BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Marketing Studies (AOD, Sri Lanka)
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
For information on entry requirements please visit the AOD website
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
FA4001 -
Fashion Marketing and Contemporary Design Influences (Core,20 Credits)
Fashion Marketing and Contemporary Design Influences is a theoretical module comprising of two components, Contemporary Design Influences (50%) and, Fashion Marketing (50%). You will also be introduced to the cultural history of fashion from historical to contemporary times providing you the foundation to understand how fashion is traditionally produced, circulated and consumed. You will explore some of the principal theoretical approaches to fashion marketing, equipping you with the tools to critically analyse its operation in the fashion industry.
In the component of Contemporary Design Influences, you will learn the history of fashion through various socio-cultural, political, economical influences. You will learn the etymology of fashion and the ways in which fashion has changed throughout history. You will be introduced to why and how styles have changed, trends have been formulated through key historical events and figures.
In the component of Fashion Marketing, you will learn basic marketing concepts, principles, theories and techniques with particular reference to the fashion environment in which they will practice. You will be introduced to how organisations analyse and segment markets and learn to take a wide range of marketing decisions in light of changing environments.
Through this module, you will learn to be independent, to carry out individual study through empirical research and to formulate ideas and articulate the subject through group work, essay and report writing.
FA4002 -
Fashion Illustration & Trend Research (Core,40 Credits)
In this Fashion Illustration & Trend Research module you will learn essential intellectual, creative and technical skills to prepare you for working in the fashion industry. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of Trend Forecasting in the Fashion industry, a highly creative and inspirational field grounded in the practicalities of the business by a team of experienced, specialist tutors. Through fashion research and the exploration of trend and market analysis, you will explore your own creative concepts in order to produce a directional Fashion Forecasting package communicated through illustrative, photographic and graphic practices. Through observation and practical exercises, you will learn fashion- related visual communication skills by exploring different types of hand-rendered and digital drawing, for a range of purposes using a variety of media techniques and experimentation.
To prepare you for the rigours of Higher Education study, you will engage in a series tasks in preparation to guide your own learning, evaluate your own progress, and build your confidence and capabilities, independently and as a part of a team. You will take part in the following projects and activities:
Fashion Illustration & Trend Research
This year long module is split into two components; Part 1 and Part 2. The first revolves around understanding how the Trend Forecasting industry underpins fashion design and market research. You will be encouraged to develop your skills in concept generation by creatively interpreting market intelligence to produce your own directional trend packages. The second part asks you to apply these trend packages in a hypothetical industry context to help you explore the application of trend research through design practice for different market levels. You will explore the formal elements of design (colour, texture, pattern, shape, detail, etc.) and learn skills in photography, drawing and illustration, trend research, design development and graphic presentation.
FA4003 -
Fashion Practice and Promotion (Core,60 Credits)
Fashion Design Practice and Promotion is a yearlong 60 credit module that introduces you to the professional standards of contemporary fashion design practice.
In your creative environments (studio and VLE) you will learn practical skills and theories that will give you the abilities, techniques and skills to create 2D sketchbooks, 3D fashion product and a promotional product (e.g. brand look book, fashion magazine, fashion film). You will learn how fashion is communicated from concept to final product through fashion research and design development and developing your practical and technical skills in; drawing, pattern cutting, fitting, toile development and sewing construction.
You will be introduced to the essential practical skills in a technical programme delivered in our specialist workshops (studio and VLE) to learn appropriate health and safety regulations and procedures. You will learn elementary methodologies and processes in pattern cutting and through demonstrations, garment construction and sewing techniques to manufacture a basic block. As you progress to a creative garment project, you will evidence your independent judgement in your ability to generate and explore ideas through experimental pattern cutting techniques for fashion outcomes. You will also be introduced to a range of fabrications and also given guidance on how to handle and manage cloth.
You will work to promote your fashion product outcomes in a creative way. To enable you to undertake this promotional aspect of the module, you will learn how to use Digital SLR cameras to produce contemporary fashion photography and/or film. You will also learn digital image editing and creative publishing techniques to underpin your knowledge and understanding of visual literacy skills. You will learn how brands use imagery, typography and photography to convey their company brand values and products, and you will be able to apply this knowledge to begin to develop your own aesthetics and design awareness in your promotional work.
Through staff support and guidance in the module, you will learn how to work both independently and collaboratively, be able to identify and redefine problems, and to focus on solutions that are both relevant and creative.
FA5002 -
Fashion: Concept to Product (Second Year) (Core,40 Credits)
Fashion; Concept to Product is a 40 credit module that offers you the opportunity to further develop your professional and creative skills and techniques in preparation for your Industrial Placement year. Building on your prior learning from your Level 4 modules, you will be supported to explore contemporary and historical topics to inform your concepts and you will create both 2D and 3D fashion products. This module follows industry practice; from research that informs your concept, to idea development, to creating your 2D and 3D products, to understanding the visual communication in order to promote your artefact. The work completed in this module forms the content of your digital portfolio for your industrial work placement interviews.
You will be encouraged to be curious, imaginative and empathetic in developing your ideas, employing an aesthetic and intelligent approach to creating products. Learning to use a variety of media to develop your individual creative ‘handwriting’ will enable you to effectively communicate your concepts and outcomes, evidencing all the elements essential to fashion design aesthetics. You will further improve your visual literacy skills through the use of creative photography and digital imaging software as a research tool, observing, recording, and developing conceptual photographic projects and generating contemporary publications with visual narrative to promote your concepts and products.
You will be given the opportunity to work both in a VLE and in the design studios and workshops, to refine your portfolio skills and acquire more advanced technical skills in pattern cutting, moulage, garment construction, photography and promotion. By learning to work more independently, evaluating and challenging your ideas, you will develop a professional approach to study and be prepared for industrial placement.
FA5006 -
Fashion Futures (Core,40 Credits)
Fashion Futures is a 40 credit module in which you will use the skills you acquired during your Industrial Placement year to investigate the more challenging aspects of fashion product and promotion concepts; researching and analysing consumer trends that will affect design direction and future markets. You will apply this knowledge to your research, developing your ideas and employing an aesthetic and intellectual approach to creating and promoting contemporary fashion design solutions. In your studio-based practice you will learn advanced technical skills to enable you to produce professional 2D and 3D fashion design product solutions underpinned by cultural and ethical awareness, and creative versus commercial viability.
You will work to advance your technical skills in pattern cutting, moulage, garment construction, illustration, styling photography typography and graphic layout. In this module you will be able to focus on areas of design such as menswear, womenswear, sportswear, lingerie, or trend publications to create innovative, contemporary fashion garments or products. You may have the opportunity to work on live projects with industry, both as part of a team and individually, gaining experience of managing research, design development and promotional briefs with a professional and confident approach to presentation. Your ability to interpret contemporary media will play an important role in the promotion of your product. This learning will be take place in the studios, workshops and VLE environments.
This Fashion Futures module is designed to give you the knowledge and understanding to support decision-making with regards to your individual direction of study in Level 6.
FA5022 -
Consumer Behaviour and Fashion Trends (Core,20 Credits)
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 creative in a challenging professional environment.
You will gain important tools to join the fashion or broader creative industry with a clear vision of the processes involved in undertaking a student internship or study abroad. Lectures and seminars in consumer behaviour and the fashion industry will enhance your cultural awareness in relation to fashion design and marketing and related critical theory.
MK9518 -
Market Research Methods and Enterprise (Core,20 Credits)
This module is designed to provide fashion students with an introduction to marketing research and how research results can be used to develop strategies and inform fashion enterprise.
The module will cover the following themes:
• Purpose and role of marketing research in the fashion industry: understanding the importance of marketing research as an instrument to better understand customer’s needs and wants, and specifically how fashion industries use marketing research to inform their marketing strategies (price, products, distribution, promotion etc)
• Use of primary and secondary data: introduction to the different types of data (qualitative/quantitative), their advantages and disadvantages and how they can be collected and analysed by fashion businesses.
• Reporting and use of research findings: understanding how research findings can be reported and interpreted and how they can be used to develop a fashion marketing strategy.
• Environmental analysis: understanding the importance of environmental analysis, including an investigation of a range of tools and approaches that can be used to understand the micro-and macro- environment as well as the competitive environment of a business.
• Organisational structure and risks: Explain the main forms of organisation/business structure, their main advantages/ disadvantages and how to assess and manage the associated business risks.
• Create a structured business report: explain the role and use of business reports in enterprise and introduce the basics of developing a business report that brings together research findings and environmental analysis to propose a marketing plan for a fashion business.
FA6001 -
Final Major Project Research Report (Core,20 Credits)
Final Major Project Research Report is an enquiry-based theoretical module, which supports and informs the development of your professional practical Final Major Project (FMP). The learning and teaching strategy for this module helps you to identify and frame an appropriate discussion question, and to independently source and critically engage with sophisticated research materials, theories and debates appropriate to exploring your chosen topic.
The subject matter for this module is dependent upon your specialism for your FMP, but staff with years of research expertise will support you to define and plan your research, reflect on the findings and, through the academic writing of the report, project directional conclusions that support and enhance the development of your practical project work.
The skills covered will include:
? Writing and justifying your FMP proposal; defining your project objectives.
? Planning a schedule of research through primary and secondary sources.
? Carrying out primary research.
? Critically appraising your source materials and findings.
? Undertaking a piece of academic writing and academic conventions of writing (e.g. referencing, presenting an argument, plagiarism).
You will build on your learning in this module to enable you to undertake the Marketing Plan (a component of FA6003 Final Major Project Realisation) in semester 2. Together, these two documents demonstrate your ability to plan, organise and manage effective research in order to produce a fashion marketing strategy which launches your FMP product/service into a real-world fashion scenario.
FA6002 -
Final Major Project: Exploration (Core,40 Credits)
Final Major Project: EXPLORATION provides a framework for exploring a range of approaches to design for future or specialist markets. During this module you will define a fashion concept and undertake a body of research underpinning your major project proposal, allowing you the opportunity to explore and develop creative design practice. This body of research will enable you to make and illustrate your ideas through garments/collections, products, publications and aims to promote these through cutting-edge graphics and photography in Semester 2. You will deploy techniques of enquiry, analysis and synthesis aiming to build relationships between ideas and challenge orthodox approaches through creative enquiry. You are encouraged to seek industrial collaboration/sponsorship if this is desirable and appropriate.
Advanced skills are taught to support the individual nature of your concept proposal, for example; advanced pattern cutting, technical garment construction and contour. Development of your intermediate skills in the area of creative textiles will expand your knowledge base and level of critical enquiry. This is supported through workshops enabling you to experiment in specialist areas such as; silk-screen and digital print, surface design, photography for print, embellishment and knit. The options are available with a team of dedicated technicians and academic staff.
Fashion design and trends are observed from a wide range of sources developing aesthetic awareness and the understanding of your practice within a cultural and commercial context. You will be encouraged to work autonomously and think independently in the observation, generation and development of ideas. The module will encourage all aspects of visual research skills taking a distinctive and experimental approach demonstrated through drawing, design development, sampling and prototypes.
This work will culminate in a professional Portfolio outcome.
FA6003 -
Final Major Project: Realisation (Core,60 Credits)
Final Major Project: REALISATION enables you to consolidate and extend your intellectual and creative skills through a self-directed final major project. Applying research generated in your Semester 1 modules, you will design, make and promote your concept through garments, collections, products and publications. Your skills will be applied to promoting your concept using a wide range of visual media from print to photography and film. This work will be underpinned by an understanding of your practice within a cultural and commercial context, enhanced with specialist practical skills and evidenced through the creation of your individual design portfolio. This Final Major Project enables the synthesis of acquired knowledge, skills and expertise into a body of work encouraging you to relate your personal practice to contemporary society, culture and commerce. This comprehensive body of work will culminate in a final presentation..
Using your creative, contextual and market research generated in Semester 1, you will produce a Marketing Plan which justifies, documents and evaluates the work of your Final Major Project. This report offers an objective account of the design process, a validation of the proposed design solution and an understanding of the fashion marketing planning process applied to a real fashion-marketing scenario.
The specialist skills selected in Semester 1 will continue to support the individual nature of your concept proposal, giving you the opportunity to further develop your ideas and proficiencies towards your FMP outcomes.
You will create a professional portfolio of design, illustration, photography, graphic promotion and brand development. Guidance is provided in building a personal portfolio through independent research and analysis of contemporary fashion design development to specific product area, illustration and media techniques and style. Industry-facing collaborations, competitions and Final Major Project work are compiled with the aim of presenting you as a creative designer who is able to visually communicate concepts and final designs to a highly professional standard.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.
We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.
You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need.
We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:
Back to top