Course units
Unit 1 – Realising the past
You’ll explore the construction methods and historical contexts of garments. This will be investigated through analysis of visual sources. For example, through portraiture, photography, existing clothing artefacts and other relevant archival sources.
In response to the research, you’ll:
- develop your realisation skills through practical studio practices and workshops, transforming your discoveries into a 3-dimensional costume artefact
- apply creative costume-making strategies to explore practical responses to methods of representation and realisation
- have regular conversations with your tutor to create a plan that helps you shape and achieve your goals for your final project.
Unit 2 – Sustaining the future
You’ll investigate the social and political value of textiles and dress and consider whose lives and costume histories are – and are not – preserved and represented on stage and screen. You’ll consider past and current practices for dress and textile production through archival research and their fabrication and representations in the creative industries.
You’ll also explore the conservation of textiles looking at techniques and conditions for preservation and conservation. This research will uncover any sustainable and social impacts on future decision-making processes related to current costume practices and fabrication.
Unit 3 – Research through practice
In this unit, you will develop your practice through a collaborative research project with other Wimbledon MA performance-based courses. Focusing on a specific area of interest, you will undertake a collaborative creative research project which could serve as a foundation for your practical and/or written work in Unit 4.
Unit 4 - Costume and audience
This unit involves choosing, planning and creating a thoroughly researched costume. The decision-making skills that you’ve developed throughout your studies will be applied to this final piece.
You’ll apply your research findings and make ethical decisions in your work. You’ll present them to contemporary audiences. Achieving your research goals will involve collaborating with others and showing your grasp of the diverse aspects of costume design.
Your work will also be documented in a process portfolio or contextual essay that will reflect your progress. This will set out your commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. It will showcase your skills and expertise as a costume practitioner.
Note: 120 Credits must be passed before the final unit is undertaken.
