Exploring visual communication in fashion

What is visual communication?

Visual communication is everywhere - think design, illustration, photography, art and advertising. It's all about how we communicate ideas and information across different visual mediums such as videos, GIFs, images, quotes, campaigns, films and animations.

Looking to develop her skills in visual communication, Iria signed up for our Visual Communication for Fashion Online Short Course to learn more. “I did this course because communicating your ideas visually is very important in fashion," she says. "It's needed in a lot of stages of the process of building up and conceptualising a collection or a fashion brand.”

During the course students experiment with different methods of image making, learn how to conduct effective visual research and communicate ideas and concepts through the work produced.

“Mood boards and collages are essential and provide a lot of information about the universe and aesthetic you are creating," Iria explains. "It also helps to combine very different ideas into one and that's always been one of my favourite parts of the process, so I wanted to explore, learn and improve my skills.”

Prior to completing the Visual Communication for Fashion Online Short Course, Iria had quite the busy schedule. Originally from the Mediterranean, she made the decision to pursue her interest in fashion abroad.

Iria graduated with a degree in fashion design from Italy and moved to New York to intern for Marc Jacobs – a once in a lifetime experience she says she learned a lot from.

When asked how she found the course itself, Iria tells me the practical nature of the course helped her develop new ways she can express her ideas and that a lot of what she learned is directly applicable to her own line of work. But above all else, it was the creative freedom she had on the course that inspired her the most.

“The tutors on the course are great because they give you feedback and guidance without compromising your taste or identity. And in such a short space of time you get a real sense of what it is like to work as a creative as well as a lot of tools to develop your own projects.”

For anyone contemplating doing a short course, Iria’s advice is simple: “Do it! Either if you just want to discover a new field or learn more about one you already have some knowledge in.”

Looking ahead Iria says she has lots of exciting plans in the pipeline where she plans to use her newfound skills and confidence. “Right now, I am working on different projects as a fashion designer, some personal projects as well as an exciting collaboration with KOLABS a platform for emerging designers that will hopefully come out soon!”