AD3026 - Fashion Design - Foundation

The School of Design operates an extended studio approach (X-Studio) that embraces our physical studios and making workshops as well as our virtual spaces to create a flexible and rich environment that is responsive to our learners’ needs. You will learn through a blend of directed and self-directed studies around a range of practice-based challenges and briefs. You will learn about key aspects of the design discipline by responding reflexively and creatively to these challenges and briefs and presenting both developmental and summative work to graduate standards. Exposure to the work and experiences of academic staff from across the department will contribute to your understanding of design practices and relevant research activities, where the range and reach of these creative design disciplines will be introduced through a number of diverse design case studies. This research-rich and research-informed environment for learning will enable you to gain an appreciation for the wider contexts within which Fashion design is practiced, furthering your knowledge and development in this dynamic field of study. Your learning will be enhanced through either onsite visits or virtual tours that will enable you to experience key Fashion design topics. This module is the entry to the programme and introduces you to a 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional aspect of design activity, but encourages you to consider the way that fashion influences the wider trend environment. You will be given frequent formative feedback on the progress of your work to support your development towards final outputs. This module consists of two, semester-long, components. Each component of the module will be assessed upon submission, giving you the opportunity to rapidly build upon prior learning and accelerate skills and knowledge development.

You will be supported through a blend of remote and onsite teaching practices.
The module handbook provides details of sessions, reading lists and assessment criteria. Similar information, as well as teaching and learning materials are made available on the e-learning portal. Whether onsite or online, module tutors will be available to guide taught sessions, as well as for feedback during consultation hours and on email, to discuss any queries or concerns you may have about how to succeed on the module. Moreover, feedback on formative work and the first summative assessments you receive will also serve as ‘feed forward’, giving guidance on how to improve during the module.
In addition, you have a designated Personal Guidance Tutor throughout the entire duration of your programme. The academic side of the Personal Guidance Tutor’s role includes:

• monitoring your ongoing academic progress
• helping you to develop self-reflection skills necessary for continuous academic development
• directing you to further available services which can help them with their academic skills (e.g. Library’s Skills Plus)

You are advised to meet with your Personal Guidance Tutor at least three times each semester to review your academic progress.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding
1. Demonstrate your awareness of widely recognised theoretical, technical and professional practices in Fashion Design and an understanding of how they both inform and give context to your work.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities
2. Demonstrate appropriate use of fundamental principles of design in your conceptualisation of garments and textiles.
3. Demonstrate your skills and abilities in garment making and textile construction.

Personal Values Attributes
4. Show your awareness of the changing roles and responsibilities of fashion in contemporary society.

Formative Assessment
Formative feedback is provided as an integral part of teaching and learning sessions, which may take the form of individual or small group critiques that include tutor and peer review.

Summative Assessment
Portfolio submission of research, design development and a final presentation of design work (MLO1, 2, 3).

Demonstrate that this is based on the processes of design and is enquiry led (MLO1, 2, 3 and 4).

Portfolio submission and evidence/documentation of studio/ workshop-based activities that are linked to the development of creative and technical skills (MLO 2 and 3, 4).

N/A

AD3023 40 YL Design Portfolio Skills
AD3024 20 Credits - Communication YL
AD3025 20 Credits – Product YL
AD3027 20 Credits – Interiors YL

The Fashion discipline is defined by its relationship to contemporary culture and is revealed through projects that culminate in a portfolio of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3 dimensional (3D) design work. The range of the discipline is explored through practical projects that highlight the importance of observing and decoding both contemporary culture and historical fashion to dress the human form. Drawing on research-rich learning and Technology Enhanced Learning techniques, specialist design staff will guide your knowledge and understanding in exploring creative design methodologies that build upon key fashion design processes such as research, drawing, 2D and 3D ideas generation and development, and presentation of design solutions appropriate to entry level fashion design portfolio. It will foster an experimental approach to 2D and 3D elements of fashion drawing and sculpting around the body, respectively, to develop formal elements of colour, shape, texture, pattern, detail, proportion, etc. It will help you develop an understanding of the discipline and establish a strong basis for the contemporary representation of your work. The module consists of two, semester-long, components. Summative work will be submitted at the end of each semester. Critically, the best of this work will be showcased in a portfolio that will evolve throughout the year. Completion of this module will help you gain entry into subject-related undergraduate programmes which represent pathways to employment and a career in design.