BA (Hons) in Fashion Design

This is the core design module. It is project-led and is the key integrative module, which introduces the essential knowledge required to develop basic fashion design skills. Learners practice fashion design methodologies through project work, which involves authentic learning referencing industry practice. Learners work through project briefs that introduce various stages of design; including research, concept, design development, selection and presentation skills. Learners develop drawing skills and appropriate design research methods to develop an original concept to inspire personal creative ideas to drive collections. As the learners start to understand the process necessary to create an original design, confidence in design development skills and solutions builds. Learners acquire creative awareness and explore industry standards to translate their design details to basic specification sheets for realisation in Garment Construction and are introduced to the essential areas of the fashion design process and acquire skills to allow for further development throughout the programme.

Learners acquire skills to translate their design from a specification sheet to a final complete garment using basic production techniques. Learners achieve a basic level of technical awareness and skills required to create their designs and develop effective communication skills using relevant industry terminology. Learners must demonstrate health and safety standards when using industry equipment and sewing machines in a workroom environment. Learners achieve a degree of competency and confidence to measure, create and manipulate blocks, drape on the stand, assemble garment using appropriate sewing techniques and materials, understand size charts and basic garment specification sheets. Projects explore industry standards and practice, so learners can differentiate between couture and industry production techniques.

This module advances the learners’ skills in Bitmap and Vector Graphics applications such as Adobe Illustrator. The learners are also taught how to combine work in 2D, 3D and Photoshop to illustrate designs on graphic layouts.

This module is designed to give the learner a broad understanding of how the fashion industry operates by looking at the sectors in the fashion industry from couture to mass-production, the schedule, processes and roles involved. The influencing factors which mould and drive the fashion industry such as the fashion business cycle, the fashion calendar, International Colour Authority (ICA), textiles manufacturers, trend forecasting agencies, technology, quick response (QR) manufacturing processes, brands, the role of celebrity, fast fash​ion and the consumer. Looking at how fashion brands are restructuring with a vision to implement ethical trading, corporate social responsibility and sustainable design.

This module introduces the key designers, styles and periods to trace the evolution of historical fashion in the social, economic and political contexts from the mid-nineteenth up to the current time. It focuses on the most important couturiers that were active from c.1850, describing how their key innovations were made and worn and their contribution to the history of haute couture. It will enable the learner to analyse, compare and contrast different periods and styles in design, and describe the garments and accessories that make up a fashionable outfit. This subject area encourages students to make connections between theory and practice, to engage in critical analysis of contemporary designers and act as a reference point for research and development of current issues, themes and ideas that are required in other modules in the programme. The module introduces academic referencing, essay research and structure and writing skills, enabling learners to establish their own voice in an academic environment.

This the core design module. It is a project-led and is the key integrative module, which introduces essential knowledge required to develop fashion design skills. Learners practice fashion design methodologies through project work that involves authentic learning referencing industry practice. Learners work through project briefs that embed much of the design theory and drawing skills explored in semester 1. As the learners understand the process necessary to create an original design, confidence in design development and presentation skill builds. Learners acquire creative awareness and explore industry standards to translate their design details to basic specification sheets for realisation in Garment Construction 2. Learners experience the fashion design process and build on skills to prepare for the next stage of the programme when specialist areas of design require advanced design skills.

Learners acquire a standard level of technical awareness and the skills required to create their designs and communication using relevant industry terminology. Learners must demonstrate health and safety standards when using industry equipment and sewing machines in a workroom environment. Learners achieve a degree of competency and confidence to create a creative pattern, drape on the stand, assemble garment using appropriate sewing techniques and materials. Essential skills to apply pattern drafting, sewing and garment assembly techniques to design are developed. Projects explore industry standards and practice, so learners use basic industry production techniques. Learners acquire skills to translate their design from a specification sheet to a final complete garment using production techniques, demonstrating the skills required to progress to the next stage of the programme.

This module teaches the learner a variety of advanced Bitmap, Vector Graphics editing skills and to apply practical desktop publishing solutions. It also teaches the learner to creatively apply and communicate effectively graphic techniques employing the use of a grid and typography, to apply the technical skills for print production, and to format a design and layout project or digital drawing for print.

This module introduces the core elements of textiles and the factors that influence the cost, aesthetic, comfort, durability, care, safety, function and performance of textile products. Studying textiles is like learning a new language, many terms and facts must be learnt. Learners will be introduced to fibre theory and classification systems, the basic principles of yarn and fabric construction, fabric production and finishing, fabric performance testing methods and procedures. Learning advances the learners' ability to identify fibres, fabric and performance, to emphasise the importance of the application of appropriate material to design, to enable the appropriate selection of fabric for garment design. Learners are introduced to EU textile legislation, such as performance fabrics and sustainability and issues pertinent to textile and garment manufacturing industries.

This module provides a common core of design culture and theory taken by all learners on the design undergraduate programmes. While the learning outcomes are the same no matter which of the programmes you are following, your output from this module will reflect the media and approaches of your chosen programme. This module brings together students from all undergraduate programmes to give you the opportunity to engage in analysis of your own and others’ ideas in a challenging and creative environment. Learners will be introduced to the ways in which the contemporary design context and theory inform design practice. It will introduce them to ways in which designers engage with ideas, encourage the learner to explore your own work through critical reflection on the debates and practices of design and see the applicability of these to your own discipline. You will explore the significance of context in relation to the movements after Modernism and appraise different contributions to modern architecture and design. The module prepares learners critically and theoretically for the thesis in the final year of their honour degree. 

This is the core design module. It is project led and is the key integrative module. Learners gain specialist knowledge for sectors within fashion industry and design a Statement Collection and a Mini Collection. These projects involve authentic learning, market research and equip learners with knowledge of fashion industry sectors to facilitate possible future employment opportunities. The projects require industry-specific research, creative design and visual presentation skills appropriate to the specialist area. Workshops in areas such as drape, heritage tailoring, vernacular design, market and range planning support concept development. Learners practice advanced and creative 2D & 3D design development. Draping on the stand techniques to achieve a higher level of creativity and fluent silhouette development. Learners translate detailed design to specification with appropriate material considerations and identify production techniques for realisation in Garment Construction 3 and 4. Learners are expected to successfully communicate their design by achieving a standard of visual literacy and articulation demonstrating reflection and self-critique with specialist industry know-how.

Learners build on the basic pattern drafting skills introduced in the first year, acquire more advanced technical tailoring, drape, pattern drafting and sewing skills required to support Fashion Design 3 projects. Learners are introduced to a higher level of skill with projects which involve authentic learning, referencing industry practice. The curriculum is structured to advance technical skills to develop the learners’ confidence, whilst developing technical awareness supporting the exploration of creative design solutions. Draping on the stand builds the learner’s confidence and fluency of design moving towards experimentation with more advanced pattern drafting in preparation for Garment Construction 4 when advanced pattern drafting skills are required to execute a Mini Collection meeting industry standards.

Design Futures module has been designed with the intention of accommodating emerging methodologies, knowledge and skills, which are developing as a response to the increasing complexity of contemporary culture and design practice. In this module, we will explore how practice is informed by context and theory. This module can be taken by students from all of the design programmes. The learning outcomes are the same regardless of the discipline of design you are following, the learners' output from this module will reflect the media and approaches of your programme’s disciplines and subject areas. There will be opportunities for the learner to critically analyse, debate and address key current issues and debates associated with design as they relate to their discipline-specific practice. The module is designed to challenge and develop your ability to critically reflect upon competing concepts and contemporary debates associated with design and related creative practices, as well as their impact within local and global contexts.

Fashion illustration affords the learner with the opportunity to research and critically evaluate the professional standards of fashion illustration in terms of cultural, historical roles and contemporary stylistic influences and develop new skills. This subject area aims to enable the learner to further develop their freehand fashion drawing skills and develop new digital fashion drawing skills, learning to effectively communicate design and meaning. Learners also produce a digital vector library of technical flat garment drawings, symbols and brushes for design details; develop freehand and digital fashion figure poses and art forum fashion illustration.

This module provides learners with an understanding of the role and principles of marketing for a start-up business. The learners will appreciate when and how marketing is applied in the creative industries, learn about market segmentation, targeting and positioning and assist learners to analyse all aspect of the traditional marketing mix. Learners will conduct basic marketing research, analysis and learn how to apply research findings to specified business projects. The module enables learners to articulate and interact with audiences, effectively communicating ideas and work in a range of situations. The objectives are to give learners a broad understanding of the key marketing concepts and practices in the creative environment. This subject area introduces the foundations of marketing principles and roles, providing an overview of the nature and scope of branding and its role in successful creative business strategies.

This is the core design module. It is project-led and is the key integrative module. Learners build on the fashion design and technical skills acquired in Fashion Design 3, with a higher level of creative awareness and industry processes. The emphasis is based on developing the design fluency and the learner's design portfolio; although designs are created, garments are not produced. The aim of this module is to broaden the learner’s design experience and skill set by introducing areas of specialist knowledge e.g. Trend forecasting, print, knit and accessory design. Workshops involve trend research, planning and forecasting, knit and print design and fashion illustration. These areas require industry and skill-specific research, advanced design and new illustration techniques and visual presentation skills appropriate to the forecasting sector expectations. Learners must achieve fluent design competencies and a portfolio demonstrating a standard of visual literacy and articulation to successfully communicate design with specialist industry expertise, demonstrating readiness to progress to the final stage of the level 8 programme.

This is the key support to the core capstone Fashion Design module. It builds on the advanced technical tailoring, drape and specialist flat pattern drafting and sewing skills introduced in the Garment Construction 3. Learners create their Mini Collection designed in Fashion Design 3 and explore industry standards to acquire an advanced degree of competency in pattern drafting to achieve the confidence required to create their designs. Draping on the stand continues to build a higher level of creative awareness, confidence and fluency of design, moving towards more advanced creative pattern drafting techniques. Following sewing workshop demonstration, using industry equipment learners develop a range of advanced sewing and finishing skills with confidence. Fundamentally, the subject prepares the learners to progress to employment or to the final stage of the level 8 programme when advanced pattern drafting and garment construction are required to execute a degree collection meeting industry standards.

This subject area aims to afford the learner to develop new digital skills to present advanced design abilities and specialist knowledge of the forecasting industry, with appropriate drawing and presentation techniques to effectively communicate. In support of Fashion Design 4 learner learn how to create printed textile design, repeat pattern, colourways and apply fabric rendering techniques to fashion illustration. Digital Fashion Portfolio 1 enables the learner to further develop effective visual communication skills, working across digital platforms. Learners develop advanced bitmap digital imaging and vector drawing skills and create a digital portfolio through a desktop publishing application. The module affords the learner to develop digital project planning skills, with the opportunity to research and critically evaluate and develop effective Digital Imaging, typography, composition and layout presentation skills. While learning how to create a digital textile, digitally drawn fashion figure Illustration and technical flats with rendering.

The aim of the module is to enable learners to develop skill in Photography and Video so they can apply them to their design projects. The objectives are to enable the learner to develop skill in the use of the digital camera for photography and video and explore industry standards in this area. It will introduce the basic principles of photography and video with the emphasis being on images within their design studio practice.

This module addresses key factors to be considered when starting a small business, entrepreneurial theories, business concept through planning a feasibility project and a lean start-up style canvas and customer analysis.

This module is designed to advance the learner's personal and professional goals establishing the foundation for a future career as a designer or as a young start-up brand. The final outcome is a portfolio of work and six-outfit graduate collection which demonstrates the proficiency achieved in design, innovation and professional practice. A creative design concept must be fully explored and developed in-depth; to design a six-outfit collection, realised in Garment Construction 6 and Digital CAD & CAM Pattern. The graduate collection consolidating learning from Professional Practice, applying brand & marketing and fashion business practices to establish their very own collection brand.

This module introduces new approaches to pattern cutting to inspire learners to explore design ideas through transformational reconstruction; origami, subtraction and experimental pattern cutting techniques. The aim is to develop shape, garment structure and design details as a starting point of the degree collection promoting innovative garment construction. Conceptual design is demonstrated using creative draping on the stand and then brought through to advanced flat pattern drafting techniques. Learners present two of the six outfit collection designed in Fashion Design 5, as detailed specifications with materials are used to draft full-scale patterns and fit toiles.

This module introduces CAD Pattern Drafting to prepare learners for the second semester when advanced CAD pattern drafting and CAM skills are required to execute a final degree outfit meeting industry standards thus achieving the programme learning outcomes. Learners use industry-standard language and techniques to develop a knowledge of software functions to create blocks, patterns, style files and variations of designs. The curriculum is structured to introduce technical skills to develop the learners’ confidence and expertise in CAD pattern manipulation and drafting, whilst developing awareness industry.

This module teaches the learner critical writing abilities and research skills, to analyse a project in terms of its ideology, methodology and concept, knowledge of archival sources and their contents, appraise ideas and relate them to the designs and works of others, an understanding of the context and language of design theory, and its practical application, and to present and compile an academic business plan on a specialist area within the Fashion Design industry.

This module advances the learners’ critical writing abilities and research skills. It enables them to analyse a project in terms of its ideology, methodology and concept. Learners manage archival sources and their contents, appraise ideas and relate them to the designs and works of others. They gain an advanced understanding of the context and language of design theory, and its practical application, and present and compile an academic thesis on a specialist area.

This module is designed to broadening the portfolio to support further employment opportunities. Projects include an industry design competition which is recognised to have the depth and scope to challenge creative development and professional practice. The development of an Extended Design Range provides a platform for the learners to demonstrate a broader range of design and their versatility of skill to further employment opportunities. Learners prepare for their collection and portfolio presentation; topics covered are specification and costings, portfolio layout and planning, collection branding and marketing material, photoshoot direction and styling, graduate showcase presentation, press packs and oral presentation techniques. The work culminates in an end of year showcase presentation of a branded graduate collection and portfolio of work.

Learners apply advanced creative pattern drafting and professional garment construction skills to create their own six-outfit, personal degree collection designed in Fashion Design Project 5. As patterns for one outfit are created digitally in the Technology CAD & CAM module, learners’ present detailed specifications for five outfits with appropriate material considerations and samples test production techniques to draft patterns, create fitting toiles and finished garments. Learners are expected to project manage the process from production specifications through to the final collection and costing’s, maintaining a personal development portfolio demonstrating effective time management skills.

Through this module, learners acquire more advanced technical CAD pattern drafting skills to create one outfit of their Graduate Collection, reinforcing the CAD pattern skills acquired in the first semester. Learners also apply CAM Marker Making techniques to identify the fabric usage costing exercises with the precision of CAM marker making. The assignment brief involves authentic learning; referencing industry practice, learners liaise with industry to manufacture one outfit of their six-outfit collection to experience industry practice from design concept through to the CAD pattern creation, CAM marker making and printing, cutting and industry manufacture.

This module enables learners to present their Fashion Design 5 work as a digital portfolio in printed and online formats exploiting all the capabilities of bitmap, vector, desktop publishing and online presentation tools, across digital platforms. Learners should achieve a professional standard of visual literacy in digital design and presentation, the printed book is an accompaniment to the traditional portfolio and the digital presentation can be used a visual aid during the final Fashion Design 5 critique or for online distribution to quickly and conveniently solicit work.

General Fee Information 

An Academic Administration Fee of EUR250.00 and a 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted below. The fees below relate to Year 1 fees only.

Study Mode: Full-Time

Dublin 

EUR 6,450.00

General Fee Information 

An Academic Administration Fee of EUR250.00 and a 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted below.

Study Mode: Full-Time

Please refer to the Irish/EU Living Abroad Fees section.

General Fee Information 

An Academic Administration Fee of EUR250.00 and a 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted below.

Non-EU students: a Student Services and Administration fee of EUR200 is payable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted below.

Study Mode: Full-Time

Dublin 

Non-EU living in Ireland or abroad: Please refer to our Non-EU Tuition Fees section.