The BA (Hons) Fashion (Top-Up) programme positively encourages and endorses creativity and individuality. The joy of articulating our individual uniqueness and independence through fashion is paramount, together with the thrill of questioning and changing social and political attitudes.
It has been developed to enable you to explore and experiment with personal design concepts whilst delivering a robust programme of supporting skills and techniques. Areas of focus include design skills, pattern cutting, garment production, CAD/CAM (computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing), marketing and business and relevant supporting IT skills. Students on the BA Fashion degree will also have the opportunity to investigate appropriate vocational and professional areas for future progression and develop the ability to plan and pursue their own career pathway.
Of prime importance is the development of an individual and independent creative identity, vital to a successful career in this challenging and diverse industry. There will be a direct correlation between your contextual theory and your designs which will be developed through a series of lectures and tutorials. This programme of study fosters and encourages the translation of your own research both conceptual and technological and is seen as a vital element within the creative process.
During the BA (Hons) top-up year you will be able to develop your specialist practice while taking advantage of opportunities for dialogue across multi -disciplinary boundaries. You will be able to participate in an environment where you are encouraged to utilise the skills you have previously learned, develop them further and to individually position your creative practice. Many students have found this an ideal course to update their skills in preparation to re-enter employment or as a method to consolidate their skills and obtain a professional qualification.
The course aims to keep abreast of the ever changing fast moving fashion industry and produce graduates who are independent and equipped with a range of intellectual, imaginative and enquiring skills that are appropriate to ever increasing demands by the industry, for the need to turn fashion design into reality and celebrate all skills related to the industry as important.
Recent graduates have gone on to work as designers, garment technologists, stylists, pattern cutters, fashion retail managers, illustrators, fashion magazine editors and self-employed designers makers.
Validated by the Open University
