Hello and welcome to Product Design at Reigate College.
My name is Rebecca Degiorgio and I am the course leader for A Level Product Design (3D Design). I’m looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the department in person at the beginning of the academic year. In the meantime, I’d like you to complete a series of tasks and activities to give you a taste of what you’ll be learning and to make sure you’re fully prepared for the A Level course.
We’ve designed these activities for you to complete independently from home, and you’ll have the chance to share your ideas with other Product Design students when you start the course, so please spend time on each one and, above all, enjoy exploring the subject!
The tasks are organised in three distinct steps and should all be completed by Choices Day on 27 August 2025. This is to give you the best insight into what the courses will be like and/or help prepare you for them.
Please note, some Course Leaders (for example for Music) may release their tasks earlier, as they may form part of the College’s audition process. If this applies to you, you’ll be notified separately.
New Starters Course Tasks and Activities
| Release date | Suggested Completion Dates | |
| Explore your Subject | 1 June | 1 July |
| Get Going | 1 June | 1 August |
| Aim High | 1 June | 1 September |
As a 3D design student you need to demonstrate a curiosity in the world in which we live, whilst also having an understanding of how our culture informs our ideas and perspectives. As part of this we would like you to visit an exhibition at the V&A as a starting point for some sketching and modelling of architectural forms.
Exhibition Research – Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence
Tropical Modernism was an architectural style developed in the hot, humid conditions of West Africa in the 1940s. After independence, India and Ghana adopted the style as a symbol of modernity and progressiveness, distinct from colonial culture.
Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence – Exhibition at V&A, South Kensington
1. Visit the exhibition Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence at the V&A
2. Write a report on the exhibition, including the below
- Choose 3 of the exhibits/products and produce 3 detailed colour sketches of them using different media, i.e. fineliner/oil pastels/pencil etc
- 600 word report on the exhibition
In your 600 word report
- Describe the exhibition in detail – what was the aim of the exhibition? What type of works were included? Was there a theme?
- Choose 3 models/designs that really inspire you, write down their name and what year they were made. Analyse them in detail, describe their appearance, the materials they are made from, their techniques.
- How did they display the works? Were products hanging up? Did they display them in glass cases? Why did they display the product in this way?
- Give your opinion – do you like or dislike the exhibition – explain why?
Iconic Architecture – Observational Studies and Photos
Choose a building or piece of architecture that inspires you. It could be an iconic building from London or a local building like a church. Examples could be: St Paul’s Cathedral; Lloyds Insurance Building; The Gherkin, a local church or house.
TASK 1: Complete 2 observational studies of the building. These observational studies must be of an extremely high quality. Please complete the studies in the below media:
- Observation 1: Pencil observation – focusing on tone and shading
- Observation 2: Fineliner/Biro observation – focusing on line
TASK 2: Take 20 photos of the chosen building – take from various angles and zoom up on details as well as photos from a distance.
Iconic Architecture – 3D Card Models
Construct a small 3D card model of your chosen building or structure. Use a variety of different cutting, slotting and folding techniques to create a small card interpretation of your chosen architecture.
There are some great tips and advice in these video’s – Design Modelling – Tips
Course Leader – Product Design (3D Design) A Level
