BA (Hons) Fashion Design
Duration
3 years / 4 years with placement year*
Institution code
L28
UCAS Code
3 years W230 / 4 years W232
Duration
3 years / 4 years with placement year*
Institution code
L28
UCAS Code
3 years W230 / 4 years W232
Discover your own design aesthetic and create a fashion collection and portfolio that showcases your individual energy and talents. This practice-based degree course embraces the diversity of fashion design in the 21st century. Join a community of passionate students, all focussed on becoming informed fashion-design creatives.
You will explore and learn this multifaceted design discipline and its historical and contemporary context, alongside broader factors that influence fashion design, including global fashion narratives, gender, sustainable practice, and ethics.
As a result of our connections with the fashion industry you will benefit from inspirational speakers, live projects and external visits. Access to these activities demonstrates the esteem in which this course is held and our ability to produce ‘industry-ready’ graduates.
Working with partners which have included the British Fashion Council’s ‘Colleges Council’ and Graduate Fashion Week we offer opportunities to enter competitions, attend insightful seminars and presentations, and showcase your work on a variety of external industry platforms.
Using the latest technologies within our Mac suites including CAD 2D and 3D design software, our staff will support you to realise your designs. Our dedicated teaching team encourage practice-based skills from developing initial research into sketches, ideas and designs into patterns, which are realised into garments using industry standard equipment. We help you cultivate the attitude and skills needed to succeed as a professional fashion practitioner.
*The placement year is subject to approval.
Learn and explore the core skills required for fashion design, such as fashion drawing and illustration, design methods, colour awareness and application, pattern cutting and garment production, visual research methods, portfolio presentation, and digital applications for design. Educational visits to galleries and exhibitions offer a cultural insight into the fashion ecology and inspire your work.
BA (Hons) Fashion Design students are based in studios housing resources which reflect those typically used in the fashion industry; our large studios are equipped with a range of industrial sewing machines, digital design and pattern cutting facilities, and presses that you would expect to see in a professional garment production setting. Printmaking facilities include flat-bed and vacuum-bed screen-printing for textiles and paper, using a variety of print media, digital textile printers and a large dye laboratory.
Students are able to borrow photography equipment including digital SLR cameras for still and moving image, lighting and a range of support equipment, which can be used in our lighting studios or off-site. Digital print resources enable professional-standard, large-format digital printing and print finishing. Large format (up to A0) printers are available, capable of printing over a metre wid.
Computer suites house networks of Apple Mac computers featuring regularly updated, industry-standard software for a wide range of creative applications that support all our courses including: image creation, scanning, editing and manipulation; and 3D scanning and 3D printing. All our suites use equipment consistent with that used in the creative workplace. A purpose-built specialist library is open to all students and includes Digital Collections to enhance the learning experience, and special collections of artists’ books, photobooks and illustrated books as well as the University archive. Self service facilities are available throughout, supported by a dedicated and experienced team of library staff.
BA (Hons) Fashion Design
Studying abroad can help Leeds Arts University students gain valuable experience, broaden their horizons, develop international networks and experience their practice from a different perspective. Leeds Arts University has a global network of international partner universities in 15 different countries. Students can apply for a semester abroad in their second year of study.
Students’ portfolios were showcased on the London Fashion Week 2024 digital platform
A graduate won the Graduate Fashion Foundation Fashion Design Portfolio award 2024
Students’ works selected for the best of Graduate Fashion Week catwalk show 2024
Two student winners of the FIDA worldwide fashion illustration award 2024
Two students were finalists in the bi-annual Golden Shears Tailoring Competition 2023
The fashion industry is ever diversifying and there are many opportunities for our fashion design graduates. Typically, careers include positions in fashion design, product development, design studio assistant roles, fashion buying, trend prediction, visual merchandising, garment production and technology, and pattern cutting. Some graduates choose to take on freelance work, or set up their own company. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study, including onto our MA Fashion.
*Please note that our courses are subject to an annual review process in order to maintain their quality and enhance the student experience. As a result, Course Specifications may be amended for the coming year.
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