FA4008 - Introduction To Fashion Skills

In this module you will learn through engaging in creative practice in response to Fashion Design brief(s), which will encourage enquiry-based learning.

Teaching and learning strategies in Fashion Design encourage you to acquire an imaginative approach to creative problem solving: to think divergently and to develop your ability to articulate concepts and ideas through research rich enquiry-based learning. Students become active participants through project-based coursework, integrating design practice, academic and intellectual skills.

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.

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 our students to learn flexibly, dynamically blending their learning and University experience between physical and digital interactions both in real-time and online at their own pace.

We believe that this extended studio culture not only helps our students to become more confident autonomous learners but also prepares them for a dynamic design industry in which an extended studio philosophy is current practice.

The blended atelier workshop, studio and online environment is integral to this process encouraging individual intellectual freedom, a creative collaborative community, and collegial exchange. This approach emphasises creativity and experiential enquiry, enabling the generation of ideas, through active participation in observation, recording and making through design practice. Project-based learning engenders an enquiring, analytical and creative approach to the progressively interrelated nature of practical and intellectual skills. Analytical and adductive thinking, experimentation, trial and error, are characteristics of the creative process and are embedded and supported throughout programme design and delivery.

Hands on participation enables students to display evidence of creative thinking through the exploration and communication of a design concept/artefact that has a purposeful outcome. This type of experiential activity engages the learner in self-initiated research, encouraging independent judgement and critical self-awareness through practice.

There is focus on the acquisition of technical skills and the use of materials and processes in identifying and solving problems. Traditional, new and emerging methodologies and technologies are used both in the delivery of the learning experience, and in the realisation of outcomes.

• The project is introduced at a briefing session, where it is fully explained and explored by both staff and students.
• The named lead Module Tutor and the academic teaching team direct studio based practice through presentations and tutorials and are available to answer queries in relation to the module during timetabled studio sessions.
• In addition to academic support this module also has specialist fashion technical support including practical demonstrations and exercises.
• Studio tutorials provide feedback on your project work and your progression on the module and offer direction on how to develop your work further, including guidance for student-led independent learning.
• Formal formative feedback stages are included in the module, when you will receive academic feedback on your progress.
• Learning materials for this module are available on the university eLearning Portal, including the module documentation, announcements, presentations, assessment, study skills signposting, reading list and timetable.
• Access to computer facilities, garment archives and library and online resources.
• Online study skills are offered by the library to support learning and development of academic research skills
• Academic Language Skills (ALS) support is available for international students.
• Students requiring additional support are advised to contact their Guidance Tutor for advice, who will be able to refer them to the relevant university services for specialist support regarding their personal circumstances.
• TEL: eLearning Portal, digital reading lists, presentations via Panopto, Prezi. Lectures and seminars via Blackboard Collaborate

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:
6. Evidence your elementary knowledge of fashion design through technical pattern cutting methodologies and garment/sample making skills.

7. Understand appropriate health and safety regulations and procedures through the completion of the Technical Induction Programme

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

4. Evidence your independent judgement in your ability to generate and explore ideas through experimental creative pattern cutting and garment construction skills.

11. Demonstrate competent presentation skills and techniques in the recording of the practical processes and activities.

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

1. Demonstrate engagement and commitment for your studies as evidenced through engagement with your technical staff, academic tutors, your outcomes reflecting your ability to manage your own learning.

Assessment will be conducted through:

Formative feedback received from tutors and peers during studio and workshop engagement and judging panels where appropriate.

Formal formative feedback
Tutorials will be scheduled at key points of the learning programme, to provide feedback and informally record academic progress. This provides you with the opportunity to apply the feedback to your existing work and improve your competencies before your final summative assessment. Module tutors will informally record this academic progress. MLO’s will be cross-referenced during this process.
Student self-assessment
Students are encouraged to be reflective learners through scheduled self-assessment opportunities.

Summative assessment
By collecting a variety of evidence/outputs from the learner via multiple dimensions (coursework, observations, presentations, etc.) tutors will assess the learner’s overall performance holistically with a single grade from 2 components:

Component 1: Fashioning Toolkit – end of semester 1 (20 credits) KU 07; IPSA 04; IPSA 11; PVA 01
Toolkit is assessed via observation and evidenced in a Technical Skills Sketchbook and Creative Process Journal (CPJ)

Component 2: Fashioning Project – end of semester 2 (20 credits) KU 06; IPSA 04; IPSA 11; PVA 01
Project work is assessed via Creative Technical Process Book and portfolio


Verbal feedback will be provided from peers
and academic staff.


Other
Additional forms of assessment practice may take place within projects in the form of peer assessment/self-assessment, which may contribute to the overall module outcome.

N/A

N/A

In this module you will be introduced to the technical skills essential to enable creative garment development and professional manufacture as you progress throughout the course.

You will be introduced to our industrial standard workshops, studios and online learning environment, learn how to operate machinery safely with consideration for others under the supervision of highly trained technicians to develop safe working practices and autonomy. In the fashion atelier you will be introduced to multicultural, responsible, experimental and traditional pattern cutting, fashioning and manufacture techniques, to establish an understanding of a range of skills and how to operate with good working practices. These will be introduced step-by step over a number of weeks to monitor your progress and build your confidence. In Component 1 you will acquire the technical skills toolkit that enable you to engage with the formal elements of silhouette, fabric, texture, pattern, colour, proportion and detail.

As the module progresses, in Component 2 you will translate garment design from your parallel module ‘Introduction to Fashion Design’, from flat work to an exciting, creative form by producing your own experimental garment/samples utilising your new skills. You will record your progress and process from start to finish, in response to feedback from academic tutors and critique from your peers, in a visual creative process journal.

Your creative fashion garments/samples will be shared in physical and virtual platforms by negotiation, to convey your work to your audience(s).