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BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile Design at Northumbria offers you the opportunity to explore craftsmanship, aesthetics and the encapsulation of the body through a range of materials, theories and projects with a specific focus of working in the South Asian market.

This three-year course has an established reputation for producing directional designers with the creative vision and the commercial realism to begin a career within the Fashion sector.

This programme has successfully developed the professional identity of our graduates since 1955. 

You will learn how to challenge the conventions of contemporary fashion through design research and critical reflection, set against the study of traditional values of high craftsmanship that underpin garment-making and textile construction; from haute couture collections and archival fashion, to emerging new designers sustainability and ethical fashion practice.

You will be supported in your journey by experienced academic and technical staff helping you to identify a personal fashion design philosophy, and develop your intellectual design practice and artisan craft skills.

Northumbria University is ranked 10th in Design & Crafts in the UK (Guardian University League Tables 2020).

This programme is delivered entirely at Academy of Design (AOD) in Sri Lanka and is offered as Full Time mode of study only.

If you would like to apply or for further information please visit the AOD website. For any specific queries relating directly to Northumbria please contact tne@northumbria.ac.uk.

BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile Design at Northumbria offers you the opportunity to explore craftsmanship, aesthetics and the encapsulation of the body through a range of materials, theories and projects with a specific focus of working in the South Asian market.

This three-year course has an established reputation for producing directional designers with the creative vision and the commercial realism to begin a career within the Fashion sector.

This programme has successfully developed the professional identity of our graduates since 1955. 

You will learn how to challenge the conventions of contemporary fashion through design research and critical reflection, set against the study of traditional values of high craftsmanship that underpin garment-making and textile construction; from haute couture collections and archival fashion, to emerging new designers sustainability and ethical fashion practice.

You will be supported in your journey by experienced academic and technical staff helping you to identify a personal fashion design philosophy, and develop your intellectual design practice and artisan craft skills.

Northumbria University is ranked 10th in Design & Crafts in the UK (Guardian University League Tables 2020).

This programme is delivered entirely at Academy of Design (AOD) in Sri Lanka and is offered as Full Time mode of study only.

If you would like to apply or for further information please visit the AOD website. For any specific queries relating directly to Northumbria please contact tne@northumbria.ac.uk.

Course Information

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
3 years

Location
Various Locations

City
Newcastle

Start
January

Fee Information

Module Information

Entry Requirements Entry Requirements Modules Overview

Entry Requirements 2021/22

Standard Entry

For information on entry requirements please visit the AOD website

Entry Requirements 2022/23

Standard Entry

For information on entry requirements please visit the AOD website

If you'd like to receive news and information from us in the future about the course or finance then please complete the below form

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules Overview 2021/22

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one Year two Year three

Year one

FA4007 -

What is Fashion? Historical and Critical Studies (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, you will explore the question: What is fashion? This research-rich year- long module encourages you to immerse yourself in the world of fashion, past and present. It endeavours to be a broad introduction to fashion studies.

With specialist Fashion, Historical and Critical lecturers you will learn about particular themes and developments in the history of fashion design since c.1800: exploring influential designers and placing fashion in the social and cultural contexts of the time through a series of illustrated lectures supported by seminars. Your visual vocabulary will expand through the development of your knowledge of fashion design history, and enable you to take inspiration from the design of the past to apply to your own work in parallel module ‘Introduction to Fashion Design’.

You will also be introduced to how the industry works through a fundamental exploration of topics such as; global context and the fashion year, cultural context and trend prediction, fashion in the media, types of garment manufacturers, market segments and the retailer, digital designing and e-portfolios, colour, fibres to fabrics, the fashion cycle and responsible design practices. On completion of the module you will have gained a critical understanding of the key aspects of how the industry works, which you can relate to your own practice as a designer.

Hands-on and online analysis will help you develop research skills relevant to fashion design practice, including library and archival research, visual fashion communication and presentation skills, and to support independent learning. You will gain the ability to conduct critical visual analysis and research of fashion design practice and the confidence to articulate clearly your viewpoints in speech and writing.

More information

FA4008 -

Introduction To Fashion Skills (Core,40 Credits)

In ‘Introduction to Fashion Skills’ you will learn a range of skills that will underpin the programme’s craftsmanship ethos, and support your practical making of garments and samples on the Fashion programme, initiating the building of long-term practical skills.

You will be introduced to the appropriate health and safety regulations and procedures to support safe working practices. You will develop the essential practical skills in a technical programme delivered in our specialist workshops, studios and virtual learning environments. You will learn about garments and how they are made through engaging with elementary methodologies and multi-cultural, responsible processes. You will also learn about traditional approaches to pattern cutting and manufacture through a series of experimental workshop-based projects to achieve a fashioned garment or sample-based outcome. This will establish knowledge to enable garment development and technical progression on the Fashion programme.

You will progress to a creative garment project, and will evidence your independent judgement in your ability to generate and explore ideas through experimental pattern cutting techniques for fashion outcomes. You will construct samples, a fashion toile and progressive creative garment from start to finish showing your understanding of the processes learned. You will also demonstrate ability to capture aesthetically your garment design developed in the parallel module; ‘Introduction to Fashion Design’ and interpret a 2D design into a 3D physical outcome, exploring the fashion formal elements of silhouette, colour, fabric and proportion. Part of this process will involve leaning how garments relate to the human form, building material shapes and learning to fit a garment on a body, to critically evaluate your garment development aesthetically, and assess its function. You will also be introduced to a range of fabrications and also given guidance on how to handle and manage cloth.

Presentation of your fashioned outcomes at critique will allow you the opportunity to convey your thought process to an identified audience. Here you may engage in critical debate and learn how to use feedback to support your progression.

More information

FA4009 -

Introduction to Fashion Design (Core,60 Credits)

In ‘Introduction to Fashion Design’ you will be introduced to creative design thinking and learn how to develop a creative response to a range of project briefs exploring genres of fashion.

You will learn the value of design research through analysis, drawing inspiration from a broad range of historical, contemporary, cultural, global and fashion market sources in the wider design world to inform design direction for responsible? fashion outcomes. You will engage with creative exploration of design briefs demonstrating an awareness of design development processes, fashion formal elements (silhouette, pattern, texture, detail, colour and proportion) and issues. You will create a final illustrated garment collection incorporating printed textiles and constructed knitwear.

You will be encouraged to explore your own individual design handwriting through experimental and systematic design development, some of which will inspire garments in ‘Introduction to Fashion Skills’ module. Elements of your 3D creative sampling processes will be included in your design projects to show how this informs garment design.

You will learn how to develop your drawing skills appropriate to specific purposes: observational research drawing, technical drawing and experimental fashion illustration; to communicate your ideas using both manual and digital techniques.

You will learn how to produce a personal portfolio in both physical and digital formats and present these at critiques, giving opportunity for evaluative feedback and exchange with peers in preparation for Industrial Placement at level 5.

More information

Year two

FA5010 -

Fashion Thinking 1: Professional Practice Preparation (Core,20 Credits)

In ‘Fashion Thinking 1: Professional Practice Preparation’ you will look at the industry from two perspectives. You will develop a critical understanding of the key social, political, theoretical and practical work-based considerations relating to contemporary fashion design and the broader fashion industry to support your development as a responsible designer in a challenging professional environment.

The module encourages you to extend academic skills in knowledge retrieval, library and web-based research and critical analysis to inform your judgement presented in written, oral and visual presentations. By engaging with lectures and seminars delivered by Fashion Historical and Critical Studies and Design lecturers, you will develop knowledge and a critical perspective on issuesand practices in the world of fashion such a sustainability, corporate responsibility, branding, fast and slow fashion.. You will gain important tools to join the fashion industry with a clear vision of the processes involved in sourcing, applying and undertaking of a student internship or study abroad. Skills of analysis and written exposition will evidence your critical awareness of the key issues and practices related to contemporary fashion design.

You will apply your valuable insight to the fashion industry from our long standing relationship with global fashion companies and designers as you start your preparation for a desirable, exciting fashion experience in a multi faceted international industry.

You will gain insight to roles and responsibilities, rules of engagement and industry’s expectations of interns from online talks buy industrial partners and experts through role-play and studio workshops. This will to give you a realistic overview of industrial experience and how to realistically approach the application process for a successful outcome. You will develop the ability to evaluate your skills from an area of practice, highlighting your strengths and communicate this in a way that is a desirable asset to a placement provider.

You will be assessed on final outcomes comprising of a 1500-word essay critically reflecting on issues relating to the contemporary fashion industry; and a ‘professional tool kit’ containing documentation; C.V., cover letter and portfolio, balancing personal creativity with professionalism; skills, content and finish in a digital format, to support the employment application process.

More information

FA5011 -

Fashion Design Project 1 (Core,40 Credits)

In ‘Fashion Design Project 1’ you will learn how to further develop your design skills in relation to professional practice. The creative design brief will be industry focused on a specific market level or brand, as a ‘Live project’. This module will introduce you to the balance designers must achieve beween craftsmanship, aesthetic ideals and commercial restraints and opportunities.

This project will help you to understand the relationship between the creative and commercial requirements of Fashion design, and provide the opportunity to develop specialist skills and knowledge of materials, skills and processes in the realisation of your Fashion design. Students are able to select a specialist area of study in this module, exploring the creative challenge of either technical pattern cutting; haute couture construction techniques, fashion print design or constructed knitwear design or a negotiated combination of pattern cutting with printed textile design or constructed knitwear design to support your career aspirations.

You will learn how to research, develop and design a market-led collection of garments presented as a Fashion design portfolio.

In addition to the portfolio, you will produce and communicate a Fashion artefact or creative solution, which will take the form of a garment or a sample package to contextualise the portfolio collection.. In the Fashion workshops using industry standard equipment, students specialising in garment design will produce a garment of their own design, students specialising in printed textile design will learn the fundamentals of printed textile design through screen printing to produce a printed textile sample collection while students specialising in constructed knitwear design will learn the fundamental knitting skills on industrial machinery and produce a range of technical constructed knitwear samples.

The industry facing nature of this project supports the industrial placement period, which begins in the following semester in the FA5017 Fashion Industrial Placement module.

More information

FA5013 -

Fashion Thinking 2: Concepts and Theory (Core,20 Credits)

‘Fashion Thinking 2: Concepts and Theory’ offers insights to key subjects and external influences relevant to academic theoretical study and advanced fashion design practice. This module will inform your understanding of the changing fashion landscape and zeitgeist in the study of the global, contemporary, cultural and market influences that impact on the fashion industry and contemporary issues,

The module encourages you to extend academic skills such as knowledge retrieval, visual analysis, object and image-based and archival research, through proposal writing, critical justification and visual communication. In Component 1 you will learn how to research and write a proposal in preparation for the Level 6 AH6007 Dissertation module.

In Component 2 you will be guided by specialist tutors on how to use creative and critical thinking to confirm who you are as a designer. You will work on your creative practice holistically across both FA5013 and the parallel FA5014 Fashion Design Project 2 modules. In this FA5013 module you will develop your creative practice conceptually and theoretically by creating your own fashion concept within the zeitgeist, taking into consideration relevant issues such as identity, diversity, responsible design practice and new technologies, enabling you to set your practice within contemporary culture.

You will refine your aesthetic judgement and visual communication skills through taking an intellectual approach to advanced image making in sketchbook and portfolio. You will be encouraged to move beyond the barriers of fashion and look to other disciplines and approaches to advance your creative practice and find hew ways of thinking, working and making. Philosophical and communication theories will help support your experimental approach to image making using hand-rendered and digital techniques

There may be an opportunity to take part in national competitions or live/collaborative projects, that will allow you to work with industrial partners to develop your professional skills and understanding.

More information

FA5014 -

Fashion Design Project 2 (Core,40 Credits)

In ‘Fashion Design Project 2’ you will identify emerging developments in fashion to inspire individual creative direction and enquiry of fashion design practice, cumulating in garment/sample realisation and portfolio communicating a distinctive individual handwriting that confirms who you are as a designer. You will work on your creative practice holistically across both FA5014 and the parallel FA5013 Fashion Thinking 2: Concepts & Theory modules.

You will learn how to form a creative concept from research gathered independently over your industrial placement and/or study abroad experience covering a range of global, historical, contemporary and cultural influences with a view to you to evolving your personal design philosophy. You will revisit design methodologies in research translating ideas to design development and engage in the production of garment prototypes, printed textiles or constructed knitwear sampling in specialist studios and workshops developing your knowledge and own focus within individual study skills. You will be encouraged to challenge production processes within the specialism producing investigative sampling to inform garment design.

The module challenges you to broaden knowledge of fashion market levels, extending your previous experience, by focusing on ‘Luxury’ fashion as a conduit for developing progressive knowledge of aesthetic principles and skills in fashion craftsmanship. This will enable you to make decisions about your ambitions for personal development towards level 6 and employment.

Your portfolio will give you opportunity to develop an experimental approach to fashion Illustration through personal investigation of creative and intellectual stimuli. You will be encouraged to integrate traditional and digital media with a view to communicating your fashion outcomes to a range of audiences.

Learn how to create a fashion presentation communicating your creative outcomes appropriate to Fashion context.

More information

Year three

AH6007 -

Fashion Dissertation (Core,20 Credits)

The Fashion Dissertation represents the culmination of your development as an independent and critical learner by researching and writing about a topic that you devise yourself in consultation with your tutors. The topic will usually be related to your design specialism, but you are free to examine any viable topic within the broad field of visual and material culture. In most cases, the topic will be based on the dissertation proposal you produced at Level 5. The dissertation should be an original piece of independent research. This implies the need to collect, assimilate and present information in a structured written argument, which shows awareness of authoritative critical opinions on the chosen topic.

More information

FA6008 -

Fashion Collection: Concept Development (Core,40 Credits)

This module will draw upon and develop your previous learning experience in Fashion and give you the opportunity to create a personal Fashion collection within your chosen specialism. The outcome of this module will provide substantial evidence of your autonomy and unique Fashion design abilities in preparation for your application to the Fashion profession, or post-graduate education.

On this module, you will be given the opportunity to identify a personal Fashion design brief and philosophy that defines your design approach and expresses your professional aspirations. You will independently conduct a challenging, experimental and sophisticated body of original Fashion research considering commercial, aspirational, luxury and directional fashion trends.

You will be able to reflect upon and critically evaluate your research findings, developing your independent judgement to enable the design development of your Fashion collection to a professional standard.

In practical studio and workshop sessions, and extended studio and virtual learning approaches you will have the opportunity to develop your expertise and knowledge in the use of specialist Fashion skills and technologies and to contextualise pattern cutting, constructed knitted fabrics, or textiles within your Fashion collection.

You will compile sketchbooks, process books and portfolios of practical Fashion research and design development work and present three-dimensional sampling and toiling in support of the further development and construction strategy of your Fashion collection.

More information

FA6009 -

Final Fashion Collection and Portfolio (Core,60 Credits)

In this module you will demonstrate your advanced knowledge, design practice to, produce and present a forward thinking, professional fashion collection alongside a portfolio within the context of your chosen specialism: pattern cutting, printed textiles, or constructed knitwear. You will create an edited Fashion collection alongside your portfolio, to enable you to place a deeper focus on your specialism, in support of your professional ambitions. Students may opt for either a sample or a garment based collection.

You will self-determine an intellectually challenging, fashion collection brief, that builds upon your prior learning reflecting upon your personal strengths and research interests. In-depth cultural, aesthetic, technical and commercial research will be harnessed using critical design thinking processes, to synthesise advanced fashion solutions. You will experiment with a range of appropriate tools, media, materials, techniques and processes in atelier-style and academic working sessions, with supported extended studio and virtual learning activities. You will apply advanced technical methodologies in the interpretation of fashion concepts to fashion design outcomes, using professional pattern cutting and experimental moulage techniques.

You will analyse your work objectively against educational, professional and personal criteria, reflecting upon your work-in-progress, You will present and defend your work, both formally and informally, to your peers, specialist tutors and industrial partners where relevant at identified key points of the module.

Your professional physical and on-line illustrated design portfolio will enhance your employability and enterprise skills through the application of your individual style to a range of fashion genres, brands and customers. Participation in live projects, national and international competitions, and interaction with industrial partners where possible, will support your transition into the fashion workplace or post-graduate study.

Advanced illustration, portfolio and 3D presentation skills will support the promotion of your creative practice to a range of audiences including potential employers, assessors, press, competition judges etc. This could be in a variety of formats; exhibitions, portfolio websites or physical / virtual presentations.

More information

Modules Overview 2022/23

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one Year two Year three

Year one

FA4007 -

What is Fashion? Historical and Critical Studies (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, you will explore the question: What is fashion? This research-rich year- long module encourages you to immerse yourself in the world of fashion, past and present. It endeavours to be a broad introduction to fashion studies.

With specialist Fashion, Historical and Critical lecturers you will learn about particular themes and developments in the history of fashion design since c.1800: exploring influential designers and placing fashion in the social and cultural contexts of the time through a series of illustrated lectures supported by seminars. Your visual vocabulary will expand through the development of your knowledge of fashion design history, and enable you to take inspiration from the design of the past to apply to your own work in parallel module ‘Introduction to Fashion Design’.

You will also be introduced to how the industry works through a fundamental exploration of topics such as; global context and the fashion year, cultural context and trend prediction, fashion in the media, types of garment manufacturers, market segments and the retailer, digital designing and e-portfolios, colour, fibres to fabrics, the fashion cycle and responsible design practices. On completion of the module you will have gained a critical understanding of the key aspects of how the industry works, which you can relate to your own practice as a designer.

Hands-on and online analysis will help you develop research skills relevant to fashion design practice, including library and archival research, visual fashion communication and presentation skills, and to support independent learning. You will gain the ability to conduct critical visual analysis and research of fashion design practice and the confidence to articulate clearly your viewpoints in speech and writing.

More information

FA4008 -

Introduction To Fashion Skills (Core,40 Credits)

In ‘Introduction to Fashion Skills’ you will learn a range of skills that will underpin the programme’s craftsmanship ethos, and support your practical making of garments and samples on the Fashion programme, initiating the building of long-term practical skills.

You will be introduced to the appropriate health and safety regulations and procedures to support safe working practices. You will develop the essential practical skills in a technical programme delivered in our specialist workshops, studios and virtual learning environments. You will learn about garments and how they are made through engaging with elementary methodologies and multi-cultural, responsible processes. You will also learn about traditional approaches to pattern cutting and manufacture through a series of experimental workshop-based projects to achieve a fashioned garment or sample-based outcome. This will establish knowledge to enable garment development and technical progression on the Fashion programme.

You will progress to a creative garment project, and will evidence your independent judgement in your ability to generate and explore ideas through experimental pattern cutting techniques for fashion outcomes. You will construct samples, a fashion toile and progressive creative garment from start to finish showing your understanding of the processes learned. You will also demonstrate ability to capture aesthetically your garment design developed in the parallel module; ‘Introduction to Fashion Design’ and interpret a 2D design into a 3D physical outcome, exploring the fashion formal elements of silhouette, colour, fabric and proportion. Part of this process will involve leaning how garments relate to the human form, building material shapes and learning to fit a garment on a body, to critically evaluate your garment development aesthetically, and assess its function. You will also be introduced to a range of fabrications and also given guidance on how to handle and manage cloth.

Presentation of your fashioned outcomes at critique will allow you the opportunity to convey your thought process to an identified audience. Here you may engage in critical debate and learn how to use feedback to support your progression.

More information

FA4009 -

Introduction to Fashion Design (Core,60 Credits)

In ‘Introduction to Fashion Design’ you will be introduced to creative design thinking and learn how to develop a creative response to a range of project briefs exploring genres of fashion.

You will learn the value of design research through analysis, drawing inspiration from a broad range of historical, contemporary, cultural, global and fashion market sources in the wider design world to inform design direction for responsible? fashion outcomes. You will engage with creative exploration of design briefs demonstrating an awareness of design development processes, fashion formal elements (silhouette, pattern, texture, detail, colour and proportion) and issues. You will create a final illustrated garment collection incorporating printed textiles and constructed knitwear.

You will be encouraged to explore your own individual design handwriting through experimental and systematic design development, some of which will inspire garments in ‘Introduction to Fashion Skills’ module. Elements of your 3D creative sampling processes will be included in your design projects to show how this informs garment design.

You will learn how to develop your drawing skills appropriate to specific purposes: observational research drawing, technical drawing and experimental fashion illustration; to communicate your ideas using both manual and digital techniques.

You will learn how to produce a personal portfolio in both physical and digital formats and present these at critiques, giving opportunity for evaluative feedback and exchange with peers in preparation for Industrial Placement at level 5.

More information

Year two

FA5010 -

Fashion Thinking 1: Professional Practice Preparation (Core,20 Credits)

In ‘Fashion Thinking 1: Professional Practice Preparation’ you will look at the industry from two perspectives. You will develop a critical understanding of the key social, political, theoretical and practical work-based considerations relating to contemporary fashion design and the broader fashion industry to support your development as a responsible designer in a challenging professional environment.

The module encourages you to extend academic skills in knowledge retrieval, library and web-based research and critical analysis to inform your judgement presented in written, oral and visual presentations. By engaging with lectures and seminars delivered by Fashion Historical and Critical Studies and Design lecturers, you will develop knowledge and a critical perspective on issuesand practices in the world of fashion such a sustainability, corporate responsibility, branding, fast and slow fashion.. You will gain important tools to join the fashion industry with a clear vision of the processes involved in sourcing, applying and undertaking of a student internship or study abroad. Skills of analysis and written exposition will evidence your critical awareness of the key issues and practices related to contemporary fashion design.

You will apply your valuable insight to the fashion industry from our long standing relationship with global fashion companies and designers as you start your preparation for a desirable, exciting fashion experience in a multi faceted international industry.

You will gain insight to roles and responsibilities, rules of engagement and industry’s expectations of interns from online talks buy industrial partners and experts through role-play and studio workshops. This will to give you a realistic overview of industrial experience and how to realistically approach the application process for a successful outcome. You will develop the ability to evaluate your skills from an area of practice, highlighting your strengths and communicate this in a way that is a desirable asset to a placement provider.

You will be assessed on final outcomes comprising of a 1500-word essay critically reflecting on issues relating to the contemporary fashion industry; and a ‘professional tool kit’ containing documentation; C.V., cover letter and portfolio, balancing personal creativity with professionalism; skills, content and finish in a digital format, to support the employment application process.

More information

FA5011 -

Fashion Design Project 1 (Core,40 Credits)

In ‘Fashion Design Project 1’ you will learn how to further develop your design skills in relation to professional practice. The creative design brief will be industry focused on a specific market level or brand, as a ‘Live project’. This module will introduce you to the balance designers must achieve beween craftsmanship, aesthetic ideals and commercial restraints and opportunities.

This project will help you to understand the relationship between the creative and commercial requirements of Fashion design, and provide the opportunity to develop specialist skills and knowledge of materials, skills and processes in the realisation of your Fashion design. Students are able to select a specialist area of study in this module, exploring the creative challenge of either technical pattern cutting; haute couture construction techniques, fashion print design or constructed knitwear design or a negotiated combination of pattern cutting with printed textile design or constructed knitwear design to support your career aspirations.

You will learn how to research, develop and design a market-led collection of garments presented as a Fashion design portfolio.

In addition to the portfolio, you will produce and communicate a Fashion artefact or creative solution, which will take the form of a garment or a sample package to contextualise the portfolio collection.. In the Fashion workshops using industry standard equipment, students specialising in garment design will produce a garment of their own design, students specialising in printed textile design will learn the fundamentals of printed textile design through screen printing to produce a printed textile sample collection while students specialising in constructed knitwear design will learn the fundamental knitting skills on industrial machinery and produce a range of technical constructed knitwear samples.

The industry facing nature of this project supports the industrial placement period, which begins in the following semester in the FA5017 Fashion Industrial Placement module.

More information

FA5013 -

Fashion Thinking 2: Concepts and Theory (Core,20 Credits)

‘Fashion Thinking 2: Concepts and Theory’ offers insights to key subjects and external influences relevant to academic theoretical study and advanced fashion design practice. This module will inform your understanding of the changing fashion landscape and zeitgeist in the study of the global, contemporary, cultural and market influences that impact on the fashion industry and contemporary issues,

The module encourages you to extend academic skills such as knowledge retrieval, visual analysis, object and image-based and archival research, through proposal writing, critical justification and visual communication. In Component 1 you will learn how to research and write a proposal in preparation for the Level 6 AH6007 Dissertation module.

In Component 2 you will be guided by specialist tutors on how to use creative and critical thinking to confirm who you are as a designer. You will work on your creative practice holistically across both FA5013 and the parallel FA5014 Fashion Design Project 2 modules. In this FA5013 module you will develop your creative practice conceptually and theoretically by creating your own fashion concept within the zeitgeist, taking into consideration relevant issues such as identity, diversity, responsible design practice and new technologies, enabling you to set your practice within contemporary culture.

You will refine your aesthetic judgement and visual communication skills through taking an intellectual approach to advanced image making in sketchbook and portfolio. You will be encouraged to move beyond the barriers of fashion and look to other disciplines and approaches to advance your creative practice and find hew ways of thinking, working and making. Philosophical and communication theories will help support your experimental approach to image making using hand-rendered and digital techniques

There may be an opportunity to take part in national competitions or live/collaborative projects, that will allow you to work with industrial partners to develop your professional skills and understanding.

More information

FA5014 -

Fashion Design Project 2 (Core,40 Credits)

In ‘Fashion Design Project 2’ you will identify emerging developments in fashion to inspire individual creative direction and enquiry of fashion design practice, cumulating in garment/sample realisation and portfolio communicating a distinctive individual handwriting that confirms who you are as a designer. You will work on your creative practice holistically across both FA5014 and the parallel FA5013 Fashion Thinking 2: Concepts & Theory modules.

You will learn how to form a creative concept from research gathered independently over your industrial placement and/or study abroad experience covering a range of global, historical, contemporary and cultural influences with a view to you to evolving your personal design philosophy. You will revisit design methodologies in research translating ideas to design development and engage in the production of garment prototypes, printed textiles or constructed knitwear sampling in specialist studios and workshops developing your knowledge and own focus within individual study skills. You will be encouraged to challenge production processes within the specialism producing investigative sampling to inform garment design.

The module challenges you to broaden knowledge of fashion market levels, extending your previous experience, by focusing on ‘Luxury’ fashion as a conduit for developing progressive knowledge of aesthetic principles and skills in fashion craftsmanship. This will enable you to make decisions about your ambitions for personal development towards level 6 and employment.

Your portfolio will give you opportunity to develop an experimental approach to fashion Illustration through personal investigation of creative and intellectual stimuli. You will be encouraged to integrate traditional and digital media with a view to communicating your fashion outcomes to a range of audiences.

Learn how to create a fashion presentation communicating your creative outcomes appropriate to Fashion context.

More information

Year three

AH6007 -

Fashion Dissertation (Core,20 Credits)

The Fashion Dissertation represents the culmination of your development as an independent and critical learner by researching and writing about a topic that you devise yourself in consultation with your tutors. The topic will usually be related to your design specialism, but you are free to examine any viable topic within the broad field of visual and material culture. In most cases, the topic will be based on the dissertation proposal you produced at Level 5. The dissertation should be an original piece of independent research. This implies the need to collect, assimilate and present information in a structured written argument, which shows awareness of authoritative critical opinions on the chosen topic.

More information

FA6008 -

Fashion Collection: Concept Development (Core,40 Credits)

This module will draw upon and develop your previous learning experience in Fashion and give you the opportunity to create a personal Fashion collection within your chosen specialism. The outcome of this module will provide substantial evidence of your autonomy and unique Fashion design abilities in preparation for your application to the Fashion profession, or post-graduate education.

On this module, you will be given the opportunity to identify a personal Fashion design brief and philosophy that defines your design approach and expresses your professional aspirations. You will independently conduct a challenging, experimental and sophisticated body of original Fashion research considering commercial, aspirational, luxury and directional fashion trends.

You will be able to reflect upon and critically evaluate your research findings, developing your independent judgement to enable the design development of your Fashion collection to a professional standard.

In practical studio and workshop sessions, and extended studio and virtual learning approaches you will have the opportunity to develop your expertise and knowledge in the use of specialist Fashion skills and technologies and to contextualise pattern cutting, constructed knitted fabrics, or textiles within your Fashion collection.

You will compile sketchbooks, process books and portfolios of practical Fashion research and design development work and present three-dimensional sampling and toiling in support of the further development and construction strategy of your Fashion collection.

More information

FA6009 -

Final Fashion Collection and Portfolio (Core,60 Credits)

In this module you will demonstrate your advanced knowledge, design practice to, produce and present a forward thinking, professional fashion collection alongside a portfolio within the context of your chosen specialism: pattern cutting, printed textiles, or constructed knitwear. You will create an edited Fashion collection alongside your portfolio, to enable you to place a deeper focus on your specialism, in support of your professional ambitions. Students may opt for either a sample or a garment based collection.

You will self-determine an intellectually challenging, fashion collection brief, that builds upon your prior learning reflecting upon your personal strengths and research interests. In-depth cultural, aesthetic, technical and commercial research will be harnessed using critical design thinking processes, to synthesise advanced fashion solutions. You will experiment with a range of appropriate tools, media, materials, techniques and processes in atelier-style and academic working sessions, with supported extended studio and virtual learning activities. You will apply advanced technical methodologies in the interpretation of fashion concepts to fashion design outcomes, using professional pattern cutting and experimental moulage techniques.

You will analyse your work objectively against educational, professional and personal criteria, reflecting upon your work-in-progress, You will present and defend your work, both formally and informally, to your peers, specialist tutors and industrial partners where relevant at identified key points of the module.

Your professional physical and on-line illustrated design portfolio will enhance your employability and enterprise skills through the application of your individual style to a range of fashion genres, brands and customers. Participation in live projects, national and international competitions, and interaction with industrial partners where possible, will support your transition into the fashion workplace or post-graduate study.

Advanced illustration, portfolio and 3D presentation skills will support the promotion of your creative practice to a range of audiences including potential employers, assessors, press, competition judges etc. This could be in a variety of formats; exhibitions, portfolio websites or physical / virtual presentations.

More information

Any Questions?

Our admissions team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901.

Contact Details for Applicants:

tne@northumbria.ac.uk

All information on this course page is accurate at the time of viewing.

Courses starting in 2021 are offered as a mix of face to face and online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future.

Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.

 

Current, Relevant and Inspiring

We continuously review and improve course content in consultation with our students and employers. To make sure we can inform you of any changes to your course register for updates on the course page.


Your Learning Experience find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions - northumbria.ac.uk/terms
 Fees and Funding - northumbria.ac.uk/fees
 Admissions Policy - northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy
Admissions Complaints Policy - northumbria.ac.uk/complaints




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Northumbria Open Days

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

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Virtual Tour

Get an insight into life at Northumbria at the click of a button! Come and explore our videos and 360 panoramas to immerse yourself in our campuses and get a feel for what it is like studying here using our interactive virtual tour.

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