FA4003 - Fashion Practice and Promotion

Northumbria X-Studio (Extended Studio):

Learning and teaching strategies on Fashion Design & Marketing encourage you to acquire a flexible and imaginative approach to creative problem solving through enquiry-based learning. You will become an active participant in your learning, integrating creative practice with academic and intellectual skills.

The School of Design operates an extended studio approach (X-Studio) that embraces our physical studios and making workshops as well as our virtual spaces to create a flexible and rich environment that is responsive to our learners’ needs.

This dedicated approach has been developed over many years of continuous teaching innovation, research and industry collaboration. It has created a supportive extended studio culture that encourages our students to learn flexibly, dynamically blending their learning and University experience between physical and digital interactions both in real-time and online at their own pace.

We believe that this extended studio culture not only helps our students to become more confident autonomous learners but also prepares them for a dynamic design industry in which an extended studio philosophy is current practice.


This module introduces you to a number of professional key skills and techniques for the fashion industry and to build intellectual and practical competencies in preparation for Industrial Placement in Level 5. You will learn through lectures, workshops, and guided independent learning. These activities take place in workshops and during sessions in Northumbria’s fashion studios and through specialist machinery in the sewing rooms. The module offers diversity in approaches to learning and teaching through Academic and Technical staff support through VLE and in a studio environment.

Through an introduction to key research methodologies, you will learn how to develop your own practice from a theoretical knowledge of the fashion design and wider industries, and to be aware of current issues and debates.

In this module you will develop a knowledge of industry-standard and professional creative practices. Hands-on activities during these timetabled sessions and during directed study time gives you the acquisition of technical skills in the use of materials and processes in order to fulfil the module requirements.

Working in groups, from VLE to studio, you will develop your Personal Value Attributes by learning to work effectively with others in multi-cultural teams, to have an awareness of ethical/responsible considerations in your practice and to develop the ability to be flexible and collaborative.

Small group and individual tutorials encourage active participation and dialogue around your own enquiry, as well as providing an opportunity to discuss and clarify learning and assessment.

You will use your Creative Process Journals (CPJ), not only to demonstrate the development of your creative work, but also as a vehicle to build and reflect on your personal and educational development. This also involves clearly identifying your goals and planning the steps you need?to take to accomplish them.

You will be asked to self-assess your work at submission as part of your acknowledgment of current learning as well as identifying future learning needs.

Academic support is provided through scheduled timetabled sessions and directed study. Work is discussed with staff and peers during tutorials and critiques. These conversations give you the opportunity to receive immediate feedback in order to progress your work and enhance your skills and intellectual understanding. During practical sessions, you will be supported by Academic and Technical staff . Your sessions on brand and promotion are designed to progressively support your understanding of wider societal issues that impact on consumer behaviour.

You will have an individual guidance tutorial mid semester to support your academic development.

You will receive mid-point formal formative feedback in semester 1 and 2, which will provide timely guidance on the strengths of your developing practice and areas that can be improved upon for summative assessment.

Further formal academic support is provided via information posted on the eLearning portal.

Where appropriate, students may also be directed to engage with Study Skills +, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support.

The Library is open 24 hours a day and the eLP/Blackboard houses all your module documents including your timetable. These services can be accessed on a range of devices

Northumbria University student support also includes;
If you are an International student, you will receive extra support via weekly English for Specific Academic Purposes sessions through specialist English Language teaching.
Student Advice & Support Centre provide specialist support with personal issues including; Disabled Student Support Recommendations Statements; Personal Extenuating Circumstances and Late Approved submission processes. They will also be able to refer you to the correct service if they cannot help you directly.
The E Learning Portal will include all relevant module documentation e.g. module guides, lecture material, video-captures and reading lists and any notices relevant to the running of the module.
IT Helpline, Timetabling, Ask4help, Student Law Office, Careers and Employment Service and the University Library.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

On the successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

5. Begin to formulate independent judgements in the evaluation of research/experiential sources and materials.

6. Evidence your elementary knowledge of materials, methodologies, processes and standards through pattern cutting, and toile/ garment (3D) and exploratory promotional product (2D).

7. Understand appropriate health and safety regulations and procedures through completion of induction process.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

5. Apply analysis in the translation of ideas into practical solutions.

6. Analyse the design process; recognise design issues or problems and identify solutions through contemporary fashion design products.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

1. Demonstrate engagement and commitment for your studies as evidenced through engagement with your tutors and managing your own learning.

4. Evaluate your own progress, exercise self-criticism and analysis in the resolution of the project briefs.

There are 3 components to this year long module. In semester 1 you shall cover Part 1, Fashion Practice. Summative assessment for part 1 will be 50% of the module at the end of Semester 1 .

In semester 2 you shall cover Part 2 Fashion Practice. Summative assessment for part 2 shall be midway through semester 2 and 30% of your module.

The summative assement for the final part 3, Promotion, will be 20% of the module and at the end of semester 2 .

There will be 2 formal formative assessment points mid semester 1 and mid semester 2, where you will be given verbal feedback and a letter grade to indicate the level at which you are currently achieving against the relevant MLOs. This provides you with the opportunity to apply the feedback to your existing work and improve your competencies before your final summative assessment.


From this learning you will be able to submit a professional portfolio of work that includes;
• Creative Process Journals
• Professionally designed, constructed and completed garment
• Promotional Product
• Portfolio Sheets
• Written reflection & evaluation

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Please find details of this module in the other sections provided.