FA4024 - Introduction to Fashion Practice

This is a practical module that is rooted in experiential learning, delivered by the technical team.

Before learning activities begin, you are required to take part in Health & Safety inductions in sewing, pattern cutting, knit and print workshops delivered by senior technicians. You will learn safe working practice and must pass the Health & Safety training to be able to work independently and book space in the technical workshops.

Following technical presentations and demonstrations, you will learn through making garment and textile outcomes in appropriate materials, and hand-rendered working drawings of garments.

Change and design requires a confident, curious, and risk-taking mindset and you will document and reflect on your experimental processes, including all successes and failures throughout the module.

At the start of the module, the creative brief, learning plan, learning outcomes, work requirements and assessment process will be presented verbally and visually by the module tutor.



Delivery of this module will be a mix of practical studio sessions, workshops and tutorials. Directed Study will be set regularly with specific set tasks to underpin your learning and inspire independent enquiry or study.



Throughout the module, you will receive ongoing formative feedback in formal and informal tutorials. Feedback may be verbal or written.



To be successful in this module it is important to engage with all sessions and all forms of delivery.



After summative assessment, you will receive formal constructive written feedback and a grade indicating your achievement in relation to the learning outcomes. Additionally, you will be offered a tutorial with members of the academic team.



In addition to your module tutors, you will be supported by various other members of staff and university services including:

Technicians aligned with your modules to provide technical instruction and demonstration of equipment and software required to complete you project work;

Library staff to guide you in the ongoing development of essential study: IT skills, information retrieval skills and academic writing via Skills Plus;

Academic Language Skills modules to help students at the Northumbria Campuses whose first language is not English or who have no experience studying in English in the UK.

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 fashion knowledge through the safe operation of machinery, tools & equipment, production processes, or software applications.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

1. Record technical processes and annotate development through technical process journals (TPJs) or other formats.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

1. Demonstrate fashion making skills through the appropriate use of materials, processes and technologies.

3. Actively engage in professional practice lectures, workshops, trips or fieldwork.

Formative Assessment process: (Week 1). You will need to pass your Health & Safety inductions to use the specialist workshops and equipment, and book space in the workshops (Pass/Fail).

You will receive ongoing feedback in workshops to ensure technical competencies are met before starting to make the classic garment.

Summative Assessment process: (Week 10). You will submit for summative assessment:


1. Annotated Technical Process Journal (TPJ)

(inc. H & S sign off and working drawing of your garment)

2. Manufactured garment.

You will be assessed against the following Module Learning Outcomes:

Component 1: KU 1, IPSA 1, PVA 1, 3

Component 2: KU 1, PVA 1, 3

N/A

N/A

This module introduces you to the technical knowledge, skills and processes you will need to support the development of your creative practice and underpins your future fashion design career.



Working with our team of technical experts and tutors, you will take a hands-on experiential learning approach to making in pattern cutting, constructed knitwear and printed surface textiles using industrial processes and techniques. You will also learn about safe working practices.



During the module you will reflect upon and record your learning in an annotated Technical Process Journal (TPJ) that will become a personal technical ‘manual’ that you will use throughout your studies, and beyond. Your learning from this module will inform your creative design and make in the modules Introduction to Fashion Cultures and Fashion Practice.