Fashion Textile Design BA (Hons) module details

Year One (Level 4)

Explore 
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of fashion textile design covering skill development in print, knit, stitch, embellishment, CAD, fashion communication and portfolio skills. This will build upon the students' visual research skills, allowing opportunities to explore the translation of research into technical and practical outcomes. Technical exploration will encompass the specific processes and techniques considered most relevant to the global fashion industry. Design problem solving skills are addressed through a variety of fashion focused project briefs, developing an understanding of the requirements for a contemporary fashion context. The module consists of a number of set assignments with given outcomes and deadlines which will normally run consecutively.

The ethos of responsible design and the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be reflected in this module. 

Enquire
This module forms an essential part in developing the students understanding of the necessity for good visual research. Students will be exposed to a variety of methodologies for developing information gathering, drawing, photography, image making, documentation, experimentation and conceptual development. Students are expected to expand on existing skills, whilst advancing and personalising a range of investigative techniques for use throughout the course. A range of set workshops and activities will allow students to be exposed to variety of approaches, and aids a broad range of ideas and techniques to be explored.

Construct
This module will explore the design development skills of fashion design by investigating application of design ideas into 3-D resolutions. Students will explore technical and experimental prototyping, construction and fabrication, whilst also exploring appropriate contexts. The module is studio and workshop based and will encourage students to investigate a variety of pattern cutting methodologies, technical construction and machinery. Students are encouraged to develop their design problem solving, documentation and investigative skills, whilst also relating the connection of these emerging skills to their textile design practice. 

Define
This module provides students with an opportunity to develop visual research and investigation techniques for a fashion context.  Students will be exposed to range of workshops and activities developing fashion contextualisation, fashion illustration and design concepts for the body. Students will be expected to develop individual and diverse investigative methodologies for their work. Encouragement is provided to students in developing approaches for the communication of design ideas effectively in a fashion context, whilst honing skills for personal portfolio skills.

Design Cultures 1
Design Cultures supports art and design students in the development of critical thinking and research, and 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 Textile Design will include perspectives on the fashions relationship with materiality; the body; value; gender; place; and communication.

 

Year Two (Level 5)

Develop 
This module provides the opportunity for students to advance the technical 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, advancing technical and design skills across print, surface design, embellishment and knitted textiles. Design problem solving skills are addressed through specific fashion focused project briefs, developing a deeper knowledge of market, gender, fabrications and context.  

Communicate 
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. Students are encouraged  to discover and refine their personal style and approach to fashion communication, whilst understand its relationship with their textiles 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 as CVs, cover letter, internship searches and promotional material.

Principles 
This module engages with contemporary debates and themes effecting contemporary fashion and its relationship with materials. The module develops research methods, vocabulary and the skills necessary to become critically aware and confident in engaging in debate within 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. Students will be exposed to range of contemporary factors effecting fashion and are required to undertake a series of research tasks to understand and embed the knowledge of material culture into their personal practice. 

Consolidate 
This module focuses on consolidating the students design and technical skills, whilst also allowing for the strengthening of 2D-3D production construction and resolution skills. Briefs will be developed by the student and focused towards identifying a student’s own individual technical specialism/s. This provides an opportunity to explore and combine a range of design, technical and realisation skills, as required. Support is provided to develop advancing pattern cutting, prototyping and construction skills, allowing students to translate and combine textile development into fully functioning fashion outcomes. 

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.

 

Year Three (Level 6)

Refine 
This module focuses on refining the students’ design and technical skills, whilst also allowing for the strengthening of 2D-3D production construction and resolution skills. Briefs will be developed by the student and focused towards enhancing the students personal style and technical specialism/s which provides an opportunity to explore and combine a range of design, technical and realisation skills, as required.

Support is provided to further develop advancing pattern cutting, prototyping and construction skills.  Allowing students to translate and combine fashion textile development into fully functioning fashion outcomes.

Opportunities are provided for students to further explore personal design communication, allowing a personal design language to be developed in reference to personal design aesthetics.

Resolve 
This module enables students to bring together all of their acquired skills throughout their studies into a final major project. The module will include research into a personally selected research area and market level for the application of the design development process, from concept to final product.  Each student project will be guided by an individual negotiated brief, which is formulated by each student in conjunction with advice from module staff. The negotiated brief will map out the exact content and direction for the project in which each student wishes to demonstrate their skills. Key areas to be covered will include: selection and research into theme and market place (which will be communicated in both written and visual formats), idea generation and design development with textile development, leading through to the final selection of a range of sampling and experimentation to be taken through to final production. Students can specialise or combine technical processes including knit, print, and mixed media processes, for a defined fashion context including men’s and/or women’s wear.

Promote 
This module provides the opportunity to practice and resolve personal design communication for exhibiting to external audiences. It is intended that students will demonstrate an advancing range of portfolio and fashion visualisation techniques, CAD and personal promotion. The aim is to explore and understand a variety of methodologies to promote and present design information to a contemporary fashion industry audience: encouraging students to refine their personal design language, and identify relevant methods of extending audience communication.

To locate the skills being developed appropriately, the module contains a series of sessions, which aid enhancement of career enhancement and professional practice skills such as traditional and digital portfolio development, branding, website development and social media utilization. 

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 Textile 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.