Entry requirements
Individuals who can respond to challenge, are articulate and can contribute original ideas and a keen awareness of current issues in many aspects of fashion. For MA Fashion Design Technology, you must have a first degree in fashion design or textiles, or equivalent experience, and demonstrate your knowledge, skills and understanding of pattern cutting and clothes manufacture. MA Fashion Accessories applicants must have a first degree in fashion, textiles or product design. For MA Fashion Footwear, you must have a first degree in a fashion related area including footwear, or equivalent industrial experience. We aim to recruit students who demonstrate creativity, a high level of commitment and energy, and who will strive for success within the highly competitive fashion industry. Prospective students should: -Have a good Honours degree in a related discipline (2:1 or above) -or equivalent qualification or a minimum of 3 years industrial experience at an appropriate level -have IELTS level 6.5 or equivalent if English is not the first language
Course description
Craftsmanship is at the core of this programme therefore we are seeking individuals who wish to develop existing skills, and demonstrate expertise in researching your chosen practice. If your need as a practitioner is to be both proactive and challenging, then you are the right candidate for this exciting MA course. The MA encourages creativity both conceptually and technically. The intensive programme is split into three distinct course units.
The first unit, Creative and Technical Development, is designed to evaluate and improve technical and practical skills. You work individually and develop creative work through a personal project. Technical and workshop inductions in CAD, laser, print, embroidery and leather introduce you to the extensive technical facilities and specialist staff of the College.
The second unit, Research, Development and Professional Links, encourages you to consolidate an area of specialism and to research into your proposed MA project. There is an opportunity to build contacts with high profile national and international companies forging potential collaborative links. Alongside this personal development, the Contextual Studies unit provides breadth to your studies with themes including historical, cultural, design and global business perspectives on fashion.
The final unit comprises the negotiated major project: Development of Specialism and Project Realisation. This MA project is the culmination of the your personal ideas and investigations towards the realisation of an original body of work and is showcased in a final exhibition.
Graduates from MA Fashion Artefact will be in a position to gain employment as innovators within the niche field of fashion design or object based fashion artefacts and may identify a fashion house, large corporate company or alternatively choose to build their own identity through the launch of their own product/design label. Further employment opportunities include trend prediction, stylist, illustrator and freelance designer.
Master's graduates have an acknowledged advantage in the employment market, obtaining work in a wide range of vocational and academic fields related to fashion. Graduates from the MA Fashion framework will be in a position to gain employment as innovators within the fields of fashion design and technology, fashion communications, or management and marketing for the fashion industries. The MA also provides an excellent preparation for higher level research degrees (MPhil or PhD), with an increasing number of graduates undertaking research in fashionrelated subjects, in practice or theory.
