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Fashion Design

Course Summary School: University of Salford Manchester

Location: United Kingdom, Manchester

Education: Diploma

in brief:
  • Enhance your employability through local and international work placements, global collaborations and partnerships with some of the biggest names and brands in the fashion industry
  • Opportunity to exhibit locally and on the catwalk at a professional show at Graduate Fashion Week in London
  • Study within a high achieving fashion department, consistently winning awards and competitions, including the British Fashion Council Best Portfolio Award and Digital Award. Student winners have included the Best Childrenswear GFW award for George at Asda in 2015 and Mothercare in 2016; and the 2016 Sophie Hallette Lace competition.
  • Overall satisfaction for this course is 100% (Source: NSS 2017)
  • An interview will be required for admission onto this course
  • Overseas study available
  • Work/industrial placement opportunity
  • International students can apply
Course Summary
The British Fashion Council estimates that the UK fashion industry is worth £26bn a year, making a ‘vital contribution to the global reputation of Great Britain as a leader in creative excellence.’
Our course reflects contemporary practice in the fashion industry, with individual creativity as its core. You are encouraged to explore your individual talents through the application of the professional design process, from original concept to final product. Our course has been designed to give you  the  essential skills needed to succeed in this fast paced, dynamic industry both in the UK and Internationally.
The course aspires to create flexible, resourceful and creative fashion practitioners with well-developed transferable and interpersonal skills. Through a range of inspiring modules, you will become multi-skilled, independent and professional in an environment where personal talent and individual development  are  nurtured.
You will also have the opportunity to undertake a work placement module in your second year, with past students doing placements at brands such as Alexander McQueen, American Apparel, Christopher Kane, Henri Lloyd, Jonathan Saunders, Karl Lagerfeld, Markus Lupfer, Selfridges & Co, Anna Sui, Vera  Wang  and Viktor & Rolf.
Graduates have gone onto successful careers in design at all levels of the industry across the globe including Adidas, John Lewis, Levis, Marina Rinaldi, Max Mara, New Balance, Puma, River Island, Topshop, Warehouse.

Course Details
The course is designed to reflect contemporary practice in the fashion industry. Individual creativity, both in fashion design and fashion styling, balanced with realism, are key factors underlying the ethos of this course. You are encouraged to explore your individual talents through the application of the professional design process, from concept to final product.
The course aims to create flexible, resourceful and creative fashion designers and fashion stylists with well-developed transferable and interpersonal skills. It provides a broad design education, concentrating on fashion, and develops not just high levels of analytical skills, critical judgment and the ability to learn independently, but also helps you acquire technical skills and the understanding necessary for the effective realisation of creative fashion concepts.
It is imperative for fashion that you become multi-skilled and professional, able to adapt to the specific needs of society and to the fulfilment of your own creativity. It is a priority for the course to provide an environment where personal talent and individual potential are nurtured.
Course Structure
Year one:
You will develop your design thinking and creative ability by undertaking a series of practical projects that cover all aspects of fashion design within a broad context. Experimentation is encouraged as you are introduced to the creative side of fashion design through your modules and projects.
You are introduced to the course's core subject areas by a series of modules delivered through a variety of exciting briefs. Year one introduces you to the fundamentals of a range of disciplines, and provides a thorough grounding of knowledge skills and understanding.
By the end of year one, you will have the ability to understand and communicate ideas in a professional visual form and have developed sufficient technical skills to be able to realise your concepts.
Year two:
Fashion Design will continue to explore and develop research skills, improve understanding of the specialism, enhance awareness of the fashion industry, and maintain a creative outlook.
When studying design you will be expected to realise your ideas in 2D and 3D focusing on creative design ideas and contemporary fashion ideas.
During Year two, you will liaise with industry and, where possible, undertake a 'live project' with a working fashion house or label, which will allow you to engage with and practice subjects of the course with professionalism and prepare you to work more independently. You will develop your understanding of markets and design trends through a process of research, analysis and practical projects.
At the end of this level, you will undertake a work placement to develop your awareness and understanding of the fashion industry. Work placements can offer the opportunity for regional, national or international experience in fashion-related organisations.
Year three:
You will continue to follow your chosen specialism and your studies will be tailored to your particular interests and ambitions. Design projects continue to be supported by study of design theory, computing, visual communication and business.
Year three provides the opportunity to personalise an in-depth study through the negotiation of bespoke projects in line with your goals and ambitions. For the final project, self-direction and independent thinking are imperative. Work from the final module in year three is exhibited at a fashion show in Manchester. A number of our students will also be selected to take part in the prestigious annual Graduate Fashion Week event in London, where they will exhibit work alongside their peers and competitors.