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Fashion Folio

Course description

Fashion Folio will push your understanding of fashion and challenge your preconceived ideas of how to design garments. Visual research, experimentation and idea development combined with unique presentation skills are at the focus of everything you do. You will be expected to work hard, find inspiration in new and unexpected places. Fashion Folio is a full-time course with both directed and independent study. One-to-one tuition is provided to each student on a weekly basis, which will help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and gain resilience to overcome your limitations. During stages 2 and 3 you will also have access to a dedicated workspace, for self-practice and portfolio creation.

Students are recommended to take all three stages*. For more information on each stage, please go to the 'Details' tab. To apply, please complete the form in the 'Make an application' section below.

Stage 1: Foundation essentials

  • Delivery mode: Online
  • Duration: 11 weeks (May - July)

This stage will provide you with the core skills that will underpin your future development. Students will learn to develop their practical and technical skills, essential to visually communicating and expressing their ideas and designs.

Stage 2: Building content

  • Delivery mode: On campus
  • Duration: 11 weeks (September - December)

In stage 2, students will expand their research skills and learn how to develop, sustain and communicate a concept that is both original and meaningful.

Stage 3: Presentation of content

  • Delivery mode: On campus
  • Duration: 11 weeks (January - March)

The final stage will focus on the refinement and content of your portfolio to reflect your skills and interests. You will select work suitable for application to either undergraduate, postgraduate or career progression.

* On occasion, entry to stage 2 may be possible, providing students produce evidence of strong drawing and technical skills and an understanding of the design development process, when submitting their application.

Who should attend?

This highly intensive fashion programme is designed for students who need to produce a portfolio of work to either support an application to undergraduate or postgraduate fashion, or for employment or personal development.

Fashion Folio students have successfully progressed to Undergraduate courses such as:

  • BA (Hons) Fashion: Fashion Design Womenswear
  • BA (Hons) Fashion: Fashion Design Menswear
  • BA (Hons) Fashion: Fashion Design with Knitwear
  • BA (Hons) Fashion: Fashion Print
  • BA (Hons) Fashion Communication: Fashion Communication and Promotion
  • BA (Hons) Fashion Communication: Fashion Journalism
  • BA (Hons) Textile Design
  • BA (Hons) Fine Art

Course outcomes

Students will have received individual guidance to develop a strong portfolio for progression to their chosen course or career objective.

Please be advised this is not an access course and successful completion of Fashion Folio does not guarantee a place on UAL undergraduate or postgraduate courses. However, the majority of Fashion Folio students do progress to further studies at UAL.

Clear, easy to understand lessons

  • Our tutors will explain things in easy to understand, accessible English. If they need to use any special terminology they will make sure they explain what they mean.
  • New methods will be shown to students through live demonstrations, in a way that's crystal clear and easy to understand.

Experience life on campus (Stages 2 & 3 only)

  • Network and share ideas with students from across the globe
  • Access the technology and materials relevant to your discipline
  • Shop in our college shops for any materials you might need
  • Ask questions of your tutor in real time
  • Receive feedback and critique on your assignments
  • Experience the many sights of London on your down time

All our online short courses include (Stage 1 only)

  • Live online lessons with the same tutors
  • The same course content and learning outcomes as our face to face courses
  • Access to the virtual learning environment with course content

A certificate of completion

  • You've put the work so we want to make sure you have something to show for it!
  • As long as you attend a minimum of 80% of your classes, we will provide you with a certificate of attendance.
  • We always recommend you attend all of the classes so that you get the most out of the experience!
  • Certificates are great to compliment your cv.

Entry requirements
  • This course is open to students aged 18 years and older
  • As a guideline, non-native English speakers should be at IELTS level 6.0 in English language, for more information please visit
  • UALs English Language Requirements webpageTo support your application you should have the beginning of a portfolio of 15-20 examples of your work, for more information please visit UALs Portfolio Preparation webpage.

Making your application

To apply for this course please check that you meet the entry requirements and then click here to complete the application form.

All applications will be reviewed in 7 - 14 days. An email will be sent to notify you of the outcome along with information about the next steps.

Contact

E: portfolioprep@arts.ac.uk

Available dates

If no dates are showing then please sign up to our mailing list to find out about upcoming dates and new course developments.

Details

Stage 1: Foundation essentials

  • Delivery mode: Online
  • Duration: 11 weeks (April - July)

This stage will provide you with the core skills that will underpin your future development. Students will learn to develop their practical and technical skills, essential to visually communicating and expressing their ideas and designs.

Topics covered:

  • Fashion drawing skills that communicate and inform
  • Illustration techniques
  • Introduction to research
  • Ideas development
  • Visual communication
  • Media experimentation
  • Presentation and layout
  • Criticism as constructive feedback

Stage 2: Building content

  • Delivery mode: On campus
  • Duration: 11 weeks (September - December)

In stage 2, students will expand their research skills and learn how to develop, sustain and communicate a concept that is both original and meaningful.

Topics covered:

  • Research development
  • Contextual and critical referencing
  • Refining technical skills
  • Colour rendering
  • Building the portfolio: presentation and layout
  • Communication of ideas: visual and verbal

Stage 3: Presentation of content

  • Delivery mode: On campus
  • Duration: 11 weeks (January - March)

The final stage will focus on the refinement and content of your portfolio to reflect your skills and interests. You will select work suitable for application to either undergraduate, postgraduate or career progression.

Topics covered:

  • Portfolio refinement
  • Presentation skills
  • Interview preparation

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the exact dates for each stage?

The exact dates can be found at the bottom of the course description. With the stages running at the same time each year as follows:

  • Stage 1 (April - July)
  • Stage 2 (October - December)
  • Stage 3 (January - March)

Before booking the course, students must complete the application form.

All applications will be reviewed in 7 – 14 days. An email will be sent to notify you of the outcome along with information about the next steps.

Why is stage 1 taught online?

Short course students that are from outside the UK are limited to stay and study in the UK for a maximum of 6 months under the visitor route. To enable everyone to complete all three stages in one year, stage 1 is now delivered online. More information about online delivery can be found in the main course description tab.

Do I need to take all three stages?

Students are recommended to take all three stages. On occasion, entry at stage 2 may be possible, providing students produce evidence of strong drawing and technical skills and an understanding of the design development process when submitting their application.

Can I book more than one stage at a time?

Yes, students can apply for as many stages as they like, through the application form. Students must wait to be accepted before making thier booking. An email to notify you of the outcome of your application will be emailed within 7 - 14 days of applying.

When is the deadline to submit my booking?

Bookings will be accepted up to one month before the start of the course for Stages 2 and 3. For Stage 1, bookings are accepted one week before the start of the course. Please read section 8 of our terms and conditions carefully with particular attention to our refund policy.

Will I need a visa to study on the course?

Please visit the Immigration guidance for short course students web page, for further information.

Do I need to provide proof of my English Language?

No, we do not need you to provide proof to study Fashion Folio. However; as a guideline, non-native English speakers should be at IELTS level 6.0.

If you are progressing to a full time course at UAL after completing your programme, you are still required to meet these conditions. These will be listed on the relevant course page. For more information you can check the UAL English Language requirements webpage.



Materials

The full materials list will be discussed during the first week of the course.

  • A USB stick/portable device (for storing images and backing up files)
  • A laptop
  • Colour printer (optional, but very useful, we recommend you insure this equipment, whilst on the course)
  • CAD software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator

During the course you will be required to experiment with different drawing and colouring media. These can be purchased as and when required. These may include, but not limited to:

  • Oil crayons
  • Soft pastels
  • Coloured pencils
  • Watercolour crayons/pencils
  • Various pencils/graphite
  • Charcoal
  • Marker pens (various thickness of nibs)
  • Watercolour paints and a mixing palette
  • Gouache paint
  • Brushes (various thicknesses)
  • Collage materials: glue, magazines, various papers, fabrics etc.

Fashion Folio Stage 1

The tech requirements:

  • A recent computer with a recent operating system
  • An up-to-date web browser (it would be advisable to ensure you have access yo two separate web browsers, we recommend Safari and Google Chrome)
  • A headset with microphone / headphones is recommended
  • Webcam
Meet the Tutor:

The objective of this highly intensive course is for students to produce a portfolio of work which can be used to apply for an undergraduate, postgraduate fashion programme, or for employment or personal development.

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