FA4026 - Fashion Practice

What will I learn on this module?

This practical, thinking-through-making module challenges you to create 3D fashion outcomes based on real-world issues that are shaping the future of fashion, e.g. climate change, social inclusion, responsible practice, etc.

Throughout this module you will be expected to apply your previous learning in fashion cultural research, ideation of fashion design concepts and formal elements through pattern cutting, print, knit and industrial garment manufacturing techniques. You will take a creative risk-taking approach to the design process to reimagine and realise an iconic garment in your first design and make project.

To contextualise your practice, you will be introduced to new fashion research methods such as drawing as a creative thinking tool, creative sampling, and garment analysis to learn about the design process from technical, socio-cultural, industrial, design and functional perspectives. You will learn from the teaching team’s specialist expertise to position your work in cultural and industrial environments. Your creative practice will be underpinned by theoretical content including responsible practice and circular fashion principles to enable a deep understanding of cultural value, form and function, and how it relates to your values and interests.

You will book access to technical workshops to explore, sample, toile, and realise your fashion ideas in collaboration with your tutors. You will present your resolved fashion prototypes on the moving body.

How will I learn on this module?

This is a practical module that is rooted in experiential learning, delivered between the academic tutors and technical team. Students will access to the pattern cutting, sewing, print and knit workshops, to realise their negotiated fashion outcomes, and will book access for Directed Study.

You will engage with disruptive design and ideation techniques to resolve a design problem (thinking-throughmaking) underpinned by responsible design practice. Throughout the module, you will document and reflect on your experimental processes in your Creative and Technical Process Journals.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

• At the start of the module, the creative brief, learning plan, learning outcomes, work requirements and assessment process will be presented verbally and visually by the module tutor.

• Delivery of this module will be a mix of practical studio sessions, workshops, lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials. Blended studio-based work will facilitate the development of fashion thinking and practice. Directed Study will be set regularly with specific set tasks to underpin your learning and inspire independent enquiry or study.

• Throughout the module, you will receive ongoing formative feedback in formal and informal tutorials. Feedback may be verbal or written.

• To be successful in this module it is important to engage with all sessions and all forms of delivery.

• After summative assessment, you will receive formal constructive written feedback and a grade indicating your achievement in relation to the learning outcomes. Additionally, you will be offered a tutorial with members of the academic team.

• In addition to your module tutors, you will be supported by various other members of staff and university services including:

o Technicians aligned with your modules to provide technical instruction and demonstration of equipment and software required to complete you project work;
o Library staff to guide you in the ongoing development of essential study: IT skills, information retrieval skills and academic writing via Skills Plus;
o Academic Language Skills modules 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:

5. Demonstrate knowledge of responsible practice through the development and execution of fashion outcomes.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

2. Record and annotate fashion design research and development through sketchbooks, technical process journals (TPJs), creative process journals (CPJs), or other formats.

5. Independently generate fashion concepts, proposals, solutions or arguments.

6. Apply convergent and divergent thinking techniques to solve fashion design challenges.

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

1. Demonstrate fashion making skills through the appropriate use of fashion materials, processes and technologies.

2. Demonstrate creative risk-taking when generating fashion ideas.

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment process:
You will receive ongoing feedback in studio and workshops to ensure creative and technical competencies are met before progressing through the design process into the garment production.

Summative Assessment process: (Week 10). You will submit for summative assessment:

1. Annotated Technical Process Journal (TPJ including final garment and working drawing) (50%)
2. Annotated Creative Process Journal (CPJ) (50%)

You will be assessed against the following Module Learning Outcomes:

Component 1: KU 5, IPSA 2, 6, PVA 1

Component 2: KU 5, IPSA 2, 5, 6, PVA 2

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

This module offers you the opportunity to apply your new knowledge and skills in the creation of a design and make project.
You will take a disruptive approach to your learning in response to global design challenges, from concept to final outcome. You will be introduced to new fashion research methods that encourage deep understanding of the fashion design process e.g. garment analysis, moulage and creative sampling. You will present your final design on the moving human body or by another appropriate presentation method.

In working with the technicians and tutors, you will take a ‘thinking-through-making’, experiential learning approach, merging industrial and experimental processes and techniques.

Your design outcomes will provide the content for your Fashion Image module in your third delivery block.

Course info

UCAS Code W233

Credits 40

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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