Engineering Design

Exam Board: OCR

The Cambridge National in Engineering Design will encourage students to: 

• Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Engineering Design, including the design process, types of drawings, influences on design, and the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD). 
• Develop learning and practical skills that can be applied to real-life contexts and work situations. 
• Think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically. 
• Develop independence and confidence in using skills that would be relevant to the engineering design and development sector and more widely. 
• Analyse problems in design terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, and modelling designs to meet a design brief. 
• Understand the different stages of the iterative design process, recognising the cyclical nature of this approach. 
• Evaluate designs through product disassembly and the process of using product analysis. 

The qualification is made up of three units.  

These are: 

Communicating Designs 

Unless designers can communicate their ideas to others, then it is unlikely that their engineering designs will be fully appreciated. By using drawing skills designers can provide a far better sense of what a new product will look like and encourage the creative process that can enhance a successful design. 

In this unit you will learn how to develop your techniques in sketching, and gain industrial skills in engineering drawing using standard conventions that include dimensioning, line types, abbreviations, and representation of mechanical features.  You will enhance your confidence and capabilities by using computer aided design (CAD), 2D and 3D  software, to produce accurate and detailed drawings and models that visually communicate your designs. 

Design Evaluation and Modelling 

Designers need an understanding of how products are manufactured to ensure that their ideas can be produced effectively. Analysing how products are made can help to inform designs, and it can be useful to disassemble existing products to discover how they function and how they were manufactured. 

In this unit you will learn how designers can quickly create and test models to develop a prototype of a design.  You will develop your virtual modelling skills using computer aided design (CAD) 3D software, to produce a high-quality model that will be able to simulate your design prototype. You will also develop your physical modelling skills using modelling materials or rapid prototyping processes to produce a physical prototype. 

Principles of Engineering Design 

You are surrounded by products that have been created to solve a particular problem, whether that be a backpack that needs to be strong enough to carry a specific piece of equipment, or a desk tidy that can help to store pens and writing equipment. These engineering designs do not magically appear; they are typically developed by following a design strategy or process. 

In this unit you will learn about the different design strategies and where they are used, as well as the stages that are involved in iterative design, which is currently one of the most widely used design strategies. You will learn about the type of information needed to develop a design brief and specification, and the manufacturing and other considerations that can influence a design.  You will develop knowledge of the types of drawing used in engineering to communicate designs, as well as the techniques used to evaluate design ideas and outcomes, including modelling methods. 

Assessment

Communicating Designs 

• Coursework – 30% of the qualification 

Design Evaluation and Modelling 

• Coursework – 30% of the qualification 

Principles of Engineering Design 

• Exam – 40% of the qualification. 

Students who achieve at Level 2 might consider progression to:  

• A-Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects  
• Study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as BTEC National in Engineering, which prepares learners to enter employment or apprenticeships, or to move on to higher education by studying a degree in an engineering area. 

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