AS/A Level Product Design Project Ideas for Students: How to Select a Great Design Topic

Choosing the right project for your AS/A Level Design and Technology coursework can significantly impact your success and enjoyment of the subject. When selecting a project topic, it is important to identify a genuine design need that allows you to demonstrate your creativity, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities. This article provides guidance, examples, and ideas to help students generate a high-quality product design project idea.

What makes a good AS/A Level product design topic?

The following checklist is designed to help you assess whether a proposed product design project is appropriate for a high school Design and Technology setting:

• Does the project address a genuine and real design need? In other words, does the project reflect a real need with users who require an improved design solution? Having a real need helps you identify and research the target market and gives you practise solving tangible, real-world problems.
• Does the project have enough scope for substantial design development? A good topic should allow for multiple iterations, different concept designs, and meaningful improvements rather than just minor tweaks. This ensures you can adequate opportunity to demonstrate iterative design thinking.
• Is there sufficient technical challenge to demonstrate your capabilities at AS/A Level? The project should allow you to showcase advanced design thinking and technical skills, rather than being too simple.
• Is it possible to realistically complete all stages of the design process in the given timeframe (research, concepts, development, prototyping, testing, and evaluation)? Some projects might seem feasible but become too complex when all requirements are considered.
• Is the product able to be modelled or created in a school workshop, using the materials, tools, and facilities available? For example, some schools have good woodworking facilities, but do not metal working capability. Some schools have access to sewing machine and other fabric-design facilities, whereas others do not.
• Are materials for prototyping and construction reasonably affordable and able to be sourced by yourself or the school? Consider both initial prototyping costs and the materials needed for your final product (remember that if a prototype is created, less expensive materials can be chosen to model more expensive components).
• Is the project site or location easily accessible, so that you can photograph, test, and evaluate this as required?
• Do you have access to relevant user groups for feedback throughout the design process? Regular user testing and feedback are crucial for design development, so it helps if your target users are accessible for interviews and product testing.

• Does the project involve manufacturing processes that align with your teacher’s area of expertise, or do you have other experts who you can turn to for assistance in this area? For example, you may have friends or family who work in particular industrial areas or own businesses in fields that make certain projects more feasible. Remember, too, you can always reach out to specialists in a particular field.

Very few students reach out to their heroes and think BIG about their project. Instead of seeing it as something academic, see it as something REAL.

– Nick Chubb, experienced industrial designer, with a First Class Masters degree in Product Design, London

• Are there opportunities to incorporate CAD/CAM technologies during construction? This is not essential, as there can be many advantages to producing a beautiful hand-generated product, however, integrating a range of modern, technical processes (such as laser cutting or 3D printing) during the creation of your product can help you prepare for examinations. It is worth noting that your project should not entirely involve CAD/CAM processes, as this is likely to limit your opportunity to demonstrate practical skill.
• Is the product small and light-weight enough that you can easily transport it to and from school? This is not always necessary (for example a number of high school students produce furniture items and other heavy products) however, it can make life easier, particularly when it comes to homework, so this is something to consider at the outset.
• Is the topic unexpected, unusual, or original? What really matters is how creatively and competently you generate and develop ideas, however it is worth remembering that examiners see thousands of coursework projects in a short space of time. Having a slightly original topic can help make your project stand out – and make it more likely that you might remain interested in the project. An impressive coursework project can also be used in applications to university.

 You wouldn’t believe how many skateboards and e-guitars I’ve seen proposed as thesis projects. Those guys were dead in the water.

– Chris Ebbert, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, Sweden

• Are there enough similar existing products to analyze during the research phase? Having a range of existing solutions helps you conduct thorough product analysis and identify gaps in the market that your design could address. Selecting a design need that is too unusual may make this aspect of your project challenging.
• Is the product physical in nature? For example, many high school examination boards do not yet permit app design or website design as part of Design and Technology courses.
• Is there scope to explore sustainability and environmental impact? It can help for students to demonstrate awareness of ecological considerations and sustainable design principles. Some projects make this easier than others.

Example: Safe drinking water; a passive solar desalination plant for use by evacuees in disaster zones in Bangladesh that is made entirely from local ceramics and has no envisioned expiry date; should it break though, it can be fixed with locally prolific techniques, or simply dumped without any ill effect on the environment, because it’s ceramics.

Now that would be the kind of thesis me and my lecturer colleagues go crazy about.

– Chris Ebbert, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, Sweden

• Will conceptual drawings of the chosen item appear visually interesting? Some products may meet other criteria on this list, but be visually simple. This may limit your opportunity to impress the examiner when producing design drawings.

• Is the topic something you are genuinely interested in – and thus likely to sustain your interest for the whole year? It may help to brainstorm your hobbies and interests as a starting point (see below).
• Has your teacher approved the topic? After you have narrowed down possibilities to a few ideas, discuss with friends and family, before seeking teacher approval. Your teacher can help you select a design need that is more likely provide an adequate opportunity to meet the coursework objectives.

Where to start: tactics for brainstorming Design and Technology coursework project ideas

• Walk around your house and identify anything that frustrates you or could be designed in a better way. What problems do you face in everyday life?
• Consider common ways that people inconvenience themselves or suffer accidents and think of related products that need redesigning.
• Think about subjects at school that you enjoy and whether products related to these could be improved.
• Consider future career directions and areas of learning that may interest you or benefit you in the future. For example, if you are considering moving into a particular career, you might think of products related to this.
• Think about your hobbies and extra-curricular activities and whether aspects related to these can be improved in some way.

Self-directed student projects tend to start with an area, maybe a hobby, and it’s explored in order to find a problem. For example, the area of football might lead you to think of training aids for dribbling, target practice, storage of kit, cleaning of boots, carrying balls, etc.

– Nick Chubb, experienced industrial designer, with a First Class Masters degree in Product Design, London

Examples and ideas for AS/A Level Design Tech projects

The following list of product design project ideas is intended to give you a starting point to brainstorm possibilities. This list is not exhaustive nor comprehensive. Some items listed below may not be suitable for your own circumstance and should only be selected in conjunction with discussion and advice from your teacher.

• Kitchen utensils and equipment: Some consumers now desire authentic traditional utensils and prefer these over electrified items for the environmental aspect. You might redesign a modern egg-beater that works using traditional mechanical features and wooden handles, rather than electricity, or a modular spice storage system, or wine rack. Look around your kitchen and identify items that can be improved in some way.
• Architectural-based products: Students who are hoping to study architecture at university might benefit from designing a smaller product that is architectural in nature. Consider creating scaled models of playground structures that promote inclusive play, innovative animal enclosures that enhance both animal welfare and visitor experience, portable greenhouses, kitset sheds, or emergency disaster relief shelters that can be quickly assembled and transported, demonstrating both technical skill and humanitarian considerations.
• Furniture: Modern living spaces often require innovative furniture solutions that combine functionality with style. You might explore designs for space-saving flat-pack furniture for small spaces, weather resistant outdoor furniture that addresses climate challenges, or modular desk systems that adapt to both work and study needs. You might also consider upcycled furniture designs that minimise material waste, coffee table design, chair design, lamp or lightshade design.
• Signage, packaging, and promotional material: The retail environment offers numerous design opportunities that combine both form and function. Consider developing collapsible display units that reduce storage space when not in use, environmentally conscious packaging solutions that minimise waste, or interactive point-of-sale displays that enhance customer engagement.
• Sports and fitness equipment: The growing focus on personal fitness and active lifestyles creates opportunities for innovative storage and maintenance solutions. You might design vertical bicycle storage for urban apartments, modular equipment racks that maximise garage space, or portable maintenance stations that support active communities, for example.
• Educational products: Learning environments require thoughtful design solutions that enhance both teaching and learning experiences. Consider developing adjustable art easels for multiple age groups, instrument storage systems that protect valuable equipment while ensuring easy access, or specialised learning aids or game and toy designs that address specific educational needs.
• Gardening and outdoor living: While increasing interest in sustainable living and home food production, there are many opportunities to design products that support these activities. You might create modular composting systems, develop raised vegetable garden kitsets, ergonomic tools that assist older users, innovative plant protection structures that extend growing seasons, tool storage systems, wildlife feeding stations, and so on.
• Home office and productivity: The rise of remote work has created new challenges in home office organisation. Consider designing adaptable desk systems that accommodate multiple devices, innovative stationery storage systems that maximise small spaces, stationery accessories and holders, document storage solutions, and bookshelf design that can adapt with changing needs.
• Bathroom, hygiene, and healthcare products: Personal care and accessibility present important design challenges. You might develop inclusive bathroom accessories that work for users of all ages and abilities, toothbrush holders, mobility aids, compact first aid kits that encourage proper organisation of supplies, or intuitive storage solutions that maximise limited bathroom space while maintaining a clean aesthetic.