Fashion Design Course - Postgraduate (Home Study)
Home Study

Home Studycourse

Start Date:  Can be started at any time
Price:  € 995 (easy-pay plan available)
Duration:  Approximately 9 months
Assessment:  15 Practical Assignments
Level:  Equivalent to level 6 on the NFQ
Accreditation:  Open & Distance Learning Quality Council
Course Type:  Home Study
Entry Requirements:  18 years old or over.
Work Placements:  Graduates of this course are eligible for a one month internship with a fashion design company.
All placements are made in the Dublin area.
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Postgraduate course in Fashion Design

ELIGIBLE FOR WORK PLACEMENT
The Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion Design offers you an in-depth and technical knowledge of this compelling profession, giving you everything you need to start your own successful fashion design business. The course covers subjects such as: understanding fabrics, pattern creation, garment construction, building your portfolio, brand identity and setting up your business, all the technical information you will need to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry.

Throughout the course you will complete 15 practical assignments designed to give you the skills you need to succeed as an fashion design professional. Assignments can be completed at any time within a maximum time frame of three years. Most students complete the course in nine months.

Can be studied as a stand-alone course.

See below for a full list of topics covered »

Postgraduate Course Study Contents:

  • Welcome Letter - from the course director
  • Recommended Materials & Supplementary Reading List
  • Initial Assignments and Submission Requirements
  • All Course Content & Instructional Videos

Techniques and Practices

Unit One

In this unit, you will develop the skills that enable you as a fashion designer to create innovative shapes through draping on a mannequin. Explore the techniques of flat pattern drafting and how to manipulate patterns to create new designs, tailored to specific measurements. This unit is the perfect place to start to learn the different techniques and processes at the core of the fashion industry. In this unit, we will cover the following:

  • Idea generation
  • Starting your sketchbook
  • Draping
  • Flat pattern techniques
  • Sketching
  • Creating a mood board
  • Presentation boards

Fashion and Textile Practices

Unit Two

The focus of this unit is to explore and research textiles. Understanding the properties of fabrics, weights and their appropriate uses. Experimenting with fibres by painting, printing and shredding to create new fabrics. Introduction to sewing techniques. In this unit, we will cover the following:

  • Creating a swatch book
  • Understanding technical aspects of fabrics
  • Choosing fabrics
  • Deconstruction/reconstruction of fabrics
  • Experimenting with fabrics
  • Technical sewing notebook - including zip, seams, bindings and garment construction
  • Sewing different fabric types

Contextual Studies

Unit Three

This unit looks at the history of fashion design. You will develop an historical understanding of fashion and its connection with identities and cultures, giving you a complete and well-rounded education on the subject. In this unit, we will cover the following periods:

  • The rise of Haute Couture
  • The roaring 20s
  • The Great Depression and World War I
  • Hollywood glamour
  • Flower power
  • "Saturday Night Fever", ethnic bohemian, punk
  • "Material Girls", "New Romantics"
  • Minimalism, power dressing, grunge
  • Street style, mash-up, globalisation
  • Wearable technology

Pattern Cutting and Garment Making

Unit Four

In this unit, you will build on the skills introduced in unit one and unit two by developing your technical ability to create patterns and sewing skills in order to produce a final garment. In this unit, we will cover the following:

  • How to measure a person for individual patterns
  • How to create a dress, bodice and skirt block
  • Manipulating pattern blocks to create new pattern styles
  • Working with lay plans and fabric cutting
  • Sewing calico toiles and assessing for proper fitting
  • Creating a finished garment

Fashion Collection

Unit Five

In this unit, you will develop your first cohesive fashion collection. This includes everything from the initial client brief, to creating brand identity, to research and logo design, to responding to current trends through to final presentation of design work. The best way to predict the future is to create it. In this unit, we will cover the following:

  • Trend forecasting
  • Concept boards
  • Design development
  • Brand identity
  • Fashion collection line-up
  • Fashion marketing and promotion
  • Pricing

Computer Aided Design(CAD) - Illustrator for Fashion

Unit Six

In this unit, you will learn the tools of Adobe Illustrator to create fashion drawings and collection line-ups through video tutorials and written notes to help you develop your own individual style. In this unit, we will cover the following:

  • Learning the tools of the software
  • How to create technical drawings - fashion flats
  • Working with supplied croquis
  • Creating a personal drawing style
  • Introducing colour
  • Creating a line-up

Individual Project

Unit Seven

In this unit, you will bring together all that you have learned in one cohesive project, applying the knowledge and skills you have developed. You will present a project showing your understanding of how the design process works from concept to completion, we will cover the following:

  • Development of personal skills
  • Experimenting with ideas
  • Looking at creative design solutions
  • Develop project and time management skills
  • Industry specific presentation skills
  • Presenting a body of work to add to your portfolio
  • A reflective journal

Professional Development

Unit Eight

This unit covers what you need to know in order to set-up your own fashion design business or work within an established studio or with an established designer. You will be encouraged to analyse the strengths and weaknesses within your own work and to develop a career plan, with the help of your tutor. Throughout this unit you will become aware of what is required of a fashion designer from a personal and professional presentation point of view. In this unit, we will cover the following:

  • Portfolio presentation
  • Career guidance
  • Career paths
  • Interview techniques
  • Business structures
  • Interview presentation.
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