The course is designed to reflect contemporary practice in the fashion industry. Individual creativity, both in fashion design and fashion styling, balanced with realism, are key factors underlying the ethos of this course. You are encouraged to explore your individual talents through the application of the professional design process, from concept to final product.
The course aims to create flexible, resourceful and creative fashion designers and fashion stylists with well-developed transferable and interpersonal skills. It provides a broad design education, concentrating on fashion, and develops not just high levels of analytical skills, critical judgment and the ability to learn independently, but also helps you acquire technical skills and the understanding necessary for the effective realisation of creative fashion concepts.
It is imperative for fashion that you become multi-skilled and professional, able to adapt to the specific needs of society and to the fulfilment of your own creativity. It is a priority for the course to provide an environment where personal talent and individual potential are nurtured.
You will develop your design thinking and creative ability by undertaking a series of practical projects that cover all aspects of fashion design within a broad context. Experimentation is encouraged as you are introduced to the two pathways of fashion design and fashion styling. You are introduced to the course's core subject areas by a series of modules delivered through projects. Year 1 introduces you to the fundamentals of a range of disciplines, and provides a thorough grounding of knowledge skills and understanding.
At the end of year 1, you will have the ability to understand and communicate ideas in a professional visual form and have developed sufficient technical skills to be able to realise your concepts.
You will have the opportunity to specialise and select a pathway either in fashion design or fashion styling and image making. Both pathways will continue to explore and develop research skills, improve understanding of the specialism, enhance awareness of the fashion industry, and maintain a creative outlook.
If you are studying design you will be expected to realise your ideas in 2D and 3D, if you studying styling you will be expected to realise your ideas professionally via 2D image and photography, focusing on creative communication of fashion in the media.
During Year 2 you will liaise with industry and, where possible, undertake a 'live project', which will allow you to engage with, and practice, subjects of the course with professionalism and prepare you to work more independently. You will develop your understanding of markets and design trends through a process of research, analysis and practical projects.
At the end of this level, you will undertake a work placement to develop your awareness and understanding of the fashion industry. Work placements can offer the opportunity for regional, national or international experience in fashion-related organisations.
You will continue to follow your chosen specialism and your studies will be tailored to your particular interests and ambitions. Design projects continue to be supported by study of design theory, computing, visual communication and business.
Year 3 provides the opportunity to personalise a specialism through the negotiation of bespoke projects in line with your goals and ambitions. For the final project, self-direction and independent thinking are imperative. Work from the final module in year 3 is exhibited at a fashion show in Manchester. A number of our students will also be selected to take part in the prestigious annual Graduate Fashion Week event in London, where they will exhibit work alongside their peers and compete at a national level.
Year One
Semester 1
Introduction to Pattern Cutting and Production Techniques
The main objective of this first module is to introduce you to the basics of pattern cutting, production techniques and manufacturing. A pattern cutter's role within a fashion company design room is of vital importance. The pattern cutter is the link between the designer and the finished sample garment, able to translate the designer's ideas into shapes with accuracy and flair.
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Fashion Styling and Image Generation
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the basic aspects of fashion styling and image making through approaches to research and exploration of concepts and techniques that are pertinent to fashion. This includes looking at contemporary fashion practice, trends and image that inform society both at a commercial and artistic level. You will be encouraged to appreciate the opportunities that these areas can offer, providing the foundation upon which you can supplement fresh thinking and apply future projects.
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Uses of Design Research: Industry Practice
The purpose of this module is to generate an appreciation of the business environment within which designers operate; in particular an awareness of the ways in which the fashion industry uses research. Research is vital to the fashion design process, providing the designer with essential skills, knowledge and information for the development of creative garments which meet the needs of the target market. Incorporating basic research skills this module covers fashion industry practice in relation to:
- Fabric and Fibres
- Prediction and Forecast
- Market Research and Retail Analysis
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Exploring Issues in Design: Fashion
An appreciation of design theories, the history of design and the cultural contexts that influence creative thinking is essential for those engaged with the visual. This module will investigate ideologies and aesthetics of the 20th and 21st century. It provides an examination of key movements and designers as well as an exploration of wider cultural influences on design. It will consider significant design movements and theories within an historical and cultural framework in order to reflect on contemporary practice.
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Semester 2
Fashion Communication 1
This module is created to challenge you to engage with diverse approaches to fashion communication. The learning is achieved through workshops including practical drawing for fashion and the use of computer software appropriate to the fashion industry.
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Design Fundamentals: Process, Interpretation and Development
This module introduces the basic skills and knowledge required as part of the fashion design process. It aims to provide the essential foundation upon which your understanding and awareness of the conceptual processes are underpinned by your technical and creative responses. It also aims to generate a sense of confidence and encourage you to think and explore in an open and expansive manner allowing you a period of exploration within which more personal and creative responses can be generated via 2D and 3D solutions within the context of an extended project.
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Uses of Design Research: Industry Practice (Continued)
Continuing the topics covered in semester 1.
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Exploring issues in design: Fashion (Continued)
Continuing the topics covered in semester 1.
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Year Two
Fashion Design Pathway
Semester 1
Design Specialism
Acting as an introduction to the fashion design pathway this module aims to provide you with the opportunity to develop your understanding of fashion design and give you a solid foundation of knowledge for future modules. You will develop the technical skills necessary for the effective realisation of concepts within this discipline.
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Fashion communication 2
This module intends to build upon the skills and knowledge from year 1 and specifically those developed in fashion and communication. The module deals with professional strategies and approaches that are necessary to gain practical yet creative outcomes important to the understanding of design and its application. The module aims to further develop your technical skill in fashion illustration and Computer Aided Design (CAD).
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Advanced Application of Pattern Techniques: Industry Practice
The purpose of this module is to place fashion design practice; particularly pattern cutting and production techniques, within a business context. An understanding of marketing and business issues will give you direction in the design, sampling and production of a collection. Enhanced and improved pattern cutting/production skills enable you to design more effectively and creatively in order to meet the needs of different markets.
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Dialogues in Design: Fashion
This module asks you to find your position in debates around key ideas in design and visual culture. Building on your knowledge of the ideologies and aesthetics of the 20th and 21st centuries, you will engage in dialogue in order to critique design and the visual within an historical and cultural framework. This module fosters an environment where ideas can be explored and exchanged in order for you to develop an individual, critical voice.
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Semester 2
Fashion Design Capsule Collection
'Capsule' is produced within the fashion industry to communicate the essence of a much larger or complete fashion collection. You will gain experience in producing an edited or abridged collection of garments that captures and communicates the key themes and influences representative of their design direction.
Throughout this module you will be entering a more personal journey and initiating your personal direction in preparation for your final year.
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Advanced Application of Pattern Techniques: Industry Practice (continued)
Continuing the topics covered in year 2, semester 1.
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Dialogues in Design: fashion (continued)
Continuing the topics covered in year 2, semester 1.
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Work Placement
Placements within industry not only add to your knowledge and appreciation of your chosen discipline but can also enhance future employment prospects. This module encourages a liaison between you and the industry – allowing you to apply and develop your knowledge and skills gained on the course while gaining an understanding of the relevant working procedures of industry and the professional activities of design. You will be encouraged to identify a placement that supports your chosen design field and future career aspirations.
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Live Project
This research based module is a project that promotes and develops a systematic and critical enquiry into the professional and industrial aspects of the fashion business and evaluate in a professional, coherent and comprehensive way, its key facets. You will be encouraged to identify a fashion company and after developing a creative and analytical research, you will have the opportunity to apply an individual and contemporary design solution.
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Fashion Image Making and Styling Pathway
Semester 1
Styling and Image Making Specialism
Acting as an introduction to the pathway, this module aims to provide you with the opportunity to develop your understanding of styling and image making and give you a solid foundation of knowledge for future modules. You will develop the technical skills necessary for the effective realisation of concepts within this discipline.
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Techniques in fashion photography
This module aims to introduce you to the basic skills associated with the discipline (photography/image making), equipping you with sufficient knowledge to enable independent work in the area of fashion styling and image making. This module deals with the professional strategies necessary to gain both experimental and creative sensitivity towards every aspect of the project.
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Advanced Application of Image Techniques: Industry Practice part 1
The purpose of this module is to place fashion styling and image making within a business context, enabling you to consider the Specialism in relation to the needs of a diversity of end users within the fashion and style related industries. Developing an awareness of business and marketing issues enables you to develop professional and creative skills which reflect the relationship between product, consumer and needs. This experience will allow you to gain sufficient skills to work independently in all areas of fashion styling and image making practice.
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Dialogues in Design: Fashion part 1
This module asks you to find your position in debates around key ideas in design and visual culture. Building on your knowledge of the ideologies and aesthetics of the 20th and 21st centuries, you will engage in dialogue in order to critique design and the visual within an historical and cultural framework. This module fosters an environment where ideas can be explored and exchanged in order for you to develop an individual, critical voice.
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Semester 2
Styling and Image Making: Comparative Shoot
'Capsule' is produced within the fashion industry to communicate the essence of a much larger or complete fashion collection. You will gain experience in producing an edited or abridged collection of images that capture and communicates the key themes and influences representative of your concept direction.
Throughout this module you will be entering a more personal journey and initiating your personal direction in preparation for your final year.
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Advanced Application of Image Techniques: Industry Practice (continued)
Building the knowledge and skills gained in year 2, semester 1.
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Dialogues in Design: Fashion (continued)
Building the knowledge and skills gained in year 2, semester 1.
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Work Placement
Placements within industry not only add to your knowledge and appreciation of your chosen discipline but can also enhance future employment prospects. This module encourages a liaison between you and the industry – allowing you to apply and develop your knowledge and skills gained on the course while gaining an understanding of the relevant working procedures of industry and the professional activities of design. You will be encouraged to identify a placement that supports your chosen design field and future career aspirations.
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Or
Live Project
This research based module is a project that promotes and develops a systematic and critical enquiry into the professional and industrial aspects of the fashion business and evaluate in a professional, coherent and comprehensive way, its key facets. You will be encouraged to identify a fashion company and after developing a creative and analytical research, you will have the opportunity to apply an individual and contemporary design solution.
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Year Three
Fashion Design Pathway
Semester 1
Design and Research for an External Brief
This first design module of level 3 is a project that encourages you to be aware and appreciate the 'reality' of the fashion industry and prepare you to engage in a professional way, within the constraints of an external brief.
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Design Development
You will develop an understanding of creative cutting, and explore the full potential of the creative design interpretation and consider pattern cutting as a creative process.
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Portfolio Module
This unit aims to challenge you to reflect critically on your personal skills and to exploit your individual creativity in promoting your own work. You will use the experiences and approaches to specialised research as a platform for your Final Major Project work.
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Negotiated Theory: Business Practice for Design
The module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of business practice and management of interest to you. The module enhances your ability to contextualise design as a commercial activity thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and understanding.
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Negotiated Theory: Visual Culture
Negotiated Theory provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of visual culture of direct personal interest or concern. You are encouraged to explore connections between your proposed study and your studio practice in a connected but distinct programme, thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and providing an intensification of understanding.
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Semester 2
Negotiated Major Project
Negotiated Studies as the final major project, is designed to allow you to synthesise your experiences on the course through the definition, negotiation and implementation of a self-directed programme of design investigation, research and development leading to the presentation of a major design project. You are encouraged to identify an issue or set of issues around which to focus your design investigation. The primary responsibility for the implementation of the project lies with you, and you will be assessed on your capacity to undertake a detailed examination of the territory you have identified.
Effectively, this negotiated study provides a framework through which you are able to demonstrate a capacity to practice your understanding of the particular contextual circumstances in which you operate.
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Portfolio Module (continued)
Developing your skills from year 3, semester 1.
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Negotiated Theory: Business Practice for Design (continued)
Developing your skills from year 3, semester 1.
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Negotiated Theory: Visual Culture (continued)
Developing your skills from year 3, semester 1
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Fashion Image Making and Styling Pathway
Semester 1
Create and Research for an External Brief
The aim of this module is to extend and refine your understanding of styling and image making and develop your ability to solve a series of issues fully in response to an external brief within a professional context.
You will aim to develop a personal and informed body of work, developing integrity, authenticity and professionalism, skills that will underpin the final year.
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Styling and Image Making in Professional Context
You will develop an understanding of the process of producing a collection of images, and explore the full potential of the creative interpretation and consider styling and image making as a creative process.
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Portfolio Module
This unit aims to challenge you to reflect critically on your personal skills and to exploit your individual creativity in promoting your own work. It is also the aim to enable you to use the experiences and approaches to specialised research as a platform for your Final Major Project work.
close
Negotiated Theory: Business Practice for Design
This module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of business practice and management of interest to you. The module enhances your ability to contextualise design as a commercial activity thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and understanding.
close
Or
Negotiated Theory: Visual Culture
This module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of visual culture of interest to you. You are encouraged to explore connections between your proposed study and your studio practice in a connected but distinct programme, thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and providing an intensification of understanding.
close
Semester 2
Negotiated major project
The final major project is designed to allow you to synthesise your experiences on the course through the definition, negotiation and implementation of a self-directed programme of design investigation, research and development leading to the presentation of a major design project. You are encouraged to identify an issue or set of issues around which to focus your design investigation. The primary responsibility for the implementation of the project lies with you, and you will be assessed on your capacity to undertake a detailed examination of the territory you have identified.
Effectively, this negotiated study provides a framework through which you are able to demonstrate a capacity to practice your understanding of the particular contextual circumstances in which you operate.
close
Portfolio Module (continued)
Further developing the knowledge and skills from year 3, semester 1.
close
Negotiated Theory: Business Practice for Design (continued)
Further developing the knowledge and skills from year 3, semester 1.
close
Or
Negotiated Theory: Visual Culture (continued)
Further developing the knowledge and skills from year 3, semester 1.
close