Fashion Design, BA (Hons)

This practice-based fashion design degree empowers students to develop their unique aesthetic and produce a collection and portfolio that reflect their individual talents, while embracing the diversity of 21st-century fashion. Students join a community of dedicated creatives to explore the discipline's historical and contemporary contexts, including global narratives, gender, sustainability, and ethics. Through industry partnerships, such as with the British Fashion Council, participants benefit from speakers, live projects, visits, and competitions, enhancing employability and portfolio strength. Utilizing advanced technologies like CAD and CLO 3D software, supported by expert staff, students transform ideas into garments, building essential skills for a professional career.In the first year, students master core skills in fashion drawing, design methods, pattern cutting, and digital tools, with visits for cultural inspiration. The second year refines processes through 3D design, collaborations, and creative pattern cutting. The final year focuses on self-directed projects, producing a graduate collection with reflective writing and opportunities for showcasing work to prepare for industry entry.

Year one – Learn and explore the core skills required for fashion design, such as fashion drawing and illustration, design methods, colour awareness and application, pattern cutting and garment production, visual research methods, portfolio presentation, and digital applications for design. Educational visits to galleries and exhibitions offer a cultural insight into the fashion ecology and inspire your work. Year two – Continue to develop your work process and presentation skills, taking pride in your work and gaining confidence in sharing your creations through live projects and collaborations also learning about 3D fashion design. Through pattern cutting and garment production, you will combine elements of traditional tailoring techniques with contemporary genderfluid design and you will explore and apply the technique of creative pattern cutting, as integral to the design process. You will have opportunities to utilise other workshop areas within the arts university to enhance your creative process. Year three – This self-directed final year takes a holistic approach to your practice. You will produce a body of work supported by reflective and critical writing, culminating in the realisation of your graduate fashion collection and exciting opportunities to showcase your work. Live projects will further enhance your portfolio in preparation for employment and forming your identity as a creative fashion-design practitioner.