1. Demonstrate foundational knowledge, concepts, and skills using a range of traditional, digital and technical skills, equipment and processes from the fashion and textiles industry. Knowledge and Understanding

2. Apply technical and creative methods to produce a coherent portfolio of work for realistic and achievable solutions for the fashion industry Application and Problem Solving

3. Use digital software relevant to the fashion industry and garment manufacture to support creative production. Digital Literacy

4. Reflect on your technical, creative, and professional development to enable your future development. Reflection Personal Development & Entrepreneurship

Assessment 1: Sample Portfolio
A sample folder demonstrating ability to apply a range of technical skills and processes in print, pattern cutting, garment manufacture, styling/art direction and final garment.

Assessment 2: Technical/Reflective Notebook
An annotated and illustrated technical notebook recording equipment and step by step instructions on technical processes undertaken in print, pattern cutting, garment manufacture and styling. Along with demonstrating your understanding of accompanying CAD workshops and software.

This can be submitted as:
Option 1: Written reflection with supporting visuals – word count 1200
Option 2: Audio recording with image folder – 5-6 mins
Option 3: Video reflection with supporting visuals – 5-6 mins

Formative Assessment:
Midway formative feedback will be embedded within practical sessions, providing structured opportunities for feedback on work-in-progress to support student development and progression.

This highly practical module aims to equip you with a fundamental overview of technical skills in fashion through a combination of workshops and independent study. It will introduce you to a wide range of materials, media and equipment that will underpin your future studies and industry experience within the fashion and textiles industry. Skills relating to the technical working environment will be identified and considered, and you will develop practical abilities across a wide range of equipment and tools.

The module will develop your knowledge and understanding of fabric properties, pattern cutting, print, garment construction, styling / art direction and CAD drawing. Becoming increasingly familiar with how garments are created will further enhance your knowledge of the industry, as you will know where and how to position prints and seams to ensure garments fit the body properly, and how fabrics can be manipulated to achieve the desired garment style and shape.

The activities you undertake throughout the module will build a portfolio of technical work demonstrating your skills in pattern cutting, garment construction, print, styling / art direction and CAD, through traditional and digital methods. This will be supported by an increasing glossary of technical language and subject terminology, and an awareness of fibres and fabric properties. You will support this work with an ongoing detailed technical notebook that documents each process through sketches, samples and annotations. This will serve as an aide memoire on which you will be able to reflect when revisiting methods in the future.

This highly practical module introduces the core technical skills required for fashion study and industry practice. Through workshops and independent study, you will explore materials, tools and equipment used in garment construction, pattern cutting, print, styling, CAD and fabric manipulation. You will develop an understanding of fabric properties and how garments are designed, constructed and finished. The module builds a technical portfolio supported by a detailed process notebook, enabling you to document methods, develop industry terminology and establish a strong foundation for future fashion projects and professional practice.

- Lectures
- Specialist workshops
- Seminar discussions
- Tutorials
- Drop-in support sessions
- Group work
- Independent study
- Practical development in response to a brief
- Reflective practice

Cohn, N. (2016) The visual narrative reader. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Gavaler, C. (2022) The comics form. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Miers, J. W. (2017) Visual metaphor and drawn narratives. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Davies, P. F. (2020) Comics as communication: A functional approach. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Where older texts are included, they are retained as foundational texts within the discipline, remaining relevant where no more recent equivalent texts are available.

- Student Life https://www.youtube.com/@uniofstaffsstudentlife/videos
- University Careers https://staffs.careercentre.me/Members
- University Library https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/library
- Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment will support this module where relevant
- Specialist Spaces
- Smart Zone
- CAD Labs
- Print Bureau
- Betty Smithers Design collection