At this stage of your degree you will have a distinct awareness of the industry area you wish to enter, and be working with an increasing understanding of the methodologies you need to adopt in order to achieve your intentions. This is the first of two sequential final major project modules that enable you to embark on a substantial individual fashion project. Together they will allow you to pursue creative ideas and refine methods, through the design and production of industry facing products that not only reveal your individual style, but also demonstrate your ability to respond to the demands of working in the contemporary fashion world. These highly practical modules, which will consolidate your prior learning, will necessitate a significant commitment to independent study, and due to the individual nature of your project, you will undertake a substantial amount of personal research and concept development as you engage in the design cycle.

This module is about identifying, researching and negotiating (with your project supervisor) an industry-based brief appropriate to your progression intentions. You will write a proposal outlining your ideas and intentions for the project, and a timeline of how you intend to achieve this. A pitch to an audience will provide the opportunity to discuss your views and gather constructive feedback. This will lead to the exploration of design and prototype sampling, with consideration for technical requirements, such as equipment and materials. The use of visual communication as a tool will be explored, and you will consider how the work you are producing in this module will contribute to your portfolio and self-promotion.

Good time management and an ability to continually review, reflect and evaluate your own progress and performance, will be of utmost importance, as by the end of this module you will need to have made some firm design decisions and identified potential solutions to your project brief. A detailed and coherent body of professional standard research, design and practical experimentation will demonstrate the journey you have undertaken in order to prepare you to move towards the final stages of production in the next module, Realising your Fashion FMP.

1. Confidently implement skills you have developed through a progressive programme of personal development.
Learning
Application

2. Independently evaluate your own work and that of other designers, in order to develop ideas and improve your own practice
Enquiry
Analysis

3. Communicate and analyse information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
Communication

Learning in this module will be facilitated through engagement in an individually managed industry-based brief and the emphasis will be on independent study, where you will use appropriate strategies that suit your ambitions.
You will also take part in:
• Project negotiation and planning meetings
• Presentation to audience
• Peer evaluation and critiques
• Supervised practical development
• Health and safety briefings
• Reflective practice
• Tutor-led discussions
• Progress tutorials

Specialist industrial sewing and pattern cutting equipment
Other specialist university workshops and studio’s
Adobe Design suite
University Library
Word-processing facilities
Internet
Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment will support this module where relevant.

At this stage in the programme you will determine your own reading list appropriate to your proposal.
However, the following books that you have used throughout your studies will be helpful:
DIEFFENBACHER, F. (2013) Fashion Thinking: Creative Approaches to the Design Process. London: AVA Academia
MBONU, E. (2014) Fashion Design Research. London: Laurence King

Assessment 1: Proposal (40%) (Learning outcome 1)
A written project proposal, outlining the project intentions and timeline.

Assessment 2: Portfolio (50%) (Learning outcomes 1, 2 & 3)
An individual portfolio of work comprising:
• Research of concept, including annotated visual reference to industry practitioners and sector practice
• Design development, sketches, samples
• Final project outcomes
• Reflective journal, critically recording the research and development process

Assessment 3: Presentation (10%) (Learning outcome 2 & 3)
A presentation of research findings and project proposal to an audience