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Welcome to Three-Dimensional Design
Course Details
Why choose this course?
Choosing AQA Three-Dimensional Design A-Level gives you the freedom and time to explore your own ideas and design interests, allowing you to focus on what you are truly passionate about. The course combines creativity, technical skill, and problem-solving, encouraging you to experiment with a wide range of materials, techniques, and technologies, from traditional model-making to CAD, 3D printing and AI generative software.
One of the key strengths of this course is the personal investigation, where you can select a theme that inspires you and develop it into a fully realised project. This means your work is unique to you, reflecting your own creativity and interests while developing professional design skills. The sky is the limit and teaching staff will facilitate your choice of project, you are in control.
AQA Three-Dimensional Design opens doors to a wide variety of creative careers. You could pursue industrial or product design, architecture, automotive or transport design, jewellery and accessory design, stage and set design, sculpture, interior or furniture design, and even roles in digital design, exhibition design, or engineering design.
The course helps you build a strong portfolio and develop the technical and critical skills that universities and employers value, giving you the opportunity to turn your passion for design into a rewarding career. With its combination of independent thinking, practical application, and creative freedom, AQA 3D Design offers a unique and inspiring pathway for aspiring designers.
Course Content/Main Topics
• Personal Investigation 60%: Choose a theme you love and develop it into a 3D project, from research and sketches to prototypes and a final product.
• Externally Set Assignment 40%: Respond to a brief set by AQA, research your ideas, and create a final piece in a 15-hour practical exam.
• Materials & Techniques: Work with wood, metal, plastics, textiles, ceramics, and more. Learn model-making, casting, joining, finishing, CAD, and 3D printing.
• Design & Making Skills: Develop your creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills through designing, prototyping, and refining your ideas.
• Contextual Understanding: Study designers, design trends, and product contexts, considering function, aesthetics, sustainability, and user needs.
This course gives you the freedom to follow your passions, build a strong portfolio, and prepare for careers in product design, automotive, jewellery, stage design, architecture, interior design, and more.
Careers and Higher Education
AQA Three-Dimensional Design A-Level opens the door to a wide range of creative and design-based careers. Many students go on to study degree courses in product design, industrial design, architecture, interior design, jewellery design, stage and set design, automotive design, furniture design, or creative engineering.
Graduates can pursue careers such as:
• Product Designer – creating everyday objects or innovative solutions.
• Industrial/Automotive Designer – designing cars, vehicles, or machinery.
• Stage/Set Designer – developing sets, props, and environments for theatre, TV, and film.
• Jewellery and Accessories Designer – crafting unique pieces with style and precision.
• Interior or Furniture Designer – designing functional, beautiful spaces and objects.
• Exhibition and Display Designer – creating museum, gallery, or retail experiences.
AQA Three-Dimensional Design equips students with skills that are highly adaptable and in demand across a wide range of industries. The course develops creative problem-solving, critical thinking, technical skills, and digital design proficiency, all of which are valuable in an ever-changing job market. By learning to work with traditional materials and modern technologies such as CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting, students gain practical experience that will remain relevant as industries adopt new tools and processes.
The focus on independent thinking and personal projects encourages innovation and flexibility—key traits for careers in product design, automotive, architecture, stage design, jewellery, and other creative fields. Furthermore, the ability to research, develop, prototype, and present ideas gives students a strong portfolio, making them competitive for higher education and future employment.
In short, this course develops both creative and technical skills that prepare students for careers that evolve with technology and design trends, ensuring they remain valuable and adaptable in the future.
Qualification
A Level
Assessment
Mr J Weston
jweston@kinverhigh.co.uk
Entry Requirements
Ideally a Grade 6 or above in Design and Technology, Art and Design, Engineering Design at Level 2 or other related subject is desirable, but if you have a good level of sketching ability, you are creative, inquisitive, passionate about design and open minded then this could also be the course for you.
Mr J Weston
jweston@kinverhigh.co.uk
For general sixth form enquires, please email: K6comms@Kinverhigh.co.uk
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