Cambridge Syllabus Notes

Graphics in Design and Technology

Graphics help you show how a product looks, works and fits together. In the IGCSE you’ll need to master rendering, exploded views and assembly drawings to communicate ideas clearly.

Rendering

Rendering is like painting a picture of a 3‑D model on paper. It shows colours, textures and lighting so the viewer can see the finished product.

Use shading to indicate depth – darker on the sides away from light.
Show surface textures (smooth, rough, shiny) with small hatching or stippling.
Keep the background simple; a light gray or white helps the model stand out.
Remember: clarity > realism. The goal is to convey shape, not to create a photo.

Exploded Views

An exploded view spreads parts apart while keeping their relative positions. Think of it as a spaghetti diagram where each piece is a noodle that can be seen separately.

Start with the outer shell.
Move each inner part slightly away along its assembly line.
Use arrows to show the direction of movement.
Label each part clearly – no guessing!

Assembly Drawings

Assembly drawings show how all the parts fit together. They’re like a jigsaw puzzle diagram that tells you where each piece goes.

Include a top view and a side view.
Show the order of assembly with numbered steps.
Use a cut‑away to reveal hidden components.
Keep the drawing tidy – no overlapping lines.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Rendering	Exploded View	Assembly Drawing
Purpose	Show final look and feel	Show spatial relationships	Show how parts fit together
Typical View	Isometric or perspective	Isometric with parts separated	Orthographic (top/side)
Key Elements	Shading, texture, colour	Arrows, spacing, labels	Cut‑away, numbering, assembly order

Exam Tips Box

Tip 1: Use clear labels – examiners look for legibility.

Tip 2: Keep drawings simple – avoid clutter; use clean lines.

Tip 3: Show progression – for assembly drawings, number steps from 1 to 5.

Tip 4: Check proportions – use a ruler or scale bar; remember $A = l \times w$ for area calculations.

Practical Exercise

Take a simple toy (e.g., a plastic block with a removable lid). Create:

A rendered sketch showing the block in a bright, sunny setting.
An exploded view with the lid and a small gear separated.
An assembly drawing showing how the lid attaches to the block.

Use the colour palette below to decide which parts get which colours.

Colour Palette

Part	Colour
Block	Blue
Lid	Red
Gear	Yellow

Good luck, and remember: a clear graphic is a powerful communicator! 🎨🔧🧩

Presentation techniques: rendering, exploded views, assembly drawings