What will I learn on this module?
Fashion Research Experimentation (DE7059) provides the platform from which you engage directly with your subject specialism framed in the Fashion Research Proposal module (DE7058). It addresses the advancement of fashion concepts/artefacts through intense critical design practice that explores materials, technologies and processes. Through studio and workshop experimentation you will gain an understanding of how to utilise design tools to create meaningful change, identifying project focus theory and practice and building the research case. Your experiments and iterations are documented as drawings, photographs, sampling and other media as a creative process journal of work that express the possible trajectory and development of the final artefact(s).
It is expected that you will produce an investigative, creative and original design project that will push boundaries and current research to sit at the forefront of future thinking within the Fashion discipline. Supported by the Industry and Enterprise Module DE7055 that will contextualize your own work and design practice in relation to its real-time application in industry or academia, the reflective practice employed throughout this module will demonstrate your creative, analytical and intellectual ability that will ultimately enable you to become a professional practitioner within the Fashion Design Arena.
Assessment is through a Creative Process Journal of 2Dimensional and 3Dimensional Design work and accompanying year -long Personal Development Plan (PDP).
How will I learn on this module?
In Fashion Research Experimentation DE7059, you will learn through a process of intense critical design practice and experiential learning related to your subject specialism and Fashion Research Proposal. Through studio and workshop experimentation you will engage directly with your subject specialism gaining an understanding of materials, technologies and processes that will inform how to construct your fashion artefact(s) or provide proof of concept to enable you to advance your ideas and build the research case for your Fashion Project Realisation (DE7060) and Fashion Thesis & Portfolio DE7057.
Through tutorial and studio-based feedback, you will be supported in your research by engaging in discussion with an active research community of peers and academic and technical staff. You will learn to clearly communicate and present concepts, ideas or conclusions to specialist and non-specialist audiences through the documentation of your experimental research within your Creative Process Journal. You will further develop your communication skills and demonstrate your learning through presentations to peers and staff.
You will maintain your PDP (Personal Development Plan) to aid your own creative development and learning in which you will record, reflect and analyse each of your design processes and activities to enable you to advance your design concept.
You will learn from staff and technicians with rich research and commercial experience from the Fashion Design Industries that will help you to explore new ways of thinking and practices in design.
The supportive module Industry and Enterprise DE7055 will aid your continued learning in Research Practice (Research Through Design) and develop your understanding of where your research sits in a social, academic and commercial environment whilst building your professional network.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
You will be supported by academic experts who will facilitate discussion in tutorials and group critiques around your chosen subject of inquiry in scheduled timetabled sessions and directed study. These formal conversations are opportunities to receive immediate feedback on on-going work and to act on that feedback. You will also have technical support appropriate to your subject proposal to advance your design practice and experiment with materials and processes relevant to your concept.
You will be involved in reflective practice, which is inherent to the School and .supported by its extensive, active and well-defined research emphasis, channneling this expertise into the Fashion Masters Programmes.
Where appropriate, you will be supported in developing relationships with material suppliers and potential companies that may support and have input into your developing proposal.
Further formal academic support is provided via information posted on the E-Learning Portal (Blackboard). Where appropriate, students may also be directed to engage with Study Skills +, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services. The University 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.
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. Develop your personal interpretation of theory and develop personal insights relevant to your field of practice.
2. Investigate and articulate creative and experimental approaches to a specific topic of inquiry developing your personal design knowledge and ethos.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Show expertise in the skilled use of applications, tools, methods and production processes to professional standards.
4. Present a portfolio of work that evidences existing materials, processes, trials, products and current innovation that communicates your practice to a wide audience.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Reflect on your own processes and practice to advance your knowledge and understanding of your research.
How will I be assessed?
Summative Assessment 100%
A Creative Practice Journal (CPJ) of work and artefact development that investigates your Fashion Design Proposal. This should evidence experimental use of materials and processes that build the research case and develop an innovative concept for product/garment. Reflective practice should be evident in evaluative written comments in the CPJ about the problem areas encountered which will contribute to your Personal Development Plan (PDP year-long).
Formative assessment will be given throughout the semester through peer and tutor feedback with tutorial support helping to progress your work and enhance your design practice skills and intellectual understanding with experimental materials and processes.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
Fashion Research Experimentation gives you the opportunity develop your project focus and build the case for your research proposal through intense critical fashion-related design-practice that explores materials, technologies and processes relevant to your personal enquiry. Utilising design tools to create meaningful change, you will have opportunity to produce an investigative, creative and original design project that will push boundaries and current research to sit at the forefront of future thinking within the Fashion discipline.
Through practical studio and workshop experimentation you will gain an understanding of how to construct your fashion artefact(s) or provide proof of concept that will enable you to advance your ideas for your subsequent Fashion Project Realisation (DE7060) and Project/Thesis (DE7057) modules. Your experiments and iterations to develop the product/garment, documented as drawings, photographs and other media within a creative process journal, will provide you with opportunity to demonstrate the reflective practice employed throughout this module and will help showcase your creative, analytical and intellectual ability that will ultimately enable you to develop your career path as a professional practitioner within the Fashion Design Arena.
Course info
Credits 20
Level of Study Postgraduate
Mode of Study 1 year Full Time
Department Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
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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www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp
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