Fashion MA

30 credits

'Studio: Building Fashion' introduces students to a range of analytical tools with which to interrogate designed objects and artefacts to enable them to forge links between analytical and propositional methods underpinned by theoretical approaches to research – shaping a framework within which to structure self-initiated projects.

Practical research methods are explored, with an emphasis on the development of creative, rational, and effective approaches to visual experimentation. Students are encouraged to develop a critical approach to practice that considers responsible approaches
to existing and emerging issues within fashion and to critically reflect on practical design work within a logical and measurable framework. The module aims to build understanding of the wide-ranging methods and tools that are available to inform and support the development of students' practical study and to provide the basis of their further study on the course.

The integrative programme encourages students to develop a personal and critical point of view through recording, documentation, and evaluation of ideas and to apply those findings within project work and approaches to making.

As part of personal and professional development, collaboration is integrated into the curriculum alongside a supportive studio culture where knowledge is shared and creative and informed risk-taking is encouraged.

30 credits

Process: Making Fashion focuses on the realisation of 2D and 3D fashion practice. Students will enhance existing skills, applying thinking through making to the development and prototyping of physical fashion outcomes, and the fashion portfolio of project work developed in the Studio: Building Fashion module to a professional standard.

Within this module, students will produce a toile or series of toiles of their chosen designs. Students will demonstrate an understanding of garment construction through pattern cutting and/or 3D modelling to create a contemporary design or series of designs that evidence understanding of silhouette, detail, and fabrication. They will produce a body of work within a fashion portfolio informed by consideration of responsible practices and cultural and social contexts, that demonstrates an understanding of visual communication; how to articulate a design project process from research through to final outcomes within the confines of an industry-standard fashion portfolio.

Specialist workshops will provide opportunities to enhance existing skills. Workshops include fashion illustration skills, pattern cutting, draping, materiality, visual communication, fashion portfolio building, and responsible fashion practice.

This module encourages students to develop a personal and critical viewpoint through recording, documentation, and evaluation of ideas, applying those findings within project work and approaches to making.

30 credits

This module focuses on the Future Skills strategy, professional practice, the synthesis of students' skills and graduate attributes needed for their future careers. This is done through engagement with collaborative projects and/or live projects and how communication skills can be used to articulate work with diverse stakeholders. The student will also present a self-initiated capstone project proposal for Studio: Performing Fashion which allows them to take ownership of their final outputs which are realised in Teaching Block 3. Students will gather visual research, develop a theme or concept, and state their interests and proposed outcomes for the Studio: Performing Fashion module which could take a variety of forms.

Future skills will be developed that are not only valuable to the creative industries, but to the global economy: creative problem-solving as well as adaptability, communication, critical and analytical skills.

Students are introduced to key industry bodies supporting fashion education such as the British Fashion Council and Denza Recruitment and encouraged to engage with competitions, resources, events and other related activities received from industry partners.

30 credits

This module builds on skills developed in 'Process: Fashion Making' enabling students to apply them within a professional context.

The module furthers the realisation of 2D and 3D fashion practice. Students will enhance their skills by developing and prototyping physical fashion outcomes that are informed by consideration of responsible practices. The fashion portfolio will integrate prior learning by expanding upon fundamental concepts and methods, refining research methodologies and design outcomes in the production of a professional portfolio of project work.

Students will produce a garment or series of garments in the intended fabrics of their chosen design or designs. They will synthesise their understanding of garment construction through their use of pattern cutting and/or 3D modelling to create a contemporary design or series of designs to evidence elevated understanding of silhouette, detail, and fabrication.

Students will further develop the body of work within a fashion portfolio that demonstrates an enhanced understanding of visual communication; how to articulate the process of a series of design projects from research through to final outcomes within an industry-standard fashion portfolio.

Students will enhance their personal and critical viewpoint through the documentation and evaluation of ideas, applying those findings within project work and refined approaches to making.

60 credits

'Studio: Performing Fashion' consolidates knowledge and skills gained so far on the course to produce an individually defined body of work that enables the next stage of students' professional development, whether placement or internship, application for roles within industry, or further study.

The module establishes an autonomous and situated fashion practice through enquiry-led learning and practice-based investigation. Students will be given creative agency to initiate and complete a project that demonstrates their advanced understanding of contemporary design practice. By assimilating the learning established on the course, students will bring an individual critical position to a substantial and resolved body of work that articulates the context of their practice, demonstrating in content and form their advanced understanding of contemporary fashion practice.

The research and documentation of the project is integral to the submission, reflecting on the process, critical analysis of the research methodology, and its conceptual integration within the practical work. The project will be summarised visually through the fashion portfolio. Project topics are expected to be wide-ranging, providing opportunity to fully investigate a practical solution, underpinned by a critical report on the work produced. Topics must demonstrate the potential required to achieve the level appropriate to the learning outcomes, positioning the work politically, socially, and culturally, identifying and applying appropriate technology within delivery.

120 credits

The Professional Placement module is a core module for those students following a masters programme that incorporates professional placement learning, following completion of 120 credits. It provides you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to an appropriate working environment, and to develop and enhance key employability skills and subject-specific professional skills in your chosen subject.