AQA GCSE Design and
Technology – Product
Design 2026 | Study Guide,
Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,Why does product evolution occur? > Continuous improvement
> Market pull
> Technology push
> Social/cultural needs
> Political/environmental needs
What is market pull? > Designing to satisfy the needs and wants of customers - costumer demand
> Changing fashions and social attitudes affect what people want and it isn't always
the same
Give an example of market pull A car is designed to get you from A to B but they have become a status symbol and
luxury extras such as seat-back TV screens are added
What is technology push? > Research and development leads to new technologies, materials and
manufacturing techniques
> New technology can make a product cheaper, perform its function better or be
nicer-looking
Give an example of technology push Computers started as a hude 'adding machines' but now microchips allow for small,
fast and powerful machienes
What is continuous improvement? > Manufactures want to make more money, increase profit
> They improve the design do they can be made more easily 'continuous
improvement'
> They make them as good as possible to make money, be competitive and meet
standards of product quality
What alternative reasons can a product evolve for? > Social or cultural needs (For example, wind-up radios for Africans so they could
listen to educational broadcasts about health concerns)
> Political or environmental needs (For example, the need for environmentally
friendly products such as hybrid engine cars that are more efficient)
Name the features of the Arts and Crafts movement > Founded by William Morris
> Bases on patterns found in nature
> Upright and angular
> Made by made and skilled craftsmen
Name the features of the Art Nouveau movement > Designers include Louis C.Tiffany
> Flowing and curvy designs
> They use floral or insect motifs
Name the features of the Art Deco movement > Inspired by African and Egyptian art
> Bold colours, zigzag and stepped shapes, bold sweeping curves and the sunset
motif
> Example is the Chrysler building in New York
Name the features of the Bauhaus movement > Movement from Germany
> Has the motto 'form follows function'
> Function is most important and appearance is second
> It is futuristic, simplistic and used mass production methods
> Uses chrome tubing and black leather
Name the features of the De Stijl movement > Dutch modernist movemnt
> Basic - uses simple shapes, horizontal and vertical lines
> The three primary colous only
> Well known example is Gerrit Rietveld's Red and Blue chair
, Name the features of the postmodernism movement > Rejected 'form follows function'
> Put style as the focus point of design
> Memphis used bright, contrasting colours and different materials
> Some styles contain kitsch and minimalism
What are human factors? Addressing different needs and values of target groups
> Disabled users
> Cultural and religious values
> Age groups
> Ergonomics
> Anthropometrics
Explain how products can be changed for disabled users > Some packaging has Braille for blind users
> Buttons can be made bigger and brighter so they are easier to press and find
> Products such as smoke alarms can have visible signals as well as audio ones so
deaf people are alerted to fires
> Instructions can be given in picture or diagram form so people with difficulty
reading text can use the product
> Wheelchair access must be designed into busses, trains and working stations
(like atms)
Explain how products can be changed to suit cultural and > You can cater for their dietary needs
religious values > Create products to suit a particular custom or celebration - like Diwali uses lights
> Cultures can use things differently, the Japanese custom is to eat at a low table
on the floor
> Clothing styles can vary, it could be inappropriate to wear revealing clothing
> Colours can have different meaning - Chinese brides wear red for example
Explain how products can be changed with respect to age > Small children or the elderly may not be able to manipulate small parts such as
groups tricky fastenings or open packaging
> Elderly and infirm people may have trouble holding and using products so you
could make easy grip handles
What are ergonomics? How easy and comfortable a product is to use, efficiency in use
Why are ergonomics important? > To fit the size and proportions of the user
> It improves safety, comfort and efficiency
> Long-term damage to health can be caused by badly-designed products
Give an example of ergonomic design A chair seat must be the right height off the ground and support the persons back in
the right places
What are anthropometrics? The study of human body measurements used to make products of the right size
and shape
Technology – Product
Design 2026 | Study Guide,
Practice Questions,
Answers, Rationales &
Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,Why does product evolution occur? > Continuous improvement
> Market pull
> Technology push
> Social/cultural needs
> Political/environmental needs
What is market pull? > Designing to satisfy the needs and wants of customers - costumer demand
> Changing fashions and social attitudes affect what people want and it isn't always
the same
Give an example of market pull A car is designed to get you from A to B but they have become a status symbol and
luxury extras such as seat-back TV screens are added
What is technology push? > Research and development leads to new technologies, materials and
manufacturing techniques
> New technology can make a product cheaper, perform its function better or be
nicer-looking
Give an example of technology push Computers started as a hude 'adding machines' but now microchips allow for small,
fast and powerful machienes
What is continuous improvement? > Manufactures want to make more money, increase profit
> They improve the design do they can be made more easily 'continuous
improvement'
> They make them as good as possible to make money, be competitive and meet
standards of product quality
What alternative reasons can a product evolve for? > Social or cultural needs (For example, wind-up radios for Africans so they could
listen to educational broadcasts about health concerns)
> Political or environmental needs (For example, the need for environmentally
friendly products such as hybrid engine cars that are more efficient)
Name the features of the Arts and Crafts movement > Founded by William Morris
> Bases on patterns found in nature
> Upright and angular
> Made by made and skilled craftsmen
Name the features of the Art Nouveau movement > Designers include Louis C.Tiffany
> Flowing and curvy designs
> They use floral or insect motifs
Name the features of the Art Deco movement > Inspired by African and Egyptian art
> Bold colours, zigzag and stepped shapes, bold sweeping curves and the sunset
motif
> Example is the Chrysler building in New York
Name the features of the Bauhaus movement > Movement from Germany
> Has the motto 'form follows function'
> Function is most important and appearance is second
> It is futuristic, simplistic and used mass production methods
> Uses chrome tubing and black leather
Name the features of the De Stijl movement > Dutch modernist movemnt
> Basic - uses simple shapes, horizontal and vertical lines
> The three primary colous only
> Well known example is Gerrit Rietveld's Red and Blue chair
, Name the features of the postmodernism movement > Rejected 'form follows function'
> Put style as the focus point of design
> Memphis used bright, contrasting colours and different materials
> Some styles contain kitsch and minimalism
What are human factors? Addressing different needs and values of target groups
> Disabled users
> Cultural and religious values
> Age groups
> Ergonomics
> Anthropometrics
Explain how products can be changed for disabled users > Some packaging has Braille for blind users
> Buttons can be made bigger and brighter so they are easier to press and find
> Products such as smoke alarms can have visible signals as well as audio ones so
deaf people are alerted to fires
> Instructions can be given in picture or diagram form so people with difficulty
reading text can use the product
> Wheelchair access must be designed into busses, trains and working stations
(like atms)
Explain how products can be changed to suit cultural and > You can cater for their dietary needs
religious values > Create products to suit a particular custom or celebration - like Diwali uses lights
> Cultures can use things differently, the Japanese custom is to eat at a low table
on the floor
> Clothing styles can vary, it could be inappropriate to wear revealing clothing
> Colours can have different meaning - Chinese brides wear red for example
Explain how products can be changed with respect to age > Small children or the elderly may not be able to manipulate small parts such as
groups tricky fastenings or open packaging
> Elderly and infirm people may have trouble holding and using products so you
could make easy grip handles
What are ergonomics? How easy and comfortable a product is to use, efficiency in use
Why are ergonomics important? > To fit the size and proportions of the user
> It improves safety, comfort and efficiency
> Long-term damage to health can be caused by badly-designed products
Give an example of ergonomic design A chair seat must be the right height off the ground and support the persons back in
the right places
What are anthropometrics? The study of human body measurements used to make products of the right size
and shape
