Course Summary
*This course is subject to validation.
BA(Hons) Fashion Product Management and Innovation will offer a focused curriculum of study that allows you to research and explore the development of materials and apparel created for utilisation within the fashion industry. Referencing a variety of module structures that explore garment shape, textile fibre composition and fabric performance, the curriculum will also reflect upon the challenges faced by an ever-changing industry that needs a focus on materials and fit development (State of Fashion 2020), facilitating you in offering innovative and dynamic solutions to relevant industry challenges.
The aim of the course is to introduce you to theoretical and practical based studies that explore materials design and apparel product analysis. The course will deliver a curriculum that draws on the fashion department’s knowledge and expertise in materials and fabrication. It will utilise existing resources in textile development and apparel construction. It will also utilise the University’s provision of 3D technologies, workshops and laboratories to offer experiential learning environments for you throughout your study.
The course will reflect industry practice in the field of textiles and apparel product development. With a focus on gaining skills relevant to product lifecycles, professional material and garment technologist roles.
The course will offer a placement provision that will be recommended due to the value of learning in the workplace and the highlighted industry need to direct graduates towards a career path in technology.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Our Fashion Product Management and Innovation course will give you the tools you need to develop innovative product solutions for the fashion industry. You will be taught and utilise fundamental skills such as:
- 3D technology and sustainable production processes
- Production development from sample to the final product
- Management processes to support the product life cycle
- Data, analysis and forecasting
- Innovative techniques in launching a product
- Product innovation for industry 4.0: Exploring beyond the product
- Enterprise and co-design
The course will share a series of modules with five other BA (Hons) courses within the Fashion Cluster in order to offer insight to students with regards to the synergies between different disciplines.
Key to many careers and employers - you will also develop thinking skills, including ideas and concept generation for Fashion, individual and collaborative responses to set fashion projects, critical thinking, and appreciation of multiple perspectives and approaches. Other skills for life and work include effective management and organisation of time, communication, computer literacy (Adobe suite: Illustrator, 3D rendering software and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel), interpersonal and group skills.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
The fashion subject area is made up of industry knowledgeable staff, entrepreneurs and business owners, so you can be sure you will be learning in real-time. We believe it is important that your education is consistent with the times and reflects the industry you will progress into.
The course is a ‘technical skills driven, industry-relevant’ resource for graduate talent.
The curriculum will include introductory projects, live project challenges, industry visits, work placements, group work challenges and autonomous learning via final major projects. You will be required to develop organisation and management skills whilst exploring possibilities in materials and apparel tech development.
Skills for life and work are developed through partnerships with industry, project-management skills, time management and planning, project work and presentations as well as reflection and reviews with your peers and academic advisor.
Students on the BA course will have the opportunity to collaborate and take part in cross and multi-disciplinary activities such as hackathons with other courses within our cluster.
If you opt for the year-long placement, our close industry contacts will be key to helping you find the right opportunity. Previously, our students have worked as fashion journalists, administrators and buyers for world-leading firms. The list includes SsÅne, Very.co.uk, Yoox Net-A-Porter Group, Julien Macdonald and many more.
Even if you decide not to take the placement option, you’ll still have the chance to work on some exciting industry-led projects and companies as we approach key fashion calendar events such as London Fashion Week.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
Fashion is an industry full of vast opportunities and much-needed skill sets that are continually involving. The great thing about studying fashion and developing core skills is that you can work practically anywhere within the creative industries.
Studying Fashion Product Management and Innovation will give you the opportunity to work in various sectors such as quality control, retail operations, merchandising and sales. Jobs include product developer, product manager, quality controller, garment technologist, merchandiser, product researcher, brand manager, operations and performance managers and much more.
Having a key understanding of merchandising, 3D technology and management, will give students studying this degree a key advantage in the careers market.
How you'll be assessed
We’ll assess you with a mixture of coursework, essays and presentations. Coursework includes essays, research files, sample and development portfolios, practical design development, group and seminar presentations and a final-year project.
In your third year, your assessment will be based on research coursework, written reports and a final portfolio outcome. You will have the opportunity to gain feedback from your lecturers, peers and our industry partners.
WITH PLACEMENT YEAR
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.
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