating to waste, inaccessibility, product lifespans, energy use, and disposal. Examples of changing legal and environmental requirements include:
A sequence diagram:
Planning drawings help designers and manufacturers organise and manage projects from initial concept through to final production. They provide visual methods for planning timelines, documenting processes, and organising resources. Planning drawings enable designers and manufacturers to coordinate complex projects efficiently, anticipate problems, and communicate plans clearly to team members, helping to ensure projects stay on … Read more
This article summarises different ways to join card and other lightweight materials, using temporary joints, permanent joints, pop-up features, and rotating mechanisms. It concludes with examination questions to help you revise this material. Permanent joints cannot be undone without damaging the material (these joining methods are not intended be taken apart afterwards). Note: When manufactured, … Read more
Self-finishing materials are those that develop their final surface appearance naturally through weathering, oxidation or aging, rather than requiring applied coatings or treatments. Self-finishing materials have natural protection, or develop their own protective layer through environmental exposure. Examples of self-finishing materials The use of self-finishing materials aligns with design movements valuing material honesty and embracing … Read more
This article helps students familiarise themselves with different ways to cut cardboard (including nets) and other lightweight materials. It concludes with examination questions to help students revise this material. Score lines: Score lines are half cuts or indented lines that help make it easier to fold along a perfect straight line. Score lines can be … Read more
This article helps high school Design & Technology students familiarise themselves with printing methods and surface treatments suitable for use in graphic products, as well as ways of applying images to other products, including engraving, stickers, and stencils. It concludes with sample examination questions from the Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A Level syllabus. Types of surface … Read more
Cambridge AS Design & Technology students now have an “extended response” question in their examination. This article lists possible topics to help you prepare for this question. IMPORTANT TIPS Sample Extended Response questions (AS) Note: Revise issues relating to sustainability in product design here. Responses may include some of the following ideas, but all valid … Read more
Cambridge Design & Technology students often have to produce diagrams illustrating a particular production process. This typically involves sketches and annotations organised in sequence, showing steps involved, such as: gathering materials, marking out, cutting, shaping/forming, joining, fitting, assembling and finishing. Here we offer key guidelines for answering these questions and provide several examples, illustrating possible … Read more
It can be helpful for Design & Technology students to have an understanding of how to cut, drill, and shape metal. This article summarises basic metalworking methods and practical techniques. Metal can be marked out with a scriber, which scratches the surface (shown left) and a steel ruler or try square. A center punch can be used to mark … Read more