Course units
Year 1
-
Introduction to Footwear and Accessories (20 credits)
The unit introduces you to your course and its subject specialism, as well as effective learning and studentship at undergraduate level, building an understanding of your discipline and help you to develop your skills for both independent and collaborative learning.
-
Developing Design and Craft Skills (40 credits)
This unit will allow you to experiment and play with a variation of craft techniques and diverse materials. You will be introduced to core skills for footwear and accessories through a series of experiential workshops, you will start to build your ability to communicate your design ideas through hand drawing and model making.
-
Design and Innovation (40 credits)
This unit advances your creative development by addressing a globally significant social, cultural, or racial issue. Emphasising digital and hand-drawn communication, you will refine your skills and deepen your understanding of the design process, while exploring your creative potential and developing a thoughtful, informed response to a real-world problem.
-
Fashion Cultures and Histories (20 credits) (College-wide unit)
Fashion Cultures and Histories engages you in critical analysis of fashion as a key marker of social and cultural change and one of the primary, visual means of understanding the relationship between individuals and communities. With a clear focus on the interrelationship between social, racial and environmental justice, this unit assembles key theories and ways of thinking about fashion across its cultural, historical, political and economic contexts, and supports the development of your individual research interests
Year 2
-
Critical Issues in Fashion Research (20 credits) (College-wide unit)
This unit will deepen your understanding of the historical, cultural, social, political and economic contexts that affect and inform the production and consumption of fashion. You will choose a Research Project to participate in, providing you with an in-depth exploration of a themed issue or concept related to your field of practice.
-
Circular Design (40 credits)
This unit explores the footwear and accessories industry impact on the climate crisis, promoting debate and sustainable thinking. In collaboration with an industry partner, you will look at ethical sourcing, alternative materials, and marketing practices. You will grow your awareness of global trends, manufacturing technologies innovative design and production processes.
-
Digital Craft (20 credits)
This unit promotes future thinking through digital craft, blending traditional techniques innovatively. You will explore 2D/3D technologies, prototyping, and contemporary debates, developing critical, creative, and strategic skills. The focus is on forward-thinking approaches to redefining craft in footwear and accessories design within an ever-evolving digital landscape.
-
Industry Futures (40 credits)
This unit prepares you as an industry professional; In this final Year 2 unit, you will respond to a live or simulated industry brief, applying professional practices and design processes. Emphasising creativity, teamwork, and presentation skills, the unit strengthens your employability and fuses innovation, practical, written, and entrepreneurial thinking within an industry context.
Industry Diploma in Professional Studies
This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you will undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you will gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.
Enterprise Diploma in Professional Studies
This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you will undertake an enterprise placement year where you will explore a business idea from proposal to minimal viable product (MVP). As well as developing enterprise skills, you will gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.
Year 3
-
Contextualising Practice (20 credits)
Contextualising Practice develops your historical and theoretical understanding of fashion through a research-led, extended essay. You will identify a topic, related to your field of practice, that you will investigate through an independent research project underpinned with key themes concepts and ideas. It is an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial piece of structured research that builds on the critical debates and concerns raised through your course and equips you with research, writing and analytical skills for academic and professional contexts.
-
Concept Vision (40 credits)
This unit sets the groundwork for your Final Major Project by enabling you to develop a unique concept through in-depth research, applying tried and tested skills gained so far. You will explore ethical and social debates, showcasing creative and critical thinking. Outcomes should reflect professional skills, aspirations, and market potential, supported by strong rationale and research methods.
-
Final Major Project (60 credits)
You will complete your course with a Final Major Project – the culmination of your creative and professional journey. This project will reflect your individual strengths as a designer, supported by in-depth research and development. You may choose to specialise in a specific area, such as footwear, bags, sunglasses, or create a diverse accessories collection, or material innovation, or perhaps a set of unique components. Your final Major Project outcome will be a negotiated physical or digital product set that demonstrates your creative vision, technical skill, and future career direction. This project will underpin expectations of Industry level portfolio skills and highlight your employability.
