Explore every aspect of fashion. Gain skills in, and an understanding of, fashion design, fashion promotion, and marketing. Launch your career in the growing and exciting fashion industry, with career paths including design, styling, promotion, marketing, manufacturing, visual merchandising, buying and selling.
Overview
Can’t decide between fashion design, and fashion promotion and marketing? You don’t have to – Fashion Design and Promotion is a course that gives you skills and crucial understanding in both areas.
In fashion design you’ll develop concepts, explore materials, design fabrics through to full fashion collections, and develop an understanding of the manufacturing processes. You’ll gain all the skills you’ll need to construct garments – such as pattern making, cutting, sewing, fabric printing, and craftsmanship – all while discovering new technologies.
In the fashion promotion and marketing pathway, you’ll consider the whole fashion market, analyse future trends, develop brands, learn the marketing mix, gain an understanding of visual merchandising, create promotional materials, and plan and manage events, including fashion shows. You’ll learn graphic design, styling and photography, and will have access to our fashion journalism expertise.
Throughout the course you’ll be nurtured, supported, and developed by our expert team. They are on hand to guide you and help choose your preferred pathway. They have many years’ experience working and teaching in fashion, specialising in sustainability, garment construction, design, promotion and marketing. The course will prepare you to work in areas including: design, styling, promotion, marketing, manufacturing, visual merchandising, buying and selling.
Why us?
- Get an all-round understanding of the industry and gain the ability to work across the sector. Employers compliment us on our ‘industry-ready’ graduates
- We nurture. Small class sizes mean 1:1 support and guidance, to develop your skills, creativity and talent
- Fashion sustainability is at the heart of your learning; we consider, and improve the environmental and ethical impacts of our fashion Hear Fashion Graduate Hulya Anefi's story about creating six garments from a recycled parachute
- Previous student placements have included All Saints, Jonathan Saunders, Diesel and Oasis
- Our graduates have gone on to work for high profile companies including Abercrombie and Fitch, River Island, Urban Outfitters and All Saints
- Our students are well-suited for tailoring success – in 2023 five of our students reached the final of ‘The Oscars of the tailoring world’, The Golden Shears which celebrates the next generation of tailors in the UK. From over a hundred entries, 22 finalists were selected – five of those from this course: Lauren Crossman, Katie Victoria Jeffries, Isabella Tierney, Mairidh Niccormaic and Isabella Mac Giolla Ri
- Learn from industry professionals. Recent guest speakers include John McClean, Creative Director of Abercrombie and Fitch, Alec Maxwell, Digital Creative Director at British Vogue, and Matty Gray, Outerwear Designer at Li & Fung and University of Sunderland graduate
Course structure
Teaching is almost entirely practical and studio based, supported by lectures, seminars, tutorials, e-learning, and independent study and research. Assessment is all coursework based.
In the first year, you’ll cover the fundamental foundation subjects across both fashion design and fashion promotion. In the second year, you'll build on, grow, and develop your knowledge and learning in both disciplines through a series of live projects, competitions and the annual second year Fashion Show.
You'll have the opportunity to apply to undertake an optional placement year out in industry between your second and final year, this is sometimes known as a sandwich degree.
In your final year, you'll specialise in your chosen pathway, developing your own unique Final Major Project. Previously these have included the creation and production of a full fashion line, developing a brand identity and look book, producing a fashion publication, and creating and delivering a fashion event.
Part-time study
If you study this course on a part-time basis you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day time and you will be studying alongside full-time students.
Facilities
This course is based at the Priestman Building, the main base for art, design, and performance on City Campus. Thanks to a major renovation programme, the Priestman Building provides state-of-the-art teaching space and resources as part of a vibrant and creative learning environment.
Career ready
The UK fashion industry is worth £26 billion to the economy and growing. More than 800,000 people are working in fashion in the UK and we want you to be part of it.
We'll prepare you to work in areas including: design, styling, promotion, marketing, manufacturing, visual merchandising, buying, and selling.
Career options
Graduates from this course have gone into a wide range of careers, from fashion design, pattern cutting and garment technology to sourcing and allocating, buying, branding, marketing, merchandising, communications, styling and more.
The professional skills graduates obtain from this course also allow them to build successful freelance careers.
Past graduates have gone on to work for well renowned design companies such as Abercrombie and Fitch, River Island, Debenhams, TopMan, All Saints and Matalan.
Fashion events
Get real life experience by organising your own fashion event in the city in the second year. Working together to liaise with venues, planning music, branding and marketing, booking models, and not forgetting creating pieces for the show.
Previous events have included a fashion film premiere, a catwalk show, a dance performance and DJ. The fundraising event, which is part of an event planning module, helps our students raise money for their final year Degree Show.
Creative Industries Week
Creative Industries Week gives everyone in Arts and Creative the opportunity to participate in a range of projects, workshops, talks, industry visits and career events. This exciting week encourages interdisciplinary working, broadens your experience, builds your confidence and helps to develop your career path.
Sunderland Culture
Sunderland Culture is a collaboration between the University, council and the city’s key cultures organisations. This partnership brings big-name creatives in contemporary visual arts, glass, ceramics and performance to the city; showcases exciting local talent; and gives our students unique experiences including exceptional career-enhancing opportunities.
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