Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles - BA (Hons)

Year One

These two year-long modules run side by side.

Fundamentals: Design and Technology (100 credit points)

Learn the basic principles of creative fabric and garment construction and we’ll introduce you to a wide range of specialist equipment to develop your practical skills.

Through studio workshops and tutorials, you’ll build your skills in areas such as colour, visual research, idea generation, fabric creation, 3D form, fashion styling, and fashion illustration.

Design, Culture and Context 1 (20 credit points)

Test your research, presentation, and writing skills, and think about being socially and culturally aware when considering your own environment and design decisions. You will learn about the power of images, objects, and materials in visual and material culture.

Year Two

These two year-long modules run side by side.

Context: Design in Industry (100 credit points)

Through different creative projects you will develop a further awareness of the practice of design within the global fashion knitwear industry. You’ll gain experience of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM) and develop a range of skills to communicate your design ideas professionally.

You will also start to prepare for your placement year, with sessions covering CV building, letters of application, interview techniques, and portfolio development.

Design, Culture and Context 2 (20 credit points)

In the first half of the year you will consider the role played by design in the creation of desire in trend-driven consumer culture. In the second, you’ll focus on creating a negotiated, individual brief in preparation for your final year project.

Year Three

• Optional Work Placement Year

Optional Work Placement Year

The placement year will let you apply what you have learned so far. You’ll get to experience the realities of the commercial world and gain an understanding of different industrial practices.

Your placement must be between 10 and 36 weeks long, working with one or more companies in the UK or overseas. You’ll also have the chance to gain an extra qualification – a Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice.

Our dedicated Employability team will give you support, advice and access to valuable resources to help you find a placement.

Our Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles students have recently worked with a range of design companies during their work placement year.

These include:

• Burberry
• Sophie Steller
• Marks & Spencer
• Julian McDonald
• Roksanda
• South Ocean Yarns, China
• Brilliant Global, Hong Kong
• Hugo Boss, Switzerland
• Rebecca Taylor, New York
• Li & Fung, New York.

Our students have undertaken various roles, including:

• product development assistant
• product developer
• design assistant
• freelance knitwear assistant.

Final year

Resolution: Theory and Practice (120 credit points)

Complete a range of projects guided by your own career aspirations. Choose one of two pathways: either a Fashion Collection pathway where you’ll create a garment collection for a catwalk show, or a Fashion Textile pathway where you’ll create a display of knitted textile fabrics, garments or products.

Produce an individual research project demonstrating your skills in analysis, communication, presentation, and independent thinking.

Showcase your work at our Degree Show in Nottingham, and have the opportunity to be selected to present your work at Graduate Fashion Week in London.