DesignClass | Design & Technology Scotland

February 2021 Update Log

2/1/2021

 
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The updates for February 2021. This will be updated on an ongoing basis:
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BGE Course Choice Promotional Video:
  • BGE Course Choice promotional video has been added.

BGE / N5 Graphic Communication Graphic Design
  • Video on Typography has been added. This has been a huge project for an 8-minute project... Let me know what you think. ​

DTP Tools and Techniques (Higher Graphic Communication)
Okay, as an addition to the the Design Elements and Design Principles videos, I have now started adding videos on DeskTop Publishing tools and techniques. These include:
  • Introduction to DTP. 
  • Video on setting up a document.
  • Video on layers and master layers.
  • Video on flow-text-along-a-path.
  • Video on body-text formatting and terms.
  • Video on image file formats and cropping.

Design Elements & Principles (Higher Graphic Communication)
Continuing to make resources about Design Elements and Design Principles for Higher Graphic Communication. These include :
  • Course Notes Booklet (20 pages, over 35 questions and 8 projects/tasks) on Design Elements and Design Principles.
  • Already on to version 1.1 of the Course Notes Booklet. Mist typos now fixed...
  • Question booklet updates to v2
  • Video on the design principle of 'mass'
  • Video on the design principle of 'contrast'
  • ​Video on the design principle of 'balance'
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January 2021 Update Log

1/11/2021

 
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The updates for January 2021. This will be updated on an ongoing basis:
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Vector Graphics "Monster" project (BGE/N4/N5 Graphic Communication):
  • Vector Graphics notes for BGE and National 5 Graphic Communication added.
  • Vector Graphics course tasks added.
  • How to install Inkscape (Vector Graphics) video added
  • How to transfer files from one Vector graphics package to another video added.
  • Structural Engineering notes for BGE and National 5 Engineering Science added.
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering notes for BGE and National 5 Engineering Science notes added.
  • Created a video on sketching a monster for the Vector Monster task. 
  • Added a video about basic vector graphics techniques to N5 Graphic Design.
  • Added an unfinished vector graphics monster to N5 Graphic Design.
  • Created a video on "Basic Colour Theory" for BGE and N5 Graphic Communication.

BGE Design & Manufacture Project:
  • BGE Design Thinking task and video added (cycling helmet)

BGE Engineering Science, Structures Unit:
  • Creates Course Notes booklet for BGE Structures. 
  • Created a video to introduce the BGE Structures unit.
  • Created a 'neolithic structures' additional task in the BGE Structures unit.
  • Added a video about Göbekli Tepe video to BGE Structures unit. 

Website coding, UI/UX issues:
  • Fixed a MAJOR coding error on the site, where none of the N5 Technical Graphics / Orthographics would load... My fault! Sorry! Huge thank you to Colin Douglas for highlighting this to me! 
  • Fixed the links to Higher Graphic Communication technical graphics Sectional Views worksheets.

Design Elements & Principles (N5/Higher Graphic Communication)
​Started creating videos explaining Design Elements and Design Principles for Higher Graphic Communication. These include :
  • A practice question booklet (in collaboration with Caroline McFarlane and Andrew Findlater)
  • Introduction to Design Elements & Principles
  • The design principle 'dominance'
  • The design principle 'alignment'
  • The design principle 'proportion'
  • The design principle 'depth'
  • ​The design principle 'unity/proximity'
  • The design principle 'emphasis'
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December 2020 Update Log

12/31/2020

 
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  • 3D CAD Models (STEP format) of the Higher 'Sections' Technical Graphics have been added (You will need WinRAR to open the folder and email me for the password).
  • Fixed some of the Higher DTP Challenge task layouts...
  • Fixed some of the N5 DTP Challenge task layouts...
  • A new blog post - S3 Design and Manufacture first project.
  • Design and Manufacture National 5 Course Notes booklet covering 'aesthetics' is now live! :) This was a huge piece of new work, so I would appreciate feedback. A couple of assessments and homework tasks are coming along with it too.
  • New videos on basic rendering techniques for N5 Graphic Communication. This is a companion tasks to illustration of some basic primitive shapes. The task also has a .Blend files and supporting texture map. Perfect little introduction to rendering metal, plastic, glass, and wood.
  • Fixed N5 Graphic Communication DeskTop Publishing Challenges, which were now loading the Higher challenges. Thank you to Rhiann Gibson for pointing this out!  
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DeskMonsters

12/19/2020

 
This is old favourite project - the Desk Monster! A simple brief of creating a monster-themed desk ornament that holds at least one pen or pencil. Pupils are given both a wooden block (in this case 50x50x50mm, and a strip of acrylic (50x120mm). After much iteration with foam and cardboard, pupils move to their final designs. 

I will be posting this as a task in the BGE section of the site in the coming months. 
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S3 Design & Manufacture

12/5/2020

 
This is has been a term to remember - or forget - like no other. Still, I am happy with the progress made. 

Introducing Design and Manufacture to S3 can be a tricky balancing act. Some pupils expect to be completing a course similar to woodwork or metalwork, with nothing but making activities and can be shocked at the level of knowledge and design-theory that is required. Some pupils love blue-sky design thinking, but are nervous of actually making. 

I have experimented with different approaches over the years, but may have struck a winner. I always start with introducing the 'design process' including Briefs, Research and Specifications. This can be somewhat dry and abstract, but I also don't want to go through the full process to design and complex manufacture. 

In this simple task, I provide the pupils with a driving-bit for an electric screwdriver. I will introduce the task by asking pupils to drive in a screw using the driving-bit alone. After much struggling, I then have the class research the problem - they lack a suitable handle. 

I provide a brief (which you can download from the N5 DM section of the site) and pupils analyse this brief, plan and conduct their research. This includes using calipers to measure the driving bit and simple ergonomic/anthropometric research. After the research, a simple Specification is created. 

Usually this is the end of the tale. However,  in this instance, I asked pupils to create simple 2D sketches for concepts then quickly take these to 3D CAD.  For most, their designs required simple revolved profiles. However, some pupils who also do Graphic Communication were able to complete vastly more complex designs.  These models were then 3D printing.

I will probably rant more about 3D printers soon, and how they are sometimes treated as gimmicks in Scottish schools. However, in this case, every pupil printed their model at least once and several actually iterated their designs with subsequent improvements. The class morale was improved; they understood briefs, types of research, specifications and even CAD and 3D printing. 

I'm happy with the results above. Let me know what you think. 
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