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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CAREER GUIDE 2020/2021 Design and Technology2 Success at School is a national careers website for students aged 11-19, as well as their teachers, careers advisors, parents and other influencers. Young people can learn about their future career options through no-nonsense careers advice related to their own experiences. As well as covering topics such as career paths, industries, apprenticeships, university and employability skills, we connect schools and students to employers and universities through opportunities on our site and our interactive forums. Millions of young people and their influencers have visited our site for advice and information to help them plan for the future. Go to successatschool.org for more information. Copyright Success at School Ltd 2020 AboutSuccess at School3 DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CAREER GUIDE 05 What is design and technology? 06 How will design and technology prepare me for work? 10 Should I choose design and technology? Contents 12 T-levels 15 Why work experience matters 18 How to future-proof your career 14 Job roles 30 Everything you need to know about gap years 20 Spotlight job 32 University 22 Interviews 26 Apprenticeships 34 Your action plan4 Why choose design and technology? This is a question that I must have answered a hundred times, but precisely what is it about the subject that makes it a worthy pre- or post-16 subject choice? Design and technology is a subject with its own unique knowledge base and vocabulary, one where what you know is important, but the ability to put that knowledge to work is of equal importance. Turning theory into practice is at the very core of the subject. Design and technology is not so much about making “things” (although prototyping and the manufacture of designs will always be essential) but is more about empathy and connection. What exactly is causing the problem? Why does this matter? How could an improved design make this person’s life, or this building, this product, or this system better, easier, more satisfying? We live in a technologically driven world. The balance between the continuous advancement of technology and the Earth’s need for us as a species to better protect what we have, and to place much greater emphasis on sustainability, has never been greater. There are study pathways from GCSE to PhD around the subject and new job sectors emerging every year, each bringing new, fresh opportunity and its own unique set of challenges. I hope that you find the information contained in this publication useful and I wish you nothing but the very best for your future studies. Tony Ryan Chief executive officer The Design and Technology Association Foreword Login M ember login U sername Password Remember meand technology? 5 Everything we use is designed by someone. Designing new products to be sustainable will be crucial for the future health of the planet. We’re seeing all kinds of items being reimagined for the future, from reusable coffee cups that collapse to fit in handbags, to e-bikes that make morning commutes that bit quicker and easier. In design and technology, you’ll learn about the process involved in designing and improving products. You’ll cover everything from how to identify a problem and design solutions, to the prototyping and manufacturing processes. You’ll usually have the choice of studying the subject in relation to product design or fashion and textiles, which means you’ll be working with different sorts of materials and exploring different styles. As a designer there are opportunities to work in almost any industry. You could use your design expertise as a medical device designer to help create healthcare solutions for the future. Or you could use your creative design talents in the digital world as an app designer. You can also forge a career in industries as diverse as construction and food production. Studying design and technology will make you an excellent problem solver, which will be a useful skill if you become a mechanical engineer or a cyber security specialist. You could apply your creativity to roles such as digital content producer, while having strong research skills will be useful if you decide to work as a solicitor. What is design6 5 workplace skills you’ll learn in design and technology Collaboration In class: Designs are rarely created in isolation. At school you’ll work with your classmates to develop and refine your ideas. You’ll be encouraged to discuss different approaches to design problems and share your ideas. You’ll also respond to feedback from users, your classmates and your teachers. At work: Civil engineers work as part of large teams to design and complete large-scale construction and infrastructure projects involving many professionals across different specialisms. Sustainability consultants work with different businesses and teams to help organisations improve their sustainability. How will design and technology prepare me for work? Creativity In class: You’ll learn how to think creatively and innovatively when it comes to the design process. This might mean being imaginative with the materials or processes you use to make products, as well as being creative with the designs themselves. At work: Animators need to be creative when they’re creating new characters, landscapes or other elements of an animation. Copywriters need to think creatively about how to attract an audience’s attention and share information in an engaging way. Problem solving In class: Design is all about solving real-world problems. You’ll learn how to assess all the aspects of a problem and explore potential solutions before deciding on a solution. You’ll focus on the needs of the user to find solutions to the problems you identify. At work: As a medical researcher, you’ll not only be researching a specific problem but may have to solve problems with your experiments too. Landscape architects may have to overcome environmental problems, such as flooding, or find ways to work around existing natural or manmade features. Research In class: In class you’ll learn how to research the needs of the client and the end user. You’ll also research existing products and potential materials. You’ll explore how you can present your research as part of the design process. At work: Corporate social responsibility managers need to research different schemes and approaches to help organisations improve their sustainability. Materials engineers carry out research on existing materials to find new uses for them, as well as researching new materials for various purposes. Methodical thinking In class: You’ll learn about iterative design processes to develop and modify your designs. You’ll explore how to apply the design process to ensure your solutions meet the needs of the user, as well as considering business needs and how a product might be manufactured. At work: Whatever you’re designing, you need to follow a methodical process as you follow the design brief. Software developers need to make sure they write their code in a logical and methodical order. Architects must approach their work methodically too, to ensure that their designs can be understood by others and constructed in a methodical way.7 DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CAREER GUIDE ...and 2 you may not have thought of Critical analysis In class: You’ll learn how to critically analyse both your own and other people’s designs. You’ll also analyse your design decisions with a critical eye. You’ll be encouraged to draw on your knowledge from other subjects, such as maths and science, to help with your analysis. At work: Clothing or textile technologists need to critically analyse the quality of different fabrics to make sure they are fit for purpose. Business analysts take a critical view of companies to help them develop strategies that can help them grow or overcome problems. Numeracy In class: You’ll develop a range of mathematical skills in your design and technology lessons, including the use of ratios, trigonometry and statistics. You’ll also learn to calculate volumes and surface areas, as well as creating graphs and charts. At work: These numerical skills are essential for purchasing managers, who are in charge of buying equipment, goods and services at competitive prices for their business. Interior designers need to have a good grasp of maths to ensure their designs are appropriate for the dimensions of a space. Aeronautical engineers use mathematical calculations to inform their design decisions. 8 Learn about the importance of using materials efficiently. You’ll explore the relationship between material properties, manufacturing processes and cost. You’ll also develop an understanding of these factors in relation to the scale of production; understand the savings that can be made by choosing bulk production instead of one-off production and learn to develop designs that use materials economically. Production managers are responsible for producing goods and services in a cost-effective way. They always want to get the most out of their materials to keep costs and unnecessary waste low. This knowledge will also help you if you become a supply chain manager, where you are in charge of transporting goods from manufacturers to retailers or consumers. You may also be involved in sourcing and buying the raw materials for production. KnowledgeHow will it help me at work? Develop your knowledge of digital design and manufacture. Understand the different uses of computer aided design (CAD), including how it’s used in industrial applications. Learn about computer aided manufacture (CAM) and how this is used to make different products. Explore specific CAM processes, including laser cutting, routing, milling, plotter cutting and turning. As a CAD technician, you’ll use this software to produce technical drawings and plans for products and parts. Set designers in the theatre, TV or film industries also use CAD to help with the design and production of various sets. Architects and design engineers also need a solid grasp of CAD as they oversee projects and provide assistance when there are issues with plans or designs. Understand the concept of user-centred design and why it is so important in the design industry. Learn how to design, make and evaluate products in relation to user needs, wants and value, the product’s purpose, its functionality, its innovation and its authenticity. Discover how anthropometrics, ergonomics and aesthetics influence the design, development and manufacture of products. User researchers will carry out research with people to find out what they like and dislike about prototypes of products. They’ll also explore users’ needs, wants and values before products are designed to inform the design brief. Retail buyers also need to consider which products are user-centred to enable them to predict and buy the products that are going to be in greatest demand. Occupational therapists also need to think about the usability of products that they recommend to their patients to assist them in their everyday lives. 5 ways your design and technology know-how will help you at work9 DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY CAREER GUIDE Learn about safe working practices, how to conduct risk assessments and how to assess potential hazards in your workplace. This will include selecting appropriate equipment, tools or machinery for different tasks and how to use it safely. You’ll also look at how to evaluate risks in different environments and how to introduce control measures to improve safety. Whether you are working as jewellery designer in your own home or an estates manager who looks after a team of tradespeople, you need to be able to assess and manage risks appropriately. If you work as a health and safety advisor, you’ll conduct risk assessments and make sure that everyone at an organisation is following health and safety laws and guidance. KnowledgeHow will it help me at work? Gain knowledge about responsible design and the importance of considering environmental, moral, social and sustainability issues in design and manufacturing. Explore the environmental impact of different packaging and the need to minimise packaging. Understand the concept of the circular economy. Learn about how products can be designed to conserve energy, materials and components. Look at sustainable manufacturing and the impact of waste in the manufacturing process. Conserving energy and our planet’s resources is an increasingly important objective for governments and businesses. A product lifecycle manager will think about every stage of a product’s journey, from its design to its eventual disposal by consumers, and look at how to minimise its environmental impact. Packaging designers need to consider how to package goods while creating minimal waste. All designers can do their part for the environment by making more sustainable choices. Next >