Course description

The highlights

• Learn the full range of fashion styling and communication skills, from research and ideas creation through to photography and illustration, casting, and live model styling
• We’ll encourage you to take risks and experiment with ideas and materials through individual and group projects
• Uniquely, we consider how you can also help to change the fashion industry, and explore some of the current debates around ethical practices, sustainability, racism and gender equality.

Helping fashion tell a story

On this degree in Fashion Styling and Communication, you will learn to use fashion as a powerful way of telling stories, so that clothing and accessories become more than just objects. The purpose of a fashion marketing campaign today is not simply to sell clothes; it often needs to promote a philosophy, concept or aspirational lifestyle. Styling - particularly visual imagery - is key to this process.

30 years ago, 'fashion stylist' wasn't a recognised career, but with the rise of digital and social media, this has changed. Fashion styling is now firmly in the mainstream, and today, many companies and individuals use fashion stylists to help them develop visual identities and branded concepts - from fashion labels and e-commerce stores, to digital and printed media, as well as influencers and celebritie

The key areas

On this degree, you'll learn to create, distribute and manage content about fashion for brands, companies and individuals. This content could take many forms, including images and videos, text, or experiences.

You'll learn a full range of styling and communication skills, including:

• Concept and market research, including brand identity, competitor analysis and consumer identification
• Fashion photography
• Fashion drawing and illustration
• Product sourcing
• Creative still-life and live-model styling
• Creating digital media and CAD
• Presentation methods

You will get plenty of time to experiment - with different materials, different modes and styles of communication, and with various methods of presentation.

We'll also ensure you cover the essential foundational knowledge such as understanding the design process, the history of image-making and fashion, and how fashion is shaped by its contemporary culture.

You'll also have opportunities to collaborate with students from our BA (Hons) Photography programme.

Fashion as a force for good

Uniquely, our course also explores the need for change in the fashion industry and encourages you to be an innovator and pioneer. We'll consider some of the industry's current dilemmas, including the sustainability of materials, working conditions in factories, and the problems of 'fast fashion'.

There's also an optional module in the second year called Social Design which helps you understand how design can have a positive impact on people, their communities and the environment. It will get you thinking about how you can use fashion as a force for good.

Building experience and boosting your CV

Throughout this course, and especially in your second year, you will be learning to apply skills in professional situations. In year two, there are core modules which take you through the fundamental industry process of responding to briefs from clients. You'll learn to:

• research and develop ideas
• produce and present concepts and proposals that meet the commercial aims of the brief, and
• create work that reflects industry standards but also encapsulates originality and awareness of social, environmental or other relevant issues

You'll become adept at independent thinking and multi-project management, as well as using your creative skills to solve commercial or social challenges.

Work placements and internships

We offer you plenty of opportunities to take work placements or internships. We'll help you find the right opportunity to match your career aspirations and interests and during your time in the workplace, one of our tutors will also visit you to monitor your progress.

Our students have gained work experience at Alexander McQueen, Cos, Erdem, French Connection, Hobbs, HUUB, River Island, George at Asda, Julian MacDonald, Monsoon, Preen, Temperley, Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria Beckham.

Career planning

In the final year of this course, we've built in specific modules that encourage you to explore potential careers paths and further study. You will develop a future career plan as well as a personal development plan, to help you work towards your personal and professional goals. You will also build and format a substantial portfolio of project work and use this as part of a professional marketing package, linked to your individual career plan.

How you will learn

This is a practical course so a significant proportion of your learning and assessment will be project-based. You will be given a wide variety of briefs which set out a problem, situation and context, and you will need to respond to these with creative and considered solutions. This may involve animation, illustration, live performance, photography and video. Some projects will be devised by tutors while others will be set by external parties, such as employers.

In your final year, you'll really get the chance to show how you've developed, by completing an extended fashion communication and styling project of your choice. This will be a substantial body of authentic work which demonstrates your unique voice. For this, you will need to work with professionalism, independence and initiative, while demonstrating commitment to your practice. It's therefore great preparation for your next step, whether that's life in the commercial world or postgraduate study.

You will also learn through more traditional methods such as:

• Lectures and seminars
• Tutorials
• Demonstrations
• Studio workshops

How you are assessed

We'll assess you in a variety of ways, including through:

• Project work and portfolios
• Industry projects and competitions
• Written essays and reflective pieces
• Presentations

Degree Show

Every year students from the School of Arts celebrate their time at University by showcasing their work at an end of year Degree Show at Markeaton Street and across the City of Derby. The Show usually runs throughout June. It is a fantastic opportunity for potential employers, friends, family, industry and members of the public to see exciting creations by the next generation of artists, designers, creators and makers from Derby. The Show takes the form of:

• An exhibition at Markeaton Street
• A Fashion and Textiles catwalk (usually at Derby Theatre)
• A Film Premiere (usually at QUAD)
• Theatre Performances (usually at Derby Theatre)
• A Music show at a variety of venues

Take a look at highlights from the 2019 Degree Show.