Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fashion *

BA (Hons) Fashion at Ravensbourne nurtures creatively brave forward thinking designers-practitioners with a strong fashion design philosophy and a critical awareness of current areas of debates such as ethics, sustainability, and slow and fast fashion. The development of a student’s creative individuality is underpinned by a rigorous foundation encapsulating practical/technical and digital skills. These foundations are innovatively interrogated through a spectrum of briefs including live briefs and competitions.

The course is concerned with the development of the creative professional practice, technological knowledge and theoretical understanding necessary to enter a variety of careers in the area of fashion. The broad aims of the course are to provide a creative and practical education in fashion, which fits with the vocational needs of industry. The course provides a rigorous intellectual examination of the key issues surrounding the industry and develops the specialist skills to allow students to enter one of industry’s main specialisms namely womenswear, menswear or fashion textiles.

The emphasis of this course is on conceptual design skills balanced with strong product awareness and an understanding of the application of the product development cycle from concept through to production. Students will learn how to analyse trends looking at the role of prediction, the fabric calendar, the relationship of silhouettes, slow and fast fashion, innovation, cultural contexts and the impact of new design. The course aims to produce students who can create challenging high-end design solutions but also have a strong understanding of the High Street.

Industry links

BA (Hons) Fashion at Ravensbourne is an internationally renowned, successful, dynamic programme with a well-established reputation in the fashion industry; we have a strong record of student placements which have recently included: Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan, Future Classics, Todd Lynn, TopMan, Jonathan Saunders, Eley Kishimoto, Louise Gray, Reiss, to name a few.

Course aims

You will be encouraged to develop your individual creative ability and support this with the development of a high level of technical skills. In particular, this course aims to enable you to develop:

• a range of creative, technical and professional skills relevant to employment in the fashion industry and related areas; which include skills in research, analysis, problem-solving and critical reflection and the visual, written and verbal communication skills required of a graduate entrant to the fashion industry;
• an understanding of the key critical, social, cultural, historical and business concepts, issues and debates relevant to contemporary fashion;
• a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary professional practice and the creative process in your chosen pathway specialism and an awareness of current areas of development and innovation;
• a clear vision of where your creative strengths lie and how this can be utilised in product development and potential career opportunities; and
• initiative and personal responsibility, experience of collaborative working methods and the ability to be responsive and adaptable to changing needs, and the transferable skills and competencies, which enable life-long learning.

Level 1

At level 1 you will be introduced to basics skills/principles for womenswear / menswear / digital print and knit. These introductions will be seamless allowing you to explore and identify new creative synergies within the introductions.

In the summer term, you will have the opportunity to be involved with the exit graduate showcase, working directly with other design students and/or in the operational aspects of the show; this being a combination of Graduate Fashion Week and The Big Show.

At level 1 you will study the following subject areas:
contextual studies: theory and context; opportunities, trends and ideas; professional context; communication and visualization; 
basics introduction pattern cutting;
 introduction digital print; introduction to knit;
 and digital portfolio.

Level 2

At level 2, the course has a strong industrial focus and is outward-facing. The level includes the opportunity for an extended period of work experience for one term, which has academic credit attached to it, during which you will undertake one extended work experience or two shorter periods. This unit includes both formative and summative critiques as well as academic monitoring.

Your industrial understanding is further enhanced by live external projects set and monitored by the industry that simulate a realistic professional situation and through vocational case studies. As well as engaging in a variety of external briefs, you will participate in external competitions, which may include Hand and Lock and the RSA brief.

Previously students have collaborated with Nanoforce from Queen Mary University of London, investigating creative solutions for their engineering department; and other levels have been involved in a live BBC project with Mary Portas.

At level 2 you will study the following subject areas:
contextual studies: debate and polemic; contextual studies: dissertation preparation; 
marketing strategy;
 advertising and promotions; 
external 1: brief; 
external 2: brief; and an 
industrial placement.

Level 3

In Level 3, you will develop individual, independent lines of enquiry related to your chosen pathway, and build on the practical and theoretical elements in previous levels. You will also complete a major independent study leading to a dissertation on a topic related to fashion; this develops and strengthens core cognitive skills and encourages you to make links and connections across different contexts and apply them in fashion.

At level 3 you will study the following subject areas:
contextual studies: dissertation;
 enterprise and entrepreneurship – making it happen;
 major project report; 
final major project formulation;
 external 3: brief;
 and final major project realisation
 portfolio.

Contextual studies, and enterprise and entrepreneurship

All undergraduate programmes at Ravensbourne are enhanced by the integration at all levels of common subject areas: contextual studies, and enterprise and entrepreneurship. These subject areas will enable you to contextualise and critically interrogate your main area of study; and equip you with an understanding of contemporary business contexts and promote commercial awareness and to support and encourage you in taking greater responsibility for your learning so that you will be able to relate this to your long-term professional development and career planning. Studying these subject areas will enhance your future adaptability and prepare you to seize opportunities and cope with change in your career.

Two-years fast track, three years full-time or four to six years part-time

Ravensbourne’s BA (Hons) Fashion course is available as a full-time three-year course, or a fast track two-year course, or over four to six years part-time. The full-time course is also available in a four-year extended mode incorporating a Level 0 foundation year which enables students who need a longer period of time in which to develop their creative or academic skills in order to engage with study in all three levels of the course.

Assessment

You will be continually assessed through preparation of written and project work. Assessment in the final year is through dissertation and portfolio.

Learning and support

You will study through a mix of practice and theory-based learning. This will include lectures, seminars, workshops, individual tutorials, self-directed study and projects. You will be supported by well-qualified teaching staff, sessional staff and visiting professionals who will bring an industry perspective to the course.

Career prospects

Upon graduation, you will be well prepared to pursue a wide range of careers within your chosen pathways and related areas such as womenswear, menswear or textile design, creative cutting or design management roles. You will also be prepared for a range of career opportunities in the national or international fashion industry (including self-employment) or postgraduate study.

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