In the first year, you’ll learn core design and production skills. You’ll practice hand rendering techniques to produce technical drawings. You’ll visualise your designs with 2D and 3D technology. You’ll become competent in fitting and pattern cutting. We’ll teach you how different fabrics behave and the best way to construct garments. Together, we’ll explore the history of art and design. You’ll understand fashion in a wider social context. What are the issues facing the industry? With fashion there’s always much more than meets the eye. You’ll visit fashion houses to gain insights from industry experts. You’ll research case studies.  You’ll gain strong inquiry and analysis skills. We’ll explain industry-relevant language, so you’ll feel confident to write essays and design proposals. You’ll develop photographic, presentation and portfolio skills. This is the first step on your journey to create a professional design portfolio.  

In the?second year,?you’ll improve your technical design skills. Get stuck into sketching, drawing and illustrating. We’ll teach you advanced pattern cutting techniques using 2D and 3D technology. We’ll teach you new ways to construct clothes. Get creative on a deeper level. Develop your own visual identity and design signature. We’ll teach you fashion communication techniques. You’ll study branding and promotion in print and social media. We’ll set you ‘live’ assignments from our industry partners. You’ll design functional and commercially viable fashion. You’ll design for real people, real shapes, real sizes. We’ll encourage you to enter your work in international competitions. You’ll create engaging and inspired portfolios. You’ll expand your research into the theory behind fashion. What informs current design practice? We’ll encourage you to debate. To form your own judgements and present a compelling argument. You’ll have two opportunities this year to take a work placement. What will you discover?  

Between your second and final year, you will have the option to study abroad or do a work placement for a year. This will not only give you an amazing experience to talk about, but you’ll also boost your cv. If you’d rather go straight to your final year, that’s?absolutely fine?too.?

In the third year, you’ll produce your contemporary collection or equivalent. You’ll embrace traditional, new and emerging technologies to produce unique designs. You’ll work with a greater level of independence to create a professional portfolio. Be expressive. Inventive. We’ll teach you how to communicate a visual identity. To develop your brand. You’ll produce marketing and promotional material. Your designs won’t speak for themselves. But you can. We’ll encourage you to initiate work placements. To immerse yourself in a business. Benefit from industry mentorship. You’ll also pursue a detailed inquiry into an aspect of design culture that fascinates you. You’ll examine it from a historical, economic and technical viewpoint. You’ll produce a critical essay on a topic of your choice. Your research will inform your concept. You can create fashion which responds to social, cultural and environmental challenges. What will your contribution to fashion be? We’ll help you get your designs seen. To promote your work. You could enter your collection in the prestigious Graduate Fashion Week held at the Truman Brewery in London. This is your chance to prove you’ve got what it takes. That you’re a designer in the making.