FA4016 - Fashion Photography & Illustration

What will I learn on this module?

In this Fashion Photography & Illustration module, you will learn essential intellectual, creative, and technical skills to prepare you for working in the fashion industry. As a Fashion Design and Marketing student, you will be required to creatively communicate via illustration and visualise brand and product promotion through photography and film; this module will underpin the creative marketing outcomes of all future modules, helping you to develop your portfolio skills year on year. The module will introduce the importance of being aware of intellectual property when creating fashion imagery and explore using AI as a creative tool, engaging in design discourse around the use of technology in fashion illustration and photography. You will learn how brands use imagery, typography, and photography to convey their company brand values and products, and you will be able to apply this knowledge to develop your aesthetics and design awareness in your promotional work.

Fashion Illustration workshops will introduce you to fashion-related visual communication skills by exploring different types of hand-rendered and digital drawings for various purposes using a range of media techniques and experimentation.

You will learn to use Digital SLR cameras and photography equipment and how to set up our Fashion Photography Studio or a location shoot to produce contemporary fashion photography and film, considering light and composition. You will also learn the importance of creating a personal visual narrative as well as digital image editing and creative publishing techniques to underpin your knowledge and understanding of visual literacy skills.

How will I learn on this module?

This module asks you to learn through active engagement in practical workshops to explore and collaborate to develop new skills. Each week, academic staff will introduce the theme or techniques to be explored, linking them to their own practice and providing examples of inspirational historical and contemporary illustrators and photographers to contextualise practical workshops. To spark curiosity and innovation, you will be set weekly individual or collaborative creative challenges around a theme to present to peers in the following session. Group discussions will be facilitated in studio to help you develop your knowledge of understanding around key design discourse and the importance of being aware of intellectual property when creating fashion imagery.



Supported by our technical team, you will be inducted into our fashion photography studio and learn how to use the equipment safely. Once inducted, you can use our booking system to use these spaces and equipment to experiment through self-directed study. Drawing and digital workshops will be in our fashion studios and digital labs. Immersive and inclusive workshops will explore a range of approaches and media to help you build your confidence and start the journey to develop your signature style of visual communication. The module may also include trips to practice observational drawing skills and photography on location.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Your module tutors will be your main source of support for your academic development. Through a mix of lectures, seminar discussions, practical workshops, and tutorials, they will provide you with the support you need to pass and succeed in each module.



At the outset of your module, you will receive a module briefing that will explain all learning outcomes and requirements. Crucially, it will also include a detailed timetable explaining the planned delivery of the module, workshops, and opportunities for support, including tutorials. You will meet your module tutors on a weekly basis.



During your modules, you will be expected to present work for feedback through group discussion with your peers, tutors, external collaborators, or stakeholders. You will also receive more individualised tutorial feedback prior to your submission to help improve your work.

In addition to your module tutors, you will be supported by various others and university services:



The Faculty provides a wide range of technical expertise to support your study. Technicians aligned with your modules will be able to provide technical instruction and demonstration of equipment and software required to complete your project work.

Library staff will provide induction sessions to introduce you to essential study skills, IT skills and information retrieval skills.

On live projects with external collaborators (or stakeholders), you may receive specific project feedback and professional career advice.

Visiting lecturers and professionals will give you greater contextual awareness and inspire you.

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

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. Recall knowledge and understanding of design ethics and the role of intellectual property in design and enterprise.



Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:



2. Apply convergent and divergent thinking techniques to develop explorative and exciting illustration and photography outcomes.



3. Independently generate and communicate creative Fashion Photography and Illustration concepts effectively using a range of media.



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



4. Demonstrate professional qualities through planning and organisational skills, problem solving and engagement in all project activities.

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment

You will have the opportunity of continuous formative assessment through verbal feedback in studio sessions, self-assessment, and peer reviews.

Formative assessment will indicate the level at which you are currently achieving the relevant MLOs and offer an opportunity to discuss progress and ensure the right support is in place to achieve your goals. Formative assessment allows you to apply the feedback to your existing work and improve your competencies before your final summative assessment.

Summative Assessment

During the assessment period in weeks 9 and 10 of this module, you will prepare, present and submit work for summative assessment. This module has one component. 

100% Portfolio

MLOs 1, 2, 3, 4

A process journal will evidence active participation in module activities and creative skills development, leading to a range of final photography and illustration outcomes. Assessment of this component will be via a portfolio or work, presentation may be physical, digital, via exhibition or publication.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

This exciting practical module requires you to engage in exploration and collaboration to develop new skills. Academic staff will introduce the theme or techniques to be explored, linking them to your own practice and providing examples to contextualise creative photography and illustration workshops. You will work in our fashion photography studio, drawing and digital workshops. The module may also include trips for inspiration, observational drawing, and location shoots. The module will introduce the importance of being aware of intellectual property when creating fashion imagery and explore using AI as a creative tool, engaging in design discourse around the use of technology in fashion illustration and photography. As an FDM student, we will ask you to creatively communicate via illustration and visualise brand and product promotion through photography and film; this module will underpin the creative marketing outcomes of all future modules, helping you to develop these skills year after year.

Course info

UCAS Code W232

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, Arts and Creative Industries, Northumbria School of Design

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

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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