Ravensbourne
Innovation in digital media and design
What next for you? > BA (Hons) Fashion > BA (Hons) Fashion
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.
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.
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.
Programme Specification
Click here for the full programme specification.
Contextual studies, and enterprise and entrepreneurship
The adaptability necessary to succeed as a design or media specialist comes not only from deep disciplinary knowledge. Graduates also need a breadth of knowledge and skills which some commentators have referred to as being ‘T-Shaped’. These additional skills include the ability to work with and increasingly work across disciplines, entrepreneurial attitudes and a knowledge of the business contexts in which they will operate. All undergraduate Ravensbourne programmes incorporate curriculum and learning activities designed to develop these skills in our students. Cross-disciplinary collaborative projects offer students the opportunity to work in teams with other disciplines.
The course structure draws on the creative synergies and frictions of the different disciplines at Ravensbourne and provides physical and intellectual opportunities for students to meet, learn and work together with students from different disciplines.
Students study subject specialist units, shared units and core units. Subject specialist units focus on subject specialist methodologies, technologies and processes and offer project-based learning that simulates contemporary professional practice.
Shared units are units which bring together courses in analogous specialist subject areas and allow students to gain skills common across these specialist subject areas, or to develop skills complimentary to those of the other specialisms and to work together on collaborative projects in the kinds of interdisciplinary teams common in industry. They therefore begin to introduce students to the real world context of specialism, a world where inevitably specialists work in inter-disciplinary teams.
Core units provide fundamental knowledge, skills and contexts which we believe are necessary for all the creative professionals who graduate from Ravensbourne and set students up with a model of the types of knowledge they will need continuously to update throughout their careers. Core units equip students with the ideation, visualisation and communication skills required in the creative process characteristic of design and media industries and common across our disciplines. They also provide the conceptual skills, theoretical frameworks and professional contexts necessary for students to position their work and develop their professional identity. Additionally, they ensure that students gain the promotional, marketing and enterprise skills necessary to make success happen in the real world.
Three years full-time
Ravensbourne’s BA (Hons) Fashion course is available as a full time three-year 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.
Laptops
You are required to own or have access to a laptop from the beginning of your studies. Laptops are an essential tool to support personalised learning and give you access, when and where you want it, to many of the creative tools and educational resources you will encounter during your studies.
Laptops are used extensively in all of our courses. You will need one to access our network, and to research, communicate and collaborate during your studies.
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.
You could become a...
View >Fashion Editor
View >Fashion Designer
View >Textiles Designer
...and many more!
See life as a student
“I loved every moment of my time at Ravensbourne.
“I made some lifelong friends and have memories that will last forever. Meeting and working with creative students from different design and media specialisms was an awesome experience.
“The fashion course at Ravensbourne was tough and testing, forcing you to be independent in your thinking and professional in your attitude. Supported and…
Duration
Three years full-time
Entry requirements
Students will normally be expected to possess five GCSEs (grade C or above) or equivalent (including English and Mathematics) and also to hold at least one of the following or equivalent UK or international qualification:
• 2 A levels (grades A-C) or 4 AS levels (grades A-C)
• 2 vocational A level (grades A-C)
• Level 3 Foundation Diploma or National Diploma
• Advanced Diploma (grades A-C)
• International Baccalaureate (28 points or above)
Progression
Successful completion of this course provides the opportunity to progress onto the MA Fashion programme at Ravensbourne.
How to Apply
UCAS code: W230 (3 year route)
Institution: RAVEN RO6
Term starts
September 2012
Fees
£8,300 per year
Validated by
City University London
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