Unit code: 9720

Unit description: The unit will allow students to develop a basic understanding of the product development process, through a series of workshops, demonstrations and lectures. Introduction to pattern cutting and manufacturing. Basic block construction processes; operation of basic sewing machinery (lockstitch, over-locking machines, Iron) Health & safety. Sample construction using basic stitches and seams; basic sewing, toile and accessory construction.

Unit code: 9701

Unit description: Before the student can embark on a creative career there are some key questions which need answering. What is creativity? Where does it come from? Is creativity an unpredictable, transient state or can it be purposefully induced? How will a creative life likely differ from the norm? This unit aims to focus the student on the exploration of creativity from the inside out; to delve into the student's own creative processes and expectations of a life in the creative industries, while exploring creativity and inspiration from an objective viewpoint, by examining creativity from both Western and Eastern perspectives through the lives and careers of influential creative mentors. The unit introduces the student to academic research processes and practices, which align with self-exploration and reflection, clarifying a clear goal towards a fulfilling and successful creative career. In this way this unit is the precursor to The Creative Career core unit.

Unit code: 9724

Unit description: This unit will encourage students to explore a range of design skills that can inspire creative thinking in order to develop design ideas. Design Identity 1 (Historical Studies) introduces students to pivotal concepts and key ways of thinking regarding fashion and its context in social history. Students will participate in lectures, seminars and workshops, and complete a significant amount of research through academic texts to complete a formal academic report for assessment.

Unit code: 9730

Unit description: Research Methods for Fashion unit promotes the exploration and experimentation with different critical and methodological perspectives to research, in addition to examining established research methods. The unit focuses on primary and secondary sources and their relationship, ways of originating and developing fashion research, and appropriate methods applied to the creative industries. Students will develop an awareness of limitations that will enable them to select the most appropriate methods for investigation. This prepares students for later projects where research skills enable students to investigate what research is needed.

Unit code: 9721

Unit description: This unit will further build on the essential skills for garment construction and manual pattern cutting through the introduction of (CAPD) computer aided pattern design. Production techniques for women's wear; menswear and sportswear will be explored focusing on prototyping skills necessary for development and realisation of fashion garments. Through practice-based research, students will continue to develop applied knowledge of different fabrics and textile processes natural and manufacture, measurement acquisition, integration of body scan data and its application along side the development of design room specifications.

Unit code: 9725

Unit description: Students will further develop and demonstrate a fashion design awareness towards the creation of original design concepts based upon creative solutions and appropriate design technologies. The unit consists of directive, students led and independent study. Trend, silhouette and colour forecasting, synthesising shapes, trends and colours to an appropriate market level, design communication through the use of appropriate technologies and applications, presentation of design concepts, portfolio generation. Cultural Studies is used to introduce students to critical concepts and means of thinking about fashion and its societal and cultural contexts. Students attend lectures, seminars and workshops, and are required to complete significant amounts of academic readings in order to complete a formal academic report for assessment.

Unit code: 9706

Unit description: The Creative Industries requires graduates to work within a project environment and respond to clients in an ethical, professional and efficient manner. This unit provides students with the understanding and practical application of the attributes, principles, skills and documentation required in the planning, management, organisation and administration of commercial projects. It continues learning approaches from previous core units, again encouraging the analysis of project management principles through research into exemplar real world projects and applying these to student-generated concepts. The unit also progresses the student towards the academic independence required in the two final Creative Project units related to their major.

Unit code: 9731

Unit description: Through this unit, students will be able to build a strong foundation in visual research and their capacity to analyse and experiment in the development of innovative creative solutions. The emphasis of this unit is on burgeoning areas of visual communication with an awareness and analysis of the cultural, global, ethical and technological contexts in which they operate. Students learn about the creation of imagery across multidisciplinary platforms including print, film and online applications, visual merchandising and performance.

Unit code: 9722

Unit description: This unit provides a comprehensive understanding of the fashion/garment production development process through global sourcing. It includes an overview of fashion materials and advanced manufacturing technology. Formation and performance manufacturing techniques. Sewing machine operation, fabric feeds and machine bed design. Fashion materials include the characteristics of woven and knitted fabric structures.

Unit code: 9702

Unit description: Creative Project 1 focuses on the independent conceptualisation, planning and realisation of a student-generated major work in their creative field. The unit aims to introduce the student to working independently as a freelance creative, applying all principles and skills gained from previous core units in a large-scale public work. This is a unit that promotes occasional academic supervision, rather than routine teacher-led learning and is intended to pave the way towards independent modes of learning which are crucial in the industry and at traditional post graduate academic levels.

Unit code: 9726

Unit description: The Design Identity 3 (Fashion Globalisation) unit introduces students to broader aspects of the fashion industry through the study of design for specific markets. Students explore through product design development areas related to market trends, e-commerce and global manufacturing. Students will have the opportunity to engage within an industrial context through forward thinking creative responses to the project brief.

Unit code: ELE1

Unit code: 9723

Unit description: Students will continue to contextualise their applied practice and increase their skill base in relation to critical analysis and evaluation through the articulation of critical self-appraisal. Through external engagement, students are given the opportunity to consolidate their understanding of the fashion industry. Through a research approach, students respond to live or simulated industry-set challenges. Knowledge and professional understanding of the processes underpinning product design and development will be enhanced. Students will combine creative, practical, intellectual and entrepreneurial skills within an industrial context to respond to a brief.

Unit code: 9703

Unit description: Creative Project 2 builds upon Creative Project 1 focusing on the independent conceptualisation, planning and realisation of a student-generated major work in their creative field. The unit further supports the student as independent learners aiming to become a freelance creative, applying all principles and skills gained from previous core units in a large-scale public work. Creative Project 2 promotes occasional academic supervision, rather than routine teacher-led learning and is intended to pave the way towards independent modes of learning which are crucial in the industry and at traditional post graduate academic levels.

Unit code: 9727

Unit description: Through this unit students will explore the various approaches to researching topics for fashion design by evaluating the most appropriate methodologies to use whilst considering the ethical implications involved. Students will be able to build a formal proposal for research. Consideration will be given to sustainable and ethical sourcing and costing as well as the environments in which the product will be consumed.

Unit code: ELE1

Unit code: 9700

Unit description: What defines a creative career? And what defines success in the creative industries? At the heart of a successful, creative career there are key business principles and processes that the student must understand and successfully implement in order to manifest commercial success in alignment with a creative vision. In this unit the student is introduced to these principles and practices through a series of individual and collaborative, creative scenarios. The aim is to familiarise the student with standard business practices, concepts of business ethics, problem solving, networking, brainstorming, collaborative decision making and persuasive communication techniques, in an exciting and creative work environment. The unit promotes independent creative thinking and group discussion and further aims to develop concepts explored in The Creative Life unit into tangible, practical processes.

Unit code: 9704

Unit description: Creative Project 3 is the continuation of units focusing on the independent conceptualisation, planning and realisation of a student-generated major work in their creative field. The unit aims to introduce the student to working as part of a creative team, applying all principles and skills gained from previous core units in a large-scale public work. This is a unit that promotes occasional academic supervision, rather than routine teacher-led learning and is intended to pave the way towards independent modes of learning which are crucial in the industry and at traditional post graduate academic levels.

Unit code: 9728

Unit description: The Negotiated Concept for Fashion 1 provides students the ability to formulate a self-directed innovative and enterprising project. In response to contemporary industry issues students are required to develop a strategy directed towards a major piece of fashion product design and development work. Informed by research, this work will be industrially relevant. Through this unit, students to able to investigate and justify the means through which the work can be realised. Building on the knowledge and skills students have acquired, they will apply research into relevant cultural and historical debates and the current industry to produce a critical analysis of their personal practice.

Unit code: ELE1

Unit code: 9705

Unit description: Creative Project 4 further builds upon Creative Project 3 in the creation of student-generated major work in their creative field. The strong focus of the unit is to work as part of a collaborative creative team, applying all principles and skills gained from previous studies in a large-scale public work. This is a unit that promotes occasional academic supervision, rather than routine teacher-led learning and is intended to pave the way towards independent modes of learning which are crucial in the industry and at traditional post graduate academic levels.

Unit code: 9707

Unit code: 9729

Unit description: Negotiated Concept for Fashion 2 will allow students to engage in an extended self-directed piece of work and will enable them to undertake research and develop personal responses and concepts in the form of a major project. Students will research, investigate and develop objectives for their project and will identify and construct individually negotiated project outcomes. Students will engage fully with their responsibilities as a designer/product developer, and demonstrate an understanding of how their work fits within the fashion industry. The unit also provides an opportunity for students to showcase through a collaborative fashion event. Fashion awareness for the development of products; visual communication methods; development of concepts in relation to target markets; professional presentation skills; self-branding awareness and promotion; collaboration with fashion agencies.

Unit code: ELE1