What will I learn on this module?
In this module you will continue to build a diverse portfolio of contemporary work that demonstrates your capabilities as a professional fashion communicator. You will be encouraged and supported to further develop your own individual style in order to support your professional and creative practice by incorporating elements of digital media, graphics, photographic, written, social and film media.
You are required to show evidence of critical thinking in the development of your own specialist practice, making use of the visual and written skills accumulated throughout the programme in a series of creative self-directed projects.
You will continue to develop content for a comprehensive, relevant and dynamic exit portfolio of work that presents your skills and abilities to a potential employer, highlighting employability and flexibility through your individual project outcomes. Your in-depth research skills will translate into polished final outputs, equipping you with industry-standard knowledge of contemporary practice, technological insight and a professional and employable skill set.
Research and investigation of current practice is at the core of the module. Your work will reflect current contemporary practice in Fashion Communication while taking an approach of curiosity, creativity and experimentation, showing understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the fashion communicator through the use of still and moving image, styling and creative writing.
Engagement with live projects set by industry and competitions such as D&AD Arts Thread and Creative Conscience will be undertaken in order to further develop your professional portfolio and enhance employability. These additions to your portfolio will show your work to be relevant to the needs of industry and your context as an emerging design and communications practitioner.
How will I learn on this module?
Learning and teaching strategies on Fashion Communication encourage you to acquire a flexible and imaginative approach to problem solving through enquiry-based learning. You will become an active participant in your learning, integrating creative practice with academic and intellectual skills.
The extended studio (X-Studio) environment is integral to this process, encouraging individual intellectual freedom and a creative collaborative community. The X-Studio embraces our physical studios and making workshops as well as our virtual spaces to create a flexible and rich environment that is responsive to your learning needs.
This dedicated approach has been developed over many years of continuous teaching innovation, research and industry collaboration. It has created a supportive extended studio culture that encourages you to learn flexibly, dynamically blending your learning and University experience between physical and digital interactions both in real-time and online at your own pace.
This extended studio culture not only helps you to become a more confident autonomous learner but also prepares you for a dynamic design industry in which an extended studio philosophy is current practice.
Lecturers with industry experience and supporting research will guide you through the module, developing your understanding of professional standards and practice. Guest speakers from the fashion and creative industries will help you situate your own work in a professional context.
You are encouraged to advance your visual literacy and to be aware of current issues and debates. Working in groups, you learn to be flexible and collaborative, to identify and redefine problems in a creative way and focus on solutions that are both relevant and empathetic.
Traditional, new and emerging technologies are used both in the delivery and realisation of outcomes, and you will learn to present your work and ideas using a range of media and communication tools to a variety of audiences in different situations. You will create digital portfolios and presentations, as well as image-based/multimedia submissions.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
• At the beginning of your programme you will be allocated a Guidance Tutor who will be able to provide advice and support in relation to your academic, personal and professional development. Formal guidance tutorials will allow you to reflect on what you have achieved and identify your strengths and weaknesses
• Tutorials with lecturers provide advice on the direction of your work and whether you are meeting Module Learning Outcomes. These will be timetabled, and will help you to progress your ideas.
• Project briefs are introduced via briefing sessions, where the task is fully explored by both staff and students
• Live projects with industry and regional, national and international external partners extend the practical study of the subject area within an industrial context, where possible. They are also designed to support student confidence in their ability to handle professional practice within the creative industries
• Students experience a range of teaching, learning and assessment methods and course work is largely project based
• Modules are delivered through a combination of delivery modes, with guided and independent learning
• Additional study skills materials and workshops are available through Skills Plus at https://library.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus/ and Linkedin Learning
• Students are expected to maintain a project plan and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning
• English language support is provided for international students
• Student Central provide specialist support with personal issues including; DSSR (Disabled Student Support Recommendations) statements; PECs (Personal Extenuating Circumstances) and LAs (Late Approved submission) processes.
• University student services offer specialist support e.g. financial, disability, mental health, international student support etc.
• eLP includes all relevant documentation and learning material, e.g. module briefs, lecture content, video demonstrations, reading lists and weekly tasks, together with meeting spaces, discussion boards and notices
• Visiting professionals support relevant and current practice where possible
What will I be expected to read on this module?
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)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Display evidence of your critical, experimental and/or innovative thinking by conceiving solutions which have relevance in cultural, aesthetic, technical and commercial contexts.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Effectively present creative and complex solutions to professional standards as evidenced through undertaking live briefs and competitions
3. Select appropriate methods of research to enable you to undertake/realise a body of research.
Personal Values Attributes:
4. Engage autonomously in your studies, requiring minimal supervision to achieve outcomes.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment will take the form of:-
Summative Assessment
Live Projects & Competition Brief including research folder (1, 2, 3, 4) 100%
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
The module will enable you to create conceptual portfolio projects contextualised by live Industry briefs and internationally recognised competitions. You will be encouraged to develop your own individual professional and creative practice by incorporating elements of digital media, graphics, photographic, written, social and film media.
These projects will contribute to a dynamic portfolio of work, presenting your skills and abilities to a potential employer, highlighting employability and flexibility through your individual project outcomes. Your in-depth research skills will translate into polished final outputs, equipping you with industry-standard knowledge of contemporary practice, technological insight and a professional and employable skill set. Engagement with live projects and competitions such as D&AD, Arts Thread and Creative Conscience will be encouraged in order to further develop your professional portfolio and enhance employability.
Course info
UCAS Code WP29
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years full-time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Northumbria School of Design
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2024 or September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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