Introduction
The BA (Hons) Fashion Jewellery is founded on 4 key principles that inform the teaching on the Course in the first 4 blocks:
- Craft and Technology centres around the development of technical expertise from traditional jewellery benchwork to digital design and fabrication techniques as well as outsourced manufacture.
- Sustainable Practice approaches sustainability in a broad sense, through materials and processes as well as through collaborative practice developing challenging proposals for the future.
- Performance explores how to convey bold concepts through fashion jewellery statement pieces, how they are worn and the context they are shown in.
- Identity; is about defining who you are as a designer developing your unique vision for fashion jewellery that builds on personal strengths and interests while developing new expertise.
Year one block one
-
Introduction to Fashion Jewellery introduces you to your discipline and the college through a project that focusses on research, development and presentation skills for fashion jewellery design.
-
Jewellery Design and Technology focuses on different design methods and takes you into the workshop to learn a wide range of techniques and processes as well as documentation and presentation strategies.
Year one block two
-
Sustainable Futures is a collaborative project that supports future thinking to respond to changing markets and aspirations and the development of proposals for a fashion jewellery collection that challenges the system as we know it.
-
Fashion Cultures and Histories acquaints you to fashion theory through critical research and analysis skills through the writing of an essay
-
Better Lives is a College wide options unit based on the idea that fashion can change lives. You can choose a module from the School of Business or the School of Media to gain knowledge and experience in a different fashion discipline to suit your personal interests and development.
Year two block one
-
Concept, Context & Performance Unit asks you to consider fashion jewellery in relation to different industry contexts and scenarios and develop a statement piece as well as a collection of refined batch-produced products.
-
Critical Issues in Fashion Research unit allows you to choose an option covering a current cultural theme in fashion studies to write an essay about. It is supported by lectures and seminars.
Year two block two
-
Work Experience is a 10 weeks placement in a fashion jewellery or related company to give you real-life experience of an aspect of the industry.
-
Identity, Innovation & Impact asks you to select one of 3 pathways directed by external researchers or practitioners that approaches fashion jewellery from a particular perspective to enhance and direct your studies towards your personal interests.
Final year
-
Contextualising Your Practice allows you to build on your historical and theoretical understanding of fashion through a research-led extended essay that is related to your design ethos and interests. This theoretical unit supports your development for your final year design project
-
Concept Development Unit informs and prepares you for your Final Major Project. You will be expected to negotiate a project brief that will allow for a full and in-depth investigation into areas of interest to you.
-
Final Major Project is the culmination of your degree in which you will further demonstrate your innovative approach and deeper engagement, analysis and conclusions to develop a major body of work. You will leave the course with a professionally presented fashion jewellery project that showcases your vision, your creative direction and your technical abilities through products and portfolio.
