Assessment 1 - Portfolio
A portfolio of work that demonstrates exploration of materials, media and machinery, exploring and interpreting ideas, techniques and processes for business and marketing in the fashion industry.
(Weighted at 80%) [LOs 1, 2, 3]

Assessment 2 – Studio Diary
A visual reflective studio diary, showing a detailed consideration of your own development in the context of the professional working environment. Your diary should include an evaluation of your whole learning process as you undertake the research, design and critical analysis required for assessment 1. (Weighted at 20%) [LOs 2, 4]

In this module you will be introduced to a wide range of business and marketing activities in the fashion industry, and this will underpin your future studies and industry experience. Investigation through personal enquiry and discovery will be encouraged alongside development of your knowledge of the business world. Skills relating to the technical working environment will be identified and considered, and you will develop practical abilities across a wide range of media and communication applications. You will be encouraged to seek out alternative applications and solutions to business and marketing problems, and explore a variety of techniques and practical skills. Health and safety will be included as an important aspect of the module.

A range of communication methods will be explored (e.g. trends predictions, sketchbooks, sampling files, mood boards, final boards, 2D and 3D products, presenting work at critique) and you will be encouraged to show perception through personal expression and appropriate enquiry. It is not anticipated that all work you submit will be finished pieces but it will show the stages of your development work and experimentation in the use of media and ideas exploration.

You will be expected to record your progression continuously, through an illustrated studio diary, evaluating and reflecting on your work as you move through the module. Your diary should be a rich recording of your experience, and be regularly updated with comments and examples describing your progress in the context of the wider fashion business environment, including a discussion of the constraints and challenges of the clothing industry. The diary is an important aspect of the module, showing your ability to discuss the professional context of working in the industry.

Indicative:
Introductory briefing at onset of module
Interim briefings x 4
Seminars, lectures and group tutorials considering design, audience, market, and health and safety
Workshops and studio tutorials
Group tutorials with formative feedback
Individual tutorials
Group critiques

Blanchard, T. (2004) Fashion and Graphics Laurence King Publishers
Davis Burns, L.& O. Bryant, N. (2008) The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing, and Marketing Fairchild Books
Easey, M. (2009) Fashion Marketing Wiley-Blackwell
Hines, T & Bruce, M. (2006) Fashion Marketing: Contemporary Issues. Heinemann
Moore, G. (2012) Basics Fashion Management: Fashion Promotion. AVA Publishing
Okonkwo, U. (2007) Luxury Fashion Branding: Trends, Tactics, Techniques Palgrave Macmillan
Posner, H. (2011) Marketing Fashion. Laurence King Publishing
Rath, PM. et al . (2008) The Why of the Buy: Consumer Behaviour and Fashion Marketing Fairchild Books
Tungate, M. (2008) Fashion Brands: Branding Style from Armani to Zara Kogan Page Ltd

Students will have access to studio space and college library and computer resources. University learning resources are available on campus at Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, and online via the partner Need to Know pages of the university website.
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/partnerships/current_students/email/index.jsp

1. UNDERSTAND AND INVESTIGATE YOUR OWN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT USING A RANGE OF EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS AND MEDIA TO UNDERPIN YOUR STUDIES.
[Knowledge and Understanding]

2. CREATIVELY IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE SOLUTIONS UTILISING DEVELOPED SKILLS IN ORDER TO SOLVE DESIGN PROBLEMS RELATED TO BUSINESS AND MARKETING IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY.
[Problem Solving]

3. ORGANISE AND IMPLEMENT REALISTIC AND ACHIEVABLE SOLUTIONS.
[Application]

4. RECOGNISE AND EVALUATE YOUR OWN LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN THE MODULE. [Reflection]