Project Brief

Context :
A recently published OfSTED report ('Meeting technological challenges? Design and technology in schools 2007–10'), found that in over a quarter of primary schools and about half the secondary schools reviewed there were insufficient opportunities for pupils to develop their knowledge of modern materials, electronic systems and control, and computer aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM).

Contemporary, appealing project briefs that make use of new technologies such as CAD/CAM are vitally important in redressing this problem. Educational suppliers have been quick to develop low cost kits, which can form a convenient starting point for such projects.

The increasingly popular USB memory stick is a good case in point. It could be used as a KS3 class project, typically at Y8 or Y9, to introduce pupils to new manufacturing technologies and the concepts of designing for batch/volume production. Similarly, it could provide the context for an introductory design and make task or a short ‘Controlled Assessment’ project at GCSE level.


Assignment:

Your task is to design and manufacture a prototype product in response to this context that incorporates the given 1 Gb USB memory stick circuit. CAD/CAM is to be used extensively in the development of your prototype. This will be a promotional 'freebie' used to publicise the launch of one of the following ventures:

• a new cloud based android or iphone app

• the launch of a new web based music streaming site

• an information service for the 2012 Olympics

• the first film in a new science fantasy trilogy

CreoElements Pro and Corel Draw should be used to refine and develop the product’s shape, form and function. The prototype product should be manufactured using CAM equipment (eg. laser cutter, Fused Deposition Modeller, CNC router, sublimation printer etc') as the principal means of production.

You should also consider appropriate packaging and labelling to protect/promote/display the product.

Analysis:

As well as looking at the 4 options given in the brief I also decided to explore some of my own ideas. The first thought that popped into my head when I was given the brief 'usb stick' was to make a usb stick that looked like a biscuit so I decided to include this in my initial ideas.
I was also conscious of the need for some interesting packaging and thus wanted to think about the usb stick and packaging as a whole rather than the packaging being an afterthought.