Available as Part Time and Full Time
| Length of Study: | 2 Years Full Time / 4 Years Part Time |
| Award by: | BTEC |
| Start Date: | September |
Our BTEC HND Diploma in Fashion Design is a specialist programme of study that covers the fundamentals and develops the required practical skills in the Fashion field. It also develops a critical awareness of the historical, contextual and social issues relevant to the practice.
During your studies you will have the opportunity to use contemporary equipment and facilities in an exceptional and professional studio environment of the industry, you will get ready to enter the industry and become aware of and fully equipped with all technical skills.
BTEC HND Diplomas are internationally recognized qualifications with a proven track record of success. They are a recognized and popular route to university, leading to the second or third year of a bachelor’s degree, accordingly.
Over the two years you will be introduced to the fashion industry requirements and opportunities, and you will develop appropriate clothes-making and design skills, which will lead you to develop and presentyour own collection.
Other pathways are: Fine Art, 3D Design, Animation, Illustration, Graphic Design and Textiles, Art Photography, Product Design, and Interior Design.
Level 4 HNC
Year 1
Semester 1
The 1st semester of study is mostly investigational, experimental and researchbased, in order to start defining the perspectives of the fields of specialization. It will help you to better understand your course specifications and values, and you will be introduced technically and conceptually to the course and to industry expectations.
FA/AD01/01
Specialization Roles in the Industry and Design Development – Contextual Studies
(30 credits)
The purpose of this module is to define specialized roles in the industry, expectations, and to develop necessary skills, such as defining personal career goals. Students will build critical skills, and learn about social, historical and cultural theories and practices, as well as how to prepare a personal development plan.
FA/AD01/02
Design, Techniques & Processes Practice (part set assignment)
(30 credits)
The purpose of this module is to develop a general understanding and knowledge of art & design areas, which will help you to distinguish the differences between the fields of specialization, as to create appropriate techniques and processes within the art & design fields and personal practice, through historical and contemporary research. You will learn techniques on how to generate new ideas and possible solutions and you will evaluate the importance of discovering and connecting new media and materials to your working processes.
Semester 2
FA/FSH01/03
CAD software applications within Fashion and Textile practices demonstrating Pattern Cutting and Garment Making techniques to Fashion Collection development
(60 credits)
The module will be delivered in small projects
The purpose of this module is to develop students’ understanding and knowledge of CAD software applications used in the creative industries. They will gain the practical skills so they can use technologyfor their own creative work and they will be able to see what a design will look like and how it may perform in the real world prior to production. Thus, this module aims to develop students’ range of skills in the fashion and textiles industry, through experimentation with material, surface, form and function, allowing them to work in this industry. It also prepares students to create contemporary fashion and innovative pattern cutting results by carrying out skills of design interpretation and three-dimensional realization, fit alteration, pattern drafting and adaptation, construction and manufacture, leading design to actual clothing. The module ends with the students’ first cohesive fashion collection from the very beginning to the final presentation of the design work, including trend forecasting, creating concept boards, devising customer profiles, generating ideas, design development, and traditional and contemporary media Illustration techniques.
Level 5 HND
Year 2
Semester 3
FA/FSH01/04
Styling roles in Branding Development through Collaborative Work
(60 credits)
During the 3rd semester you will develop your own and collaborative work. You will develop interdisciplinary collaboration and creative engagement through a project that brings different styling skills together from across the fashion industries. The module’s purpose is to develop your skills in marketing and advertising as it is a challenging field for a fashion designer to realize image identity and recognize the importance of branding. You will evaluate fashion brand identities and how these relate to their core values and their impact in a commercial market place. By the end of the semester you will have produced your own garments and collection, in group-defined styling and branding guidelines for the application of design. You will have the opportunity to explore branding or marketing strategies through the development of your own fashion collection and style. You will also explore the role of fashion styling within a group, as well as the skills, knowledge and techniques required. The module requires collaborative work which will lead to personal work processes and outcomes.
Semester 4
FA/FSH01/05
Professional Fashion Design Practice within Industry Regulations
(60 credits)
The final semester engages you in an extended study of the practice of Fashion Design by developing an in-depth project that will allow you to establish your own fashion style. You will learn the relationship between client needs, the target market and design objectives. This moduleaims to carry out a full project cycle, including iterative development, and multiple garment development stages and feedback that reflects advanced fashion design practice. At this stage, you will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge on industry regulations and requirements as you will be placed on an internship for a period of time. Work experience will help you to define your own style as a fashion designer and prepare you for the transition from study to employment or your own branding development. By the time you finish, you will be able to develop a strategy for your future career, whether in further education, employment or self-employment. You will learn how to make career plans, prepare a CV, build your interview skills, marketing and self-promotional material, you will learn about legal frameworks, business planning and social and professional networksin a broad range of sectors.