“Good buildings come from good people, and all problems are solved by good design.”

Stephen Gardiner

Design Technology

At Bowness, we recognise how Design Technology impacts every aspect of daily life and how previous designers have contributed to the innovation and progress within our society.

We intend to offer our children the chance to use creative thinking with a clear and tangible outcome. Through a variety of planned practical and creative activities, pupils are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in a process of design making.

Through the study of D.T, pupils will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life. It also enables pupils to create high-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creative, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

At Bowness Primary School, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our D.T. key concepts and ideas are:

1. Children will take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. 
2. Children will through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. 
3. Children will understand how high-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation. 
4. Children will develop creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. 
5. Children will have a greater knowledge of the potential career opportunities available to them, broaden their horizons and gain an understanding that jobs and careers are not bound by social mobility or gender stereotypes. 

Characteristics of a Designer 

• Significant levels of originality and the willingness to take creative risks to produce innovative ideas and prototypes.
• An excellent attitude to learning and independent working.
• The ability to use time efficiently and work constructively and productively with others.
• The ability to carry out thorough research, show initiative and ask questions to develop an exceptionally detailed knowledge of users’ needs.
• The ability to act as responsible designers and makers, working ethically, using finite materials carefully and working safely.
• A thorough knowledge of which tools, equipment and materials to use to make their products.
• The ability to apply mathematical knowledge.
• The ability to manage risks exceptionally well to manufacture products safely and hygienically.
• A passion for the subject and knowledge of, up-to-date technological innovations in materials, products and systems.

Aspirations for the Future 

Pupils develop an understanding of how subjects and specific skills are linked to future jobs.

Here are some of the jobs you could aspire to do in the future as a Designer:

• Sound engineer
• Theme park designer
• Video games studies researcher 
• Lego designer
• Den builder
• Jewellery designer