Fashion Design and Image

The specific goals of the program are:

• to prepare students for a career in the sphere of creative fashion and associated design influenced careers;
• to educate students to an advanced level of individual creativity within the discipline of fashion design;
• to encourage independent research and problem solving in the fashion design process;
• to develop in depth awareness of the major cultural and social themes and current fashion trends and be able to use this as inspiration for fashion projects;
• to develop, principal and specialist skills, techniques and practices;
• to develop a personal creative identity and originality through their individual design projects;
• to communicate well with experts in other fields both within as well as the fashion design field.
• to understand and be able to translate design into three-dimensional garments using the correct methods of production for the creation of a fashion collection;
• to design and execute a fashion design project demonstrating extensive, detailed and critical understanding, initiative, innovation and creative originality;
• to adapt to new situations and flexibility in applying what has been learnt for generating new and unique ideas;
• to work in a multi-disciplinary design environment, support and convince their ideas in front of internal as well as external audience;

Upon successful completion of this program, the students should be able to:

• Demonstrate in depth knowledge and skills in the different areas of fashion, including fashion and textile design, image and styling, fashion photography, fashion illustration and many more;
• Apply their individual creativity to self initiated projects;
• Engage in written briefs, and produce final design solutions as well as written reports which will be based on questioning and testing the area of research.
• Use effectively major cultural and social themes, past and current fashion trends as inspiration for fashion projects;
• Apply principal and specialist skills and techniques and practices in fashion projects. Skills and techniques which include sewing and pattern cutting techniques, illustrative and / or computer techniques, drawing and styling skills etc.
• Demonstrate their personal creative identity and originality within their individual design projects.
• Communicate effectively in both written and spoken form in the fashion design area, demonstrating appropriate levels of autonomy and responsibility;
• Understand and interpret two-dimensional designs into three-dimensional garments or products, using the correct method of production necessary for the creation of a fashion collection;
• Design and execute a creative and innovative fashion design project which has considered all aspects of design including, shape, colour, fabrication;
• Use the ability to create new and unique ideas as a way to adapt to new situations or new design briefs especially when working in a design team.
• Apply the communication skills developed, as well as the knowledge gained from studying in a multi-disciplinary environment, to support and convince his/ her ideas in front of an internal or external audience.

Graduates of the BA Fashion Design and Image program will be able to pursue opportunities in the Fashion design market in which today include such fields as:

• fashion styling
• fashion photography
• fashion design
• fashion promotion

This may also include involvement in:

• theatre
• television
• magazines
• publishing houses

Graduates may also pursue opportunities to initiate community based projects or fashion shows.