Course units
Year one
Introduction to Menswear
Introduction to Menswear aims to introduce you to your course and its subject specialism as well as to effective learning and studentship at undergraduate level. It will orientate you to the practices and knowledge base needed to understand your discipline and help you to develop your skills for independent & collaborative learning, reflection and your own self development. Students come from many diverse educational backgrounds and a part of this unit will enable to reflect on your own background and how that shapes the way you approach your course.
Design and Realisation
Design and Realisation introduces you to a variety of research approaches and explores their relevance and application within design and realisation.
There will be a focus on the importance of research and creative concepts as the basis for design development. You will be encouraged to develop creative ideas that relate to and expand upon your visual references and research sources to inform final outcomes. You will be encouraged to nurture innovation in all areas.
Effective visual communication skills will be integral to this unit. You will be introduced to ways of recording your work in a visually stimulating, exciting and informative way, using a variety of methods and media.
You will be introduced to core practical skills through demonstration of pattern-cutting and garment construction, culminating in a completed garment. By undertaking independent study you will enhance skills learnt within sessions.
Fashion Cultures and Histories
Fashion Cultures and Histories introduces the Cultural and Historical Studies approach to fashion and related areas. The unit provides a broad overview of the subject and introduces key concepts and ways of thinking that will form the basis of subsequent study. It will also inform decisions regarding the Cultural and Historical Studies unit that is chosen for future study.
Form and Structure
This unit will build on the knowledge gained in Block 1 and will develop your understanding of the construction and finishing principles involved in contemporary tailoring. There will be an emphasis on creative shape development and innovative cutting techniques with detailed 3D experimentation.
You will develop your understanding of ethically and environmentally aware fabric sourcing and appropriate fabrics, to realise your designs as part of your development process.
Portfolio presentation skills will be developed to further facilitate clear communication of your design ideas, process and final outcomes.
Preparation for year 2 industry placement will take the form of a CV, cover letter and mini portfolio curated from your year 1 work to date.
Year two
You will be able to study a Cultural and Historical Studies unit of your choice that will broaden your learning of areas relating to your interests in your chosen field. You will have the opportunity to participate in lectures, seminars and workshops with students from other courses within your School and you will read relevant academic texts and complete a formal academic essay for assessment. Further information on the options available will be provided during Year 1 of your studies.
Range Development
This unit will introduce you to the importance of range development through design for a client – either simulated or actual.
You will be required to analyse the client requirements and refine your visual communication skills.
Work Experience
The Work Experience unit will provide you with the opportunity to further develop your skills and apply them in a professional environment. You will experience real industry challenges and working practices and will be able to examine the way in which a professional team respond to different situations. The unit will increase your awareness of the industry and the opportunities for career progression. You will be expected to take an analytical and reflective approach to the work experience and will produce written and visual evidence of your knowledge, based on a minimum 10-week period in industry. LCF Graduate Futures will provide career guidance in order to prepare you for your work experience. You will be expected to engage and be proactive in securing your own work experience, relevant to your skills and career aspirations, this means applying directly to companies. You will also be expected to provide feedback on your experience both during and after your work placement. The College Placement Handbook will provide additional support for this Unit.
Collaborative Project
This Collaborative Project emphasises teamwork and will offer you the opportunity to work as part of a design team. An understanding of team working, as well the ability to communicate and present combined design concepts and products, are attributes that will help prepare you for the challenges of the creative industries.
You will build on your knowledge of range development to create a coherent collection for a real or simulated client. You will develop an understanding of the client and their brand ethos and undertake critical analysis of the information gathered to propose design solutions. You will develop your ability to collate relevant information and expand upon creative concepts and theories related to this research.
To prepare you for your Stage 3 you will explore the role of research and practice-based research methods in the development of a collection, by writing a design proposal for year 3. Your proposal will support the development of ethical, inclusive, empathetic, design propositions for your final year.
Optional Diploma Year
CCI Creative Computing
Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear (with Creative Computing).
CCI Apple Diploma
Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Apple Development. This will give you an opportunity to become an accredited apple developer alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear (with Apple Development).
Final year
Contextualising Your Practice
Contextualising Your Practice allows you to build on 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 design-led research methods and significant cultural and critical theories. It is an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial piece of structured research that examines fashion practise in context, and it will build on the critical debates and concerns raised through your course.
Pre-Collection
This unit is designed to prepare you for the Final Collection. You will be expected to negotiate a project brief that will support the development of a thorough body of work that evidences investigation and innovation in both design and realisation.
You will identify your proposed market level, customer, brand ethos and core philosophy as a designer. You will consider ethical business models and socially responsible design practices.
You will undertake a practical journey culminating in a body of work that shows innovative design and technical experimentation with fabric, process and potential garment solutions.
You will be expected to engage in prototype testing that will be evidenced through 2D and 3D investigation and sampling, within both your design and technical portfolios. The focus of this project is on using your skills to show extensive creative experimentation, whilst considering the practical aspects of problem-solving, through fabric and trims sourcing. Extensive investigation into appropriate use of finish, detailing and manufacture will be documented alongside silhouette/shape development.
Final Collection
The Final Collection unit is the culmination of your undergraduate learning experience. Through the development of a final major project, you will be further demonstrating your innovative approach and deeper engagement, analysis and conclusions drawn from your Pre-Collection unit. You should refine and execute your design, design development and realisations established through a process of design synthesis. Through practical application, you will be demonstrating your rigorous analysis in the exploration and development of your design ideas. This unit provides the opportunity to apply the findings established through your investigation of the challenges of your chosen brief. It evidences your ability to construct, direct and organise an overall professional outcome. This Final Collection is the vehicle by which you evaluate and reflect upon your own learning and skills in order to establish a potential career path. You will accompany your work with a career pack that will enable you to take up roles or pursue business objectives when you graduate from London College of Fashion.
All students are advised to set up a profile on portfolio.arts.ac.uk, UAL’s new portfolio platform, which can be done at any point during your time at LCF and will last for up to 12 months after graduation. This platform is often used to source student work for promotional use on the website, social media and for print and can be a great way of getting your work seen. You may also be asked to have a portfolio profile for the selection process when it comes to degree shows.
