BA (Hons) Fashion Illustration

The course is situated in the School of Media and Communication. Students explore fashion illustration via traditional and contemporary approaches to drawing and image creation. Contextual and conceptual ideas are explored that challenge the role of the fashion illustrator within a broader fashion context. Developing your drawing skills with new technologies, artisanal techniques and exploring visual communication skills, your illustrative stance is cultivated and nourished.

This specialist curriculum is underpinned by drawing in all its guises and enhanced by digital technology, photography, moving image and animation. You will gain refined visual and academic research skills, culminating in a final major project and dissertation in your final year.

Live projects include collaborations with Fine Cell Work, DASH magazine, H&M, London Fashion Week, MarKings Festival 2016, Apple, Goodmans and Showstudio.

Alumni include Alina Zamanova, Kojey Radical, Displaytoy, Adriana Deco and Bex Cassie.

BA (Hons) Fashion Illustration is based at Lime Grove in Shepherd’s Bush, just west of Holland Park and Notting Hill. The area, which is rich in cultural influences from across the world, is home to Shepherd’s Bush Market and the many fabric shops lining the Goldhawk Road.

There are numerous restaurants, cafes, delis and food stores, as well as the market, which reflect the many cultures of the people living there. Nearby is the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, an excellent venue for live bands, and the Westfield Shopping Centre, one of the largest retail complexes in Europe that caters for the luxury market as well as the high street. Holland Park with its Orangery and Leighton House Museum are both worth visiting.

Students on this course might be invited to participate in study trips. This may involve, for example, visits to key areas of capital cities, factories, stores and museums. Attendance on these trips is not compulsory but recommended. Details regarding timings and costs will be issued closer to the relevant trips.


Course Structure

Year One - Stage One - level 4 - 120 credits

• Term One: Introduction to Study in Higher Education: Fashion Illustration (20 credits); Fashion Illustration and Drawn Images (20 credits)
• Term Two: Introduction to Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); Cross Media Narratives (20 credits)
• Term Three: Fashion Illustration and Moving Images (40 credits)

Year Two - Stage Two - level 5 - 120 credits

• Term One: Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); The Client Brief (20 credits)
• Term Two: Situating Your Practice: Placement / Situating Your Practice: International Study Media / Situating Your Practice: Fashioned Spaces (40 credits)
• Term Three: Research Methods for Illustration (20 credits); Creative Directions (20 credits)

Third Year - Stage Three - level 6 - 120 credits

• Term One: Concept and Research Development (20 credits)
• Terms One and Two: Cultural and Historical Studies Dissertation (40 credits)
• Term Two and Three: Final Major Project for Fashion Illustration (60 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.