Fashion Textile Design BA (Hons) module details

Year one (Level 4)

Block 1: Inquire

This module forms an essential part in developing an understanding of the necessity for good visual and technical investigation. You will be exposed to a variety of methodologies for developing information gathering, visualisation, documentation, experimentation, and conceptual development. You are expected to expand existing skills, whilst advancing and personalising a range of investigative techniques for use throughout the course. A range of set workshops and briefs will allow you to be exposed to a variety of approaches and aids a broad range of ideas and techniques to be explored. The module also contains an introduction to garment construction and pattern cutting. Establishing links between research and technical process for fashion and textiles.

Assessment: 70% design research and 30% coursework.

Block 2: Explore

This module introduces you to fundamentals of fashion textile design development. This will build upon your visual research skills, allowing opportunities to explore the translation of research into technical/practical textile outcomes. Technical exploration will encompass specific technical processes (knit and material construction) and further investigate pattern cutting and garment construction techniques. Design problem solving skills are addressed through fashion focused project briefs, developing an understanding of the requirements for a contemporary fashion context.

Assessment: 70% design development and 30% coursework.

Block 3: Connect

This module will build upon your visual research skills and explore the connection of differing textile technical processes, with a practical fashion outcome. Technical exploration will encompass specific technical processes (print) and investigate translation from 2D to 3D via pattern cutting and garment construction techniques. Design problem solving skills are addressed through your response to a set project brief. Developing an understanding of the requirements for a contemporary fashion context.

Assessment: 70% design research and 30% design resolution.

Block 4: Futures

This module consolidates the learning from level 4, allowing you to use arrange of design research and development skills in the creation of a design package. You are encouraged to use digital and traditional technologies to produce concepts and conclusions for relevant independently defined contexts. The practical content is further underpinned by theoretical content delivered by the Design Cultures department to contextualise current practice within an historical framework. You will consider origins and influences - how traditions develop and evolve in response to social and political contexts - as well as research methods, visual literacy, and the skills for academic writing.

Assessment: 50% design package and 50% 1500-word written assignment.

Year two (Level 5)

Block 1: Develop

This module provides the opportunity for you to advance technical skills and design problem solving activities related to designing and creating textiles for fashion.

Technical understanding encompasses specific processes and techniques considered most relevant to the global fashion industry. Projects will expand on skills developed in level 4, focusing on technical and design skills across print, surface design and knitted textiles.

Design problem solving skills are addressed through a specific fashion focused project brief, developing a deeper knowledge of market, gender, fabrications, and context.

Assessment: 70% design research and development and 30% design package.

Block 2: Communication

This module provides the opportunity to study and develop practical design communication for the fashion industry. Developing a range of portfolio techniques, fashion Illustration, CAD, and personal promotion. The aim is to explore and understand a variety of methods to investigate, experiment, design, visualise and present information for a fashion audience. Encouraging you to discover and refine your personal style and approach to fashion communication, whilst understand its’ relationship with their textile design practice.

To locate the skills being developed appropriately, the module contains a series of sessions, which aid development of career enhancement and professional practice skills, such CV’s, cover letters, internship searches and promotional material.

The practical content is further underpinned by theoretical content delivered by the Design Cultures department. Design Cultures contextual teaching is included in this module. You will engage with issues and debates including sustainability, gender, and cross-cultural awareness. Students will research and explore relevant historical, theoretical, critical, and global concepts to underpin your understanding of contemporary issues in the fashion industry.

Assessment: 50% coursework and 50% 2500-word written assignment.

Block 3: Contextualise

This module provides the opportunity for you to advance technical skills and design problem solving activities related to designing and creating fashion textiles for defined fashion contexts and markets

Technical understanding encompasses specific processes and techniques considered most relevant to a global fashion industry context. You will expand design and practical skills focusing on developing areas of specialism and relating this to a modern fashion context.

Design problem solving skills are addressed through a specific project brief, allowing a deeper knowledge of market, gender, fabrications, and context to be investigated.

Assessment: 70% design research and development and 30% design package.

Block 4: Advance

This module focuses on advancing your design and technical skills, whilst also allowing for the strengthening of 2D-3D experimentation and construction skills.

The project design brief will be co-created by the staff and individual students. Aiming towards identifying your own individual technical specialism/s and design direction. The module provides an opportunity to explore and combine a range of design, technical and realisation skills as required by the negotiated brief.

Support is provided to develop advancing pattern cutting, prototyping and construction skills, allowing you to translate and combine textile development into an effective fashion concepts.

Assessment: 70% design research and development and 30% design package.

Year three (Level 6)

Block 1: Consolidate

This module focuses on consolidating your research, creative and technical skills, whilst providing a platform for the strengthening of a personal design direction.

The project design brief will be co-created by the staff and individual students through negotiation, establishing a platform for a body of visual and technical research to be produced. Through considered investigation and analysis you will develop your personal practice for your defined direction before presenting your ideas for further development in Block 2.

You are provided with the opportunity to gain advanced technical skills in a range of processes for your chosen specialism(s) or combine processes as you require. Access is provided to a broad range of practical workshops, establishing an increasingly independent learning experience.

Assessment: 80% design research and 20% presentation.

Block 2: Refine

This module focuses on refining the investigation from block 1 into a capsule collection. Providing you with the opportunity to develop and refine your personal design direction into viable design outcomes. There is an expectation that you continue to research and investigate your practice and its’ relevance to modern fashion. This will be further underpinned by teaching and support from the Design Cultures department.

For Design Cultures, you will consolidate your skills of research, organization, critical analysis, and communication in order to develop and agree a self-directed title for an extended essay or alternative assessment. A link between the written assignment and studio projects is encouraged to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between theory and personal design practice.

Assessment: 50% design collection and 50% 4000-word written assignment.

Block 3 and Block 4: Resolve

This module focuses on consolidating your research, creative and technical skills, whilst providing a platform for the strengthening of a personal design direction.

The project design brief will be co-created by the staff and individual students through negotiation, establishing a platform for a body visual research to be produced. Through considered investigation and analysis you will develop your personal practice for your defined direction before presenting your ideas for further development.

Students are provided with the opportunity to gain advanced technical skills in a range of processes for their chosen specialism(s) or combine processes as they require. Access is provided to a broad range of practical workshops, establishing an increasingly independent learning experience.

Assessment: 50% Research and development, 30% design collection and 20% portfolio.