Fashion Design and Technology

BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology

Mode: sandwich course

Top facts

• A creative and technology based course.
• Jointly run by the School of Art and the Department of Clothing, Design and Technology.
• Recent trips have included Paris, Antwerp and London.
• Excellent placements in the UK and abroad based on 20 year links with the fashion industry.

You will study
This is a design led course that encourages students to use an active, enquiring approach towards the design process in order to help them anticipate future needs and produce creative fashion products.

Year 1
The first year offers you an opportunity to enhance your design research, drawing and presentation skills as well as providing a foundation of knowledge in the areas of business and garment technology.

Year 2
The second year allows you to work to a more independent mode of study, building on the knowledge and skills you learned in the previous year. You are invited to enter a variety of competitions in the UK and abroad while working on producing a creative and original portfolio of work to take to placement interviews.

Year 3
Your third year is spent on placement within the fashion and clothing industry. This is full-time and paid.

Year 4
This final year starts with a visual fashion research project and concludes with a self directed design project. You are required to take part in at least one major design competition during the year.

Assessment
Each unit is taught and assessed to enable you to get the maximum development and skills from it. Our Fashion Design and Technology course employs a combination of learning and teaching methods to promote reflective learning and the development of generic skills. You will benefit from being involved in individual and group project work, workshops, lectures, seminars, tutorials and self-directed study. In addition visiting specialists, guest lecturers and field study trips support your learning. You will be assessed through coursework and practical sessions.

Placements
Your placement year is spent working within the fashion and clothing industry. Placement learning is a key element of the course as it allows you to apply university-based knowledge, skills and understanding to the real world of work. The day-to-day demands of such an experience are both challenging and inspirational. Placement opportunities are available both in the UK and abroad.

Graduates
Our graduates enter a range of roles in the fashion industry in the areas of fashion design, CAD, technical product development, styling, pattern cutting, fashion promotion, fashion journalism, fashion buying and merchandising and garment technology. Fashion Design and Technology graduates are now working as designers for companies such as River Island, Abercrombie and Fitch, Topshop, Matalan, Next and Puma.