Design: Fashion and Textiles

Course Structure and Content

You will be introduced to research skills and methods, product development , design methods and management, marketing and business skills. The emphasis of the course is learning how best to present ideas, and where and how to place them in the market.

The course is developed through seminars, lectures, tutorials, visiting speakers, group critiques, work experience and personal research in libraries and museums.

You are encouraged to trial a product in the market. This may be through first hand experience, or through working with studios and agents for designers, shops and craft markets (for designer makers), or with galleries or public spaces (for textile artists).

The main aim of the course is for students to set up their own employment opportunities. Other possibilities include textile/product development designers, retail/ marketing or sales industry, teaching, prediction/promotion, further research either in the industry or education and gallery exhibiting.

Students may propose a route of study through the course to explore and research an idea in textiles and/ or fashion.

Teaching Methods and Resources

The first trimester (PGCert) consists of two modules with a taught programme of lectures, seminars, group critiques, assignments and research. You will negotiate a programme of study for the Product, Market Research and Product Ideas module. The emphasis at this level is on ideas. During the second trimester (PGDip) you will take two further modules: the Mark classeting module oectures, seminars and research; the Product Development programme is negotiated by each student.

The final trimester, leading to the MA, involves a negotiated study which you will propose. The study will be research based resulting in a body of work for assessment, and part of the project will contain a practical element working with the commercial world.

Assessment Methods

The PGCert is assessed by studio exhibition and/or portfolio presentation of a marketing report. The PGDip involves a written report including market analysis of your chosen product field. Practical work is presented by studio work and/or portfolio. For the MA you will present a seminar paper to include a market report on product trials.

Course Length

MA full-time: three trimesters (one calendar year).

MA part-time: six trimesters.