BA (Hons) Fashion*

Overview

The BA (Hons) Fashion degree is a challenging and dynamic course offering a broad range of fashion related subject areas exploring creativity, innovation and commerciality. The first year includes a wide variety of projects, which provide a strong grounding in fashion design, pattern cutting and garment construction, supported by the visual and communication skills required to present your work including an introduction to CAD, fashion illustration and portfolio studies.

In the second year students work on a diverse range of projects that include advanced fashion skills from developing 2D fashion concepts to 3D realisation, exploring creative pattern cutting and modelling techniques, knitwear design, trend prediction and fashion marketing. The curriculum is underpinned by theoretical and contextual studies, and professional practice developing the student’s entrepreneurial skills.

In their final year students have the opportunity to specialise in an area of fashion through a negotiated project, which could include for example womenswear, menswear, childrenswear or knitwear for a specific market. This enables students to develop their creative potential and design ingenuity within Fashion and related specialist areas, and encourages the integration of creative, technical and professional skills.

During the course students have the opportunity to enter prestigious national and international design competitions: Top Shop, British Student Bridal Awards, Bradford Textile Competition, Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD), Knitted Textile Awards, UK and many more. Throughout the course work placements and internships are encouraged giving students experience of working with industry professionals and working alongside companies and organisations through collaboration with industry and association on externally set projects.

               

The course aims to prepare students with a wide range of professional, personal and interpersonal skills necessary to enable graduates to operate successfully within professional and social environments for employment in the fashion, design and associated industries, or to prepare them for postgraduate study.

                                       

Graduate Jobs

Career opportunities include working as a fashion designer, fashion illustrator, pattern cutter, garment technologist, trend forecaster, knitwear designer, design consultant, as well as working in the areas within fashion marketing, retail and buying. Alternatively graduates may choose to work freelance or establish their own clothing label. Other opportunities include teaching, lecturing and continuing their studies to postgraduate level.

Content and Modules

Level 4

• Introduction to Fashion Practice 
  This module introduces the student to fashion research and the concepts and skills of fashion design through a range of creative projects exploring: fashion drawing and illustration, visual communication, presentation skills, range planning and trend predictions. 
• Fashion Design Realisation 
  This module provides the student with a foundation in developing their design ideas from 2D to 3D. It will be supported by technical workshops focusing on creative pattern drafting, modelling on the stand and garment construction techniques.
• Techniques and Processes 
  Techniques and Processes module introduces students to the techniques and process of flat pattern cutting, modelling on the stand and methods of manufacture supported by technical workshops.
• Contextual and Cultural Studies 
  The Contextual and Cultural Studies module is important in providing an introduction to research skills and design theory, analysing and critically exploring the cultural and visual influences on fashion and design.

Level 5

• Advanced Fashion Practice 
  Advanced Fashion Practice explores the creative concepts of silhouette, shape, form and structure through experimental 3D development supported by advanced technical workshops in pattern drafting, modelling and garment construction techniques.
• Professional Design Practice 
  This module enable students to explore their creative potential working in collaboration with industry and fashion companies through ‘Live’ project briefs and engaging with awards and competitions set by industry. This module will broaden the student’s awareness of the fashion world, and the national and international opportunities available, providing a greater understanding of the challenges within the fashion and related industries.
• Fashion Marketing 
  This practical and theoretical module is designed to develop the student’s business acumen, understanding target markets, visual literacy, brand image and marketing communications within the retail fashion environment and global industry.
• Contextual Studies 
  The main aim of this module is to further develop research skills and analytical thinking, encouraging students to formulate their own independent judgments, and to articulate logical and rational argument through advanced fashion writing.

Level 6

• Professional Enterprise 
  This module provides students with greater awareness and understanding of the relevant practices and professional skills that are required to work effectively within the Fashion industry and associated markets. Projects within this module will extend students creative understanding of their fashion interests, and assist in their career planning, identifying appropriate career options, and will be demonstrated in the promotion of their work through portfolio and exhibition of their work, representing their fashion identity.
• Dissertation/Research Project 
  This module requires the student to submit an undergraduate level dissertation or work-based project and will provide further opportunities for the continuing exploration of practice and theory. The student will have the opportunity to debate, consider and challenge current research and research methodologies in the context of fashion and related areas. Students will receive support through lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials.   
• Final Major Project – Catwalk or Static Exhibition     
  This module consolidates the students learning and involves the completion of a self-negotiated project to design and produce a collection of garments or artefacts around a theme of their choice ‘to promote their aims and ambitions’.

Further Information

Portfolio and Interview Advice

Students who have applied for the BA (Hons) Fashion course at UCS will be asked to bring a portfolio of work to their interview, which they will be asked to talk through explaining their ideas, the thought process and discussing their approach to their work, and their interest in fashion. A portfolio should include a broad range of work demonstrating your art and design skills, and may comprise of sketchbooks exploring design ideas through theme, colour, texture and exploration of media techniques; drawings, artwork, design development – 2D and 3D demonstrating the design stages resulting in a final design, and a written essay or coursework.