Graduate Diploma Fashion Design Technology

PLEASE NOTE: This course will run at Level 6, which is equivalent to the final year of a BA Honours degree, and is a preparatory course for students who want to study at postgraduate level, but currently need further knowledge and skills before being eligible for postgraduate study or industry progression. Ideal candidates will come from a background of fashion design or related degrees, exceptions will be made from other courses if a proficiency of the subject can be shown through portfolio evidence.

The Graduate Diploma Fashion Design Technology is a one-year intensive course designed for students who wish to further develop and consolidate the principles of a UK design process experience in order to prepare for relevant MA progression.

Encompassing men’s and women’s fashion design, this is a concentrated course that encourages in depth creative thinking alongside innovative design approaches. The course will offer you a synthesis of concept and research development, design process, 3D creative production and academic grounding, all required to become an independent, ambitious and experimental designer who is willing to take risks.

Independence will provide a framework for the whole course, from being directional and unique in the choice of your research paths to being eloquent in the dissemination of your ideas for potential MA applications and proposals. This will be supported through the four units delivered during the year by engaging with new modes of working, peer discussions and using the invaluable resources that both LCF, UAL and London have to offer you.

Throughout your time at London College of Fashion you will have access to a plethora of specialist staff and facilities that will give you the opportunity to design and manufacture to professional levels. Within your design work you will be expected to consider a continuous development of aesthetic awareness and understanding to present a portfolio of work that can be used to promote yourself as a cutting edge creative designer to the world.

As part of the LCF/UAL postgraduate network you will have the opportunity to meet likeminded designers from a wide range of backgrounds. Graduates will leave the course with an understanding and confidence in both conceptual and realistic fashion design outputs having studied in a city known for nurturing new talent.

Students will progress from the course with a portfolio and realised design work to support future development. Some students study on the Graduate Diploma to further their knowledge and skills before moving into industry. Other students use this study opportunity to prepare graduates for suitable MA courses within the Design and Technology programme at LCF, including MA Fashion Design Technology Menswear, MA Fashion Design Technology Womenswear, MA Fashion Futures and MA Pattern and Garment Technology. Some graduates of this course will be in a position to gain employment in varied roles within the international fashion industry in the area of design and technology.


Course Structure

One Year - Level 6 - 120 credits

• Term One: Fashion Analysis (40 credits)
• Term Two: Fashion Research in Context (20 credits)
• Term Two: Fashion Development (20 credits)
• Term Three: Final Realisation (40 credits)
• Travelling across London

The renowned London College of Fashion library is at our John Prince’s Street site, and you will need to travel to this site, and possibly others, during your course to use the library, which is open seven days a week in term time, and for tuition and special events.


Course structure

The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.

Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.
In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the
course with the course team before making a decision to apply.