Design and Technology Examples of Students’ Work

Key Stage 3 Work

Key Stage 3 Sketching Project:
This student has used a wide range of sketching styles to showcase their ideas. They have drawn in perspective (stars) and isometric (pocket watch), and oblique (shoe). They have demonstrated a range of rendering (use of colour) techniques; pencil shading (shoe), marker pen (shoe), contour lines to show curves (face), bold outlines (shoe) coloured backgrounds (pocket watch).
They have used the crating technique (boxes around each image) to ensure that the drawings hold together, and have demonstrated a range of different concepts. 

Key Stage 3 Practical Project:
This student has used a wide range techniques to produce this product; they have used the vacuum former to produce the black base, used the strip heater to produce the clear photo holder, used jigs and templates to bend the metal and mark out the holes, used the pillar drill to create the holes and used a selection of hand tools to a high standard to finish the edges.
The work looks neat and symmetrical, showing that attention to detail and care has been taken whilst manufacturing this. This is an excellent example of one of our year 8 plastic projects.

Key Stage 4 Work

Key Stage 4 Practical Project:
This student has produced a high quality final piece of work. The symmetry shows that measuring and marking out were accurate. The neat edges show the cutting and finishing skills. The thumb screw was turned on the lathe and the screw thread added by hand with a die. The black finish was applied using the forge with a technique called ‘oil blacking’ which will protect this against oxidation.

Key Stage 4 Coursework:
This student has included all of the areas required for this section; the design strategy, client feedback, materials used, processes used and comparison to the specification. All of these are justified, and some go on to explain ‘which means that’ – this is the phrase that we use to show full understanding. The image is in 3D (isometric) and is also computer drawn (there are extra marks for this).

Key Stage 4 Final Project:
This student has used a wide range of complex processes to manufacture this box.
The curve on the top surface is laminated layers of veneers pressed together in a mould of their own creation, the box joints on the top sides are cut by hand and then finished with the curve edge, the outside has a been sanded smooth and finished with wax to create a high quality feel and appearance, gaps are filled with a similar colour putty, the white acrylic box is laser cut, this would have be designed on a computer using a DT specific programme – 2D design. Each of these contribute to the overall high score.