COURSE CURRICULUM

The Fashion Textile Design course provides a comprehensive and immersive pathway for aspiring designers, guiding them through the development of core research, technical, and creative skills essential in the fashion industry. In the first year, students are encouraged to ‘investigate’ through foundational modules that emphasize visual research, concept development, and technical exploration. Beginning with Inquire, students are introduced to methodologies in visualisation and documentation alongside garment construction and pattern cutting, setting the groundwork for creative thinking and technical execution. The Explore and Connect modules allow further experimentation in knit and print techniques, exploring how 2D ideas translate into 3D fashion outcomes. These blocks help students understand the contemporary context of fashion design through problem-solving briefs. The year ends with Futures, which consolidates design research and digital technology into a final design package, supported by theoretical studies from the Design Cultures department to give context to historical and social influences on fashion. The second year focuses on deepening skills in visual communication and design for specific markets, with projects encouraging individuality and technical confidence. In Develop and Contextualise, students work on creating textiles that are both innovative and commercially viable, using global fashion as a framework. Communication sharpens industry-focused presentation skills through CAD, portfolio development, and personal promotion. Students also explore career planning and professional practice while engaging in critical issues like sustainability and cultural awareness. The year concludes with Advance, a module tailored to help students begin identifying their own specialisms through a co-created brief. In the final year, the emphasis shifts toward independent practice and professional readiness. Consolidate and Refine focus on building a personal design identity, translating in-depth research into a refined capsule collection. The year culminates with Resolve, a major body of work where students merge their creative, technical, and research abilities into a final, market-ready portfolio, supported by advanced workshop access and guided mentorship.