The Course

The course that I do is the AQA A level Design and Technology: Textiles, however if you do not do this course some of this information may still be useful for you.

What you will need to know:

Section A: Materials and Components

Fibre types:
- Know the qualities of the fibres and understand how they affect the end use
  - Natural fibres- Plant/cellulose, Animal/protein
  -  Manufactured fibres- regenerated fibres, synthetic, PVC
- Know the commercial names of fibres and fabrics

Yarns:
- Carding and spinning
- Yarn types- filament yarns, fancy yarns etc.
- Blending and mixing of fibres

Fabric manufacturer:
- Woven- plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, pile weave, loop pile
- Knitted- weft knits, warp knits
- Non woven

Smart materials:
- understand what is meant by a smart material and be aware of a range of typical applications

Fabric finishes:
- effects of finishes and reasons they are needed

Surface decoration:
- dyeing- domestic and industrial methods

Product components:
- Fastenings and reasons why used
- Trims and reasons why used
- Threads

Working properties of fibres and fabrics:
-knowledge and understanding of the properties of fibres and fabrics

Fibre properties and qualities:
-e.g. strength, elasticity, fineness, flammability, drape, handle etc.

Testing of materials:
- flammability, crease resistance, shrink resistance, colour fastness, strength, pilling

Manipulating and combining materials:
-mixtures, blends and laminates
- combining materials

Section B: Design and Market influences

Development of design:
- history of design
-product evolution and product analysis

Design in practice:
- design methodology- analysis, research, inspiration etc.
- the role of the designer
- design sources
- aiding the design process
-market research
- the marketing function
- product lifecycles
- copyright protection
- communication methods
- illustration
- enhancement
- information drawing
- modelling
- use of ICT

Design in Human Context:
- human needs
- human factors
- health and safety
- application/ material areas
- environmental concerns

Section C: Processes and Manufacture:

Industrial and commercial practice:
- manufacturing systems- one off, batch, mass, pre manufactured components, Just in time
- ICT application- CAD, CAM
- Pattern drafting
- product manufacture
- product maintenance
- environmental concerns
- health and safety

System and control:
- Quality assurance and quality control