Fashion Design BA (Hons) module details

 

Year one (Level 4)

Exploring Creative Contexts
This module introduces students to essential skills relevant to the subject of fashion, which will equip and allow for further development throughout the course.  The module will be broken down into various project briefs, each of these being supported by taught 'workshop' activities. Workshops and project briefs will  include the exploration of creative concept development, relevant research methodologies and  creative two dimensional fashion design  development process's.

These underpin the three dimensional resolution process through, fabric selection, extended design development, sampling and stand work. The module explores fundamental methods of communication through the introduction of drawing skills and the use of sketchbooks as a tool for documenting and communicating concept research and design methods.

Process, Interpretation and Development 
This module introduces students to complementary studies which support  those covered in Fashion Design - Exploring Creative Contexts. Students will be allowed the opportunity and ability to explore, understand and develop sufficient relevant technical skills, enabling realisation of personal concepts and design ideas.

These studies will involve an introductory understanding of contemporary fashion practice through technical design development, pattern cutting, and garment manufacture for wovenwear and knitwear. Practical skills will be delivered through  various technically focussed practical, workshops, tutorials, and studio based learning and embedded in various project briefs.

Consolidated Fashion Skills
This module allows students to consolidate, build and progress skills learnt in Fashion Design - Exploring Creative Contexts and Practical Fashion – Process, Interpretation and Development. The module will be broken down into different project briefs with each of these supported by taught 'workshop' activities. This module will allow students the opportunity to explore and utilise  the introduction of new skills such as  the use of colour and  detail within fashion design practise. The introduction of CAD  skills such as Adobe Illustrator and  Photoshop will also be delivered to support project work and relevant briefs.

Students will be encouraged to solve complex design and technical problems whilst critically reviewing the  appropriateness of relevant  personal outcomes for design.

Design Cultures 1
Design Cultures supports art and design students in the development of critical thinking and research, the development of an understanding of historical, theoretical and global contexts and concepts relevant to their subject, it facilitates the connection between theory and practice and helps to develop written, verbal and analytical skills. 

This 15-credit module introduces Level 4 students to research methods, visual literacy and the skills for academic writing by contextualising current practice within an historical framework. It will focus primarily on chronology and an understanding of stylistic development and archetypes.

The module will consider origins and influences – how traditions develop and evolve in response to social and political contexts e.g. trade, design innovation and technological developments that had an impact on the production and consumption of design. A wide range of methodological approaches will be used to identify and interpret the social, economic and political context of the discipline.

Typical content for Fashion Design will include historical perspectives on the fashion design process; the social and cultural history of fashion; style and consumption; key designers in context; object analysis and visual analysis; research methods and referencing.

Year two (Level 5)

Studio Practice Development
An advanced workshop in painting, print-making, sculpture, photography and photography/digital art, according to your choice. In the second semester, you will choose your own creative direction with support from studio tutors.

Directional Outerwear
This module affords students the opportunity to enhance existing design, technical and practical skills which have begun to be explored at level 4. Allowing for further development of more advanced techniques and processes before contextualising them into applications for design and production projects in more specialist disciplines for fashion design.  

Projects will focus on the subject areas of tailoring and outerwear. The module will be supported by specialist practical tailoring skills sessions leading to the 3D production of own designs. Other content will include research, design development, pattern cutting and portfolio development (including CAD).  The curriculum will enable the development of visual communication  skills through a portfolio of work for both design and technical outcomes.

Students will have the option to focus on either womenswear or menswear.

Fashion Design in Practice
This module affords students the opportunity to experience the demands of operating within the divergent challenges of a fashion design studio and practice appropriate skills. Working through two main project briefs, students will develop the full process of; research, design, communication, 3D development and 3D resolution outcomes. 

Project 1 allows students the opportunity to select between a project based around either woven or knit outcomes.  In both cases, the project brief will focus on group work where individuals creatively collaborate to manage and deliver a range of industry targeted and professional outcomes.

Project 2 will be individually based and encourage the articulation and communication of a personal design concept and aesthetic. In addition, students will be introduced to and encouraged to experiment with textile embellishment techniques to enhance personal design skills and opportunities.

Professional and Promotional Practice
This module compliments subject specific skills and practice within the programme of study by focussing on professional and promotional skills.  These skills and attributes become increasingly important factors as you begin to apply for jobs and work placements, including those opportunities available via the optional placement year and any other holiday work experience opportunities. 

 The module will consider two areas; the development of appropriate professional skills and the creation of suitable promotional materials.  Professional skills will be both written and experiential, typically to include: CV writing, interview techniques, presentation techniques and skills auditing.

 The promotional material will focus on digital platforms where a student can present themselves and their work, encouraging a proactive approach to becoming known and accessible to a range of potential employers. These digital tools can be continually updated with new content, both before and after graduation.

Design Cultures 2
This 15-credit module engages Level 5 students with contemporary debates and research in the subject. By locating the second year Design Cultures module within current practice students will apply the skills acquired in the first year to develop an understanding of the landscape of their discipline, and to further embed connections with their practical work. This module is designed to complement the consolidation of material skills by introducing a broad knowledge of historical and contemporary design practice in a wider global context.

The module develops research methods, vocabulary and skills necessary to become critically aware and confident in engaging in debate within and beyond the discipline. Key designers, thinkers and writers in the field will be introduced to embed a working knowledge of key concepts in discussions about the discipline, including sustainability, gender and cross-cultural awareness.

Typical content will include contemporary discourse and debate about ethical and sustainable design and global fashion contexts; cultural attitudes to gender and dress; the relationship between design and technology; identity and subcultures; brand, marketing and the culture of consumption; research methods and referencing.

Choose between:

Fashion Portfolio ''LIVE'' (option module) 
This module builds upon portfolio skills which have begun to be explored at level 4 and develops them further with more advanced techniques and processes before contextualising them into applications for LIVE, fashion industry design projects and competitions.

The curriculum will develop 2D visual communication skills, including design drawing, illustration and layout. Students will move on to undertake LIVE project briefs, applying skills learnt to date as part of fashion industry focussed design and communication outcomes.

The module will utilised appropriate fashion related, national and international competitions and/or bespoke design project briefs developed with and set by appropriate industry organisations, working to specific company requirements and targeted fashion consumer levels. The element of choice between project briefs available will be offered to students wherever possible.

OR

Pattern Cutting with Lectra® (option module) 
This module will build upon pattern cutting skills delivered and explored during level 4, enabling students to not only progress their technical understanding but to do so via the internationally recognised, industry standard suite of Lectra® programmes and utilities.  Social and economic changes have transformed the way fashion is designed, developed, produced and consumed.

To keep up with ever-changing challenges and expanding markets, companies need to adapt how they work.  Lectra®'s fashion and apparel solutions help the global fashion industry enhance their value chain and develop products with expertise, based on best practice methodologies and technologies.

The module will expose students to Lectra® technologies used in all levels of the fashion industry and will typically include; digitising, pattern creation, digital manipulation and adjustments, virtual sewing and 3D fit simulation on virtual avatars.

Year three (Level 6)

Professional Portfolio and Pre Collection
This module focuses students skills and allows for the strengthening of portfolio work and  design to 3D resolution skills.

The module contains various project briefs of varying complexity, which will cover areas including; target customer and retailer, colour and fabric development and specialist styling ideas.  Project briefs will include all relevant national and international fashion design competitions.  Briefs will be focused towards student's own individual interests as well as enhancing design, graphic and visual presentation skills.

The final brief of the module will be the 'pre-collection'.  This will afford students the opportunity to work on and experience the processes relating to building a personal collection before addressing the final collection as required in major project module.  The brief will include the research, design development, fabric selection and range building of a collection of 4 - 6 outfits.  From this range, 1 - 2 outfits will be taken through to pattern cutting, toile stage and final manufacture.

Apart from 'pre-collection, students will be offered appropriate project brief choices whenever available. Students will also have the option, womenswear, menswear and knitwear within their choice of projects in this module.

Major Project
This module enables students to consolidate all of their acquired skills throughout their studies into a major project.  The module will include research into theme and market for the application of the design development process, from concept to final product.  Each student will work to an individual negotiated programme of study which is formulated by each student and will map out the exact content and direction, in which they aspire to demonstrate their skills.

Key areas to be covered will include; the selection and research into concept and market place, idea generation, design development and fabric selection, leading through to the final selection of a range of 4 - 6 outfits for pattern cutting and production.

Students will have options, womenswear, menswear and knitwear within their choice of projects in this module.

Design Cultures 3
This 15-credit module builds on modules undertaken at Level 4 and Level 5 and completes the undergraduate Design Cultures teaching for Fashion Design. Students will consolidate their skills of research, organisation, critical analysis and communication in order to develop and agree a self-directed title for an extended essay or alternative assessment of 3,500-4,000 words. A link between the written assignment and studio projects is encouraged to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between theory and practice. 

Note: All modules are subject to change in order to keep content current.