The aim of this module is to enable you to build on prior knowledge to assess yourself in relation to the profession of fashion design. It is expected that you will be developing a body of work as evidence of your achievements through group work, interview techniques and CV writing. You will begin to plan your professional portfolio as preparation for Professional Practice 3 module in Level 6. The Fashion Trend Concepts Project will be covered through talks by leading trend forecasters and sustainable design experts. You will then present professionally as a group, which will involve use of verbal, visual and digital media, presentation skills. Peer learning and assessment will be supported by lectures, seminars and workshops. Project Folders will include responses to talks delivered by industry specialists across different market levels and product areas. The Sponsored Project folder will include an online portfolio and a CV/covering letter to the selected company or designer, which can lead to a summer placement. The Self-initiated Project will be selected by you to inspire your own work.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
This module focuses on personal and professional development and will include sessions on:
Concept trend ideas for forecasting and sustainable design for an external partner
The module is delivered through talks by practitioners and graduates across all market levels and product types. They will impart information and share experiences, and set project briefs from which students will elect to include in their portfolio. Interactive teaching is carried out through discussion groups, brainstorming and student presentations.
Students are expected to work in research teams and also individually. Students will attend a series of peer assessment sessions, resulting in students giving formative feedback and assessment to peers.
There will primarily be studio-based tutorials, independent study and development. Portfolio reviews, workshops and resource sessions will also be undertaken along with self-directed development of project-based presentation skills and group work with access to specialist areas as required. Students will upload a live portfolio onto recruitment websites and engage in role-play for potential interviews.
Additional material including CV writing, interview techniques, sign-up sheets for workshops will be supplied by the KSA Employability Consultant in collaboration with Fashion tutors.
The module will make use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Canvas for communication and dissemination of information between students and staff as well as making online learning materials available to all. Students should check this site on a daily basis for module information, timetables, sign-ups, updates and additional information and teaching materials.
All courses based in the Kingston School of Art offer students free access to the online video tutorial platform Lynda.com. This provides a wide range of subjects to choose from, many with downloadable exercise files, including software tutorials covering photography, graphics, web design, audio and music, CAD and Microsoft Office software, as well as courses on Business and Management skills. Some of these are embedded in the curriculum and offer additional self-paced learning, others may be taken at will by students wishing to broaden their employability skills in other areas.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Lectures/seminars/workshops/tutorials | 100 |
| Guided independent study | Self-directed study | 200 |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
Summative assessment is by 3 project folders, staged at intervals through the module. Formal written feedback will be issued after summative assessment has been completed and within 20 days of the hand-in date.
Contents of the project folders will be defined by the project brief and will contain research work, design development work in sketchbooks and a final digital presentation with a CV for Sponsored Projects uploaded online and in hard copy form to be mailed out to prospective companies.
Students will also present a group project and be formatively assessed both individually and as a group through peer to peer assessment, where they will receive oral feedback.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1. Demonstrate team working practices and peer- to-peer learning within a professional context for trend forecasting and sustainable design | Group presentation and Peer to Peer Assessment Project folder (Concept) including research file, sketchbook work and concept presentation |
| 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the creative process used to inform colour, material and innovative design outcomes relevant to an industry brief | Project folder (Sponsored) including research file, sketchbook work, sampling and design presentation |
| 3. Apply digital and traditional techniques creatively and effectively to present design projects | Project folders (Concept, Sponsored and Self-initiated) including research file, sketchbook work, sampling and design presentation |
| 4. Define innovative design outcomes appropriate to a self-initiated brief | Project folder (Self-initiated) including research file, sketchbook work, sampling and design presentation |
| 5. Present professional skills and promotional material for interview using written, verbal and visual means | Project folders (Sponsored) including research file, sketchbook work, sampling and design presentation and a CV |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Project folder 1 (Concept projects) | Coursework | 30% |
| Project folder 2 (Sponsored projects) | Coursework | 40% |
| Project folder 3 (Self-initiated projects) | Coursework | 30% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
See project briefs for current specific publication.
Specific reading lists will be noted on project briefs and project loan at the Library.
We subscribe to LS:N Global, which is an online service from The Future Laboratory, and is a design industry trends and insight network developed for creatives, planners, marketers and forecasters.