DE7053 - Fashion Context and Relevance

In Fashion Context and Relevance (DE7053) you will learn through a bricolage of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials and tutor guided independent learning. Acting as design researchers, you will work closely with academics and peers in their subject area to build a co-operative partnership in driving forward knowledge innovation and questioning the existing design structures. Situated within a postgraduate design research community, you will push boundaries in approach, process and execution to make a difference to both people and the environment.

Conducting independent study forms an important element of the module. Independent learning will centre upon the your identifying and pursuing areas of interest, by providing deeper/broader knowledge and understanding of the subject through a range of learning activities that might include extended reading, reflection, and research.

Fashion Context and Relevance (DE7053) will create a foundational understanding of research and relevance that can be applied directly into your specialist modules Fashion Research Proposal (DE7058) and Proposal for Sustainable Innovation (DE7052).

Working within a design community, research excellence is positioned at the forefront of the support available, enabling you to work alongside academic leaders within your field who will disrupt thinking and facilitate debate amongst the postgraduate community. You will be encouraged to pose questions and challenge norms to drive forward academic quality and aid in the development of innovative propositions.

During discussions in both one to one tutorials and group critiques, you will be provided with verbal formative feedback providing the opportunity for improvement and revision prior to submission. Written summative feedback will be provided along with the opportunity for further verbal discussion to facilitate reflection and evaluation.

Where appropriate, you will be supported in developing relationships with external communities, which may include fashion brands, consumer groups, non-governmental organisations and charities.

Further formal academic support is provided via information posted on E-Learning Portal. Where appropriate, you may also be directed to engage with Study Skills +, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support. The Library is open 24 hours a day and E-Learning Portal houses all your module documents including your timetable. These services can be accessed on a range of devices.

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 (KU):

• Critically evaluate, explore and reflect on the current fashion climate and practice.

• Engage in critical discourse to assess and discuss ideas and issues shaping present and future design methodologies and practices.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):

• Exhibit judgment and strategy in the selection and application of design approaches, research and development methods.

Personal Values Attributes (PVA):

• Critically review and reflect on the application, utility and limitations of fashion context, and research principles and the impact of this knowledge on your practice.

Summative Assessment

You will prepare a single illustrated portfolio or presentation of the two topics in this module Fashion Research Principles and Fashion Context, evidencing your interpretation of existing theories and methods in the field, application and implementation of this knowledge in your practice and a summarising the adoption and utility of this knowledge including evaluation and possible recommendations.


The module will be marked as Pass/Fail.

Summative feedback will be provided to students on a module assessment sheet against the module learning outcomes.

Verbal formative assessment will be given throughout the semester through peer and tutor feedback in seminars and tutorial support

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Fashion Context and Relevance (DE7053) explores the past, present and future of fashion. You will be guided by specialists to unpick the fundamentals of garment design and begin to challenge fashion norms. This module brings together the MA fashion programmes, working as a collective to share ideas, knowledge and experience.

To enable you to become an effective academic researcher, a research-rich learning community will introduce you to a range of design-led research methods that enable you to engage, enhance, and ground your design practice within the context of your chosen personal project.

These skills will be the foundation of mastering and challenging fashion.