Higher National Diploma Live Online

This lesson launches your learning journey in fashion and textiles by introducing the fundamentals of design elements, materials, and sustainable thinking. You'll explore key concepts such as colour, texture, and research methods, while beginning to build your visual communication skills. Practical resources like croquis templates and a structured design process will support your early creative work. A formative assignment and quiz help you plan your study approach and reflect on what you've learned so far, ensuring you feel grounded and ready to progress in your studies.

This lesson explores how material choices shape fashion design, from silhouette to surface texture. Through designer examples and hands-on experimentation, you will investigate fabric behaviour, drape, and structure. You will document your insights visually, using mood boards and fabric exploration exercises to support your design development. Key techniques in fabric transformation—such as smocking, pleating, and quilting are introduced, along with innovative surface manipulation ideas. This lesson lays the groundwork for thoughtful material selection and creative experimentation in future projects

This lesson introduces the foundational skills needed to translate fashion designs into structured, buildable garments. You will explore basic pattern making, taking measurements and garment construction. Key concepts such as dart placement, seam planning, and lay plan organisation are supported through both manual and digital resources. The lesson also covers the fundamentals of technical drawing and construction documentation, helping you build confidence in communicating design ideas with clarity and precision. A focus on sustainable construction methods encourages thoughtful decision-making during the development process.

This lesson introduces the process of transforming inspiration into clear, purposeful design outcomes. You will explore how to apply design elements and principles to develop creative ideas, supported by visual and written methods. Activities focus on translating inspiration into design intent, incorporating sustainability, and understanding quality control as part of responsible practice. You will also examine care label interpretation and explore basic approaches to documenting your design process. These foundations will help you build confidence in refining and communicating your ideas within a professional context.

This lesson marks your transition into higher education, moving beyond foundational preparation to explore the rich creative, cultural, and historical context of the global fashion and textiles industry. You’ll examine key moments, movements, and influences that have shaped contemporary fashion practice, developing a deeper understanding of where your work sits within a wider cultural landscape. Sustainability, ethics, and trend awareness are introduced as essential guiding principles for modern designers. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have developed the critical thinking and research skills needed to confidently begin your advanced creative journey.

This lesson introduces you to the essential elements and principles of fashion and textile design—the core building blocks of any creative collection. You’ll explore how line, shape, texture, and balance influence the look and feel of your work, while also examining the emotional impact of colour. Practical activities include introductory draping, sketching, and developing mood boards using both hand-drawn and digital techniques. By the end of the lesson, you’ll be equipped to interpret a client brief, apply feedback constructively, and move confidently from research to creative concept, laying the groundwork for professional design development.

In this lesson, you’ll deepen your understanding of materials by exploring the fibres, fabrics, and construction techniques that bring fashion to life. You’ll learn how to identify and work with natural, synthetic, and regenerated fibres, considering their properties, uses, and environmental impact. Weaving, knitting, and key surface treatments—such as flocking, embossing, and printing—are introduced to help you make informed design decisions. Sustainability remains central as you investigate innovative fibres and industry challenges. By the end of the lesson, you’ll be equipped to select appropriate materials for your designs, grounded in knowledge of fabric performance, construction, and creative potential.

This lesson introduces the creative potential of fabric manipulation—transforming flat textiles into dynamic surfaces. You’ll explore a variety of 2D and 3D techniques used by designers to add texture, depth, and individuality to garments and textile pieces. Through step-by-step guidance and inspiration from contemporary practice, you’ll begin experimenting with gathering, pleating, quilting, and other surface treatments. Emphasis is placed on creative play, allowing you to test and refine methods that enhance your own design concepts. By the end of the lesson, you’ll understand how manipulation techniques can elevate your work and bring greater dimension to your personal design style.

In this lesson, you’ll explore how to take a fashion or textiles project from concept to completion. You’ll learn how contextual influences—such as culture, trends, and client needs—shape the creative brief, and how to develop customer profiles to guide your design direction. The lesson introduces the iterative design process, helping you refine ideas through testing, feedback, and reflection. You’ll also build your ability to research effectively, generate original concepts, and develop cohesive collections aligned with your creative vision. By the end, you’ll understand the full design cycle and how to plan, test, and evolve ideas into professional-level outcomes.

This lesson builds your foundational knowledge of garment construction through the introduction of pattern drafting, technical drawing, and block making. You’ll explore the purpose of technical drawings in the fashion industry and begin creating your own using Adobe Illustrator and CAD tools. You’ll also learn how to interpret specification sheets and apply basic principles of flat pattern cutting, technical draping, and block development. Lay planning techniques are introduced to maximise fabric efficiency. By the end of the lesson, you’ll have drafted your own basic block, created and evaluated a toile, and gained essential skills in translating ideas into production-ready patterns.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to transform basic blocks into original garment designs through the process of pattern manipulation. Key terminology such as grainline, seam allowance, darts, and ease are introduced to help you confidently read and modify patterns. You’ll learn how to develop a simple pattern from scratch or adapt a commercial one, gaining practical experience in marking, cutting, and assembling garments. Basic hand and machine sewing techniques are covered, alongside the use of toiles for testing fit and refining design. By the end of the lesson, you’ll understand how to evolve your ideas into well-constructed, customised garment prototypes.

This lesson introduces you to the essential stages of garment construction, from tools and techniques to understanding fit and finishing. You’ll learn how to identify common fitting issues and apply alterations to achieve comfort, proportion, and precision in your designs. Emphasis is placed on developing safe and efficient working practices in studio and workshop environments, with attention to health, safety, and wellbeing. You'll also explore how resilience and adaptability play a key role in creative industries. By the end of the lesson, you’ll be able to approach garment construction with greater confidence, skill, and professional awareness.

Building on your foundational skills, this lesson explores advanced garment construction techniques, including linings, facings, closures, and a range of professional finishing methods. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of how high-quality finishes enhance garment durability, appearance, and marketability. Quality control is introduced through assessment tools that help ensure consistency and craftsmanship. You'll also begin developing your visual presentation skills through fashion photography, learning to capture your work using appropriate equipment, lighting, and editing techniques. By the end of the lesson, you’ll be equipped to produce and present garments to a professional standard, ready for portfolio development or industry critique.

This lesson examines the powerful relationship between fashion, culture, and society. You’ll explore how historical events, cultural movements, and social change influence trends, consumer behaviour, and brand identity. Ethical considerations such as cultural appropriation and representation are discussed, helping you design with awareness and sensitivity. You’ll also gain insight into how sustainability fits within cultural narratives and brand strategies. Through market research, trend forecasting, and promotional analysis, you’ll learn how fashion brands connect with audiences. By the end of the lesson, you’ll be able to analyse cultural influences and use trend analysis to inform creative and commercial decision-making.

This lesson explores the evolving world of fashion consumption, highlighting shifts in consumer behaviour, technology, and sustainability. You’ll examine how brands are adapting through digital platforms, live-stream shopping, and the rise of the Metaverse. A strong focus is placed on sustainable practices—covering eco-conscious materials, ethical production, and the responsibilities of fashion companies in reducing environmental impact. You’ll also explore key industry certifications and regulations, alongside vital discussions on diversity, equality, and professional ethics. By the end of the lesson, you’ll understand how innovation and integrity shape the future of fashion—and your role in building a more responsible industry.

This lesson explores the diverse audiences and professionals who shape the fashion and textiles industry—from clients and collaborators to buyers, suppliers, and creative teams. You’ll examine how effective communication, teamwork, and management structures support successful project delivery. The concept of circular design is introduced, encouraging you to think critically about environmental impact and responsible production. You’ll explore sustainable strategies such as upcycling, mending, zero-waste design, and deconstruction. By the end of the lesson, you’ll understand how to engage a range of stakeholders and apply sustainable thinking to create fashion that is both innovative and environmentally conscious.

This lesson focuses on the importance of collaboration within the fashion and textiles industry. You’ll explore how to work effectively with professionals such as pattern cutters, tailors, stylists, and marketing teams, and learn how strong communication and networking skills support successful outcomes. The lesson also covers how to gather feedback, test ideas through toiles and mock-ups, and refine your work through evaluation. You’ll be introduced to a range of industry roles—creative, technical, managerial, and support—giving you insight into potential career pathways. By the end, you’ll be equipped to collaborate confidently and navigate the industry’s interconnected, team-based environment.

In this lesson, you’ll develop the skills needed to present your work professionally to clients, employers, and collaborators. You’ll explore industry-standard presentation formats and software, and learn how to curate a strong, cohesive portfolio that reflects your creative identity and technical ability. Emphasis is placed on selecting and editing content to suit different audiences and contexts—whether in person, online, or for self-promotion. You’ll also examine how social media can be used strategically to showcase your work and build your personal brand. By the end, you’ll be ready to present your ideas with clarity, confidence, and impact.

This final lesson brings together everything you’ve learned in the course as you plan and execute your own fashion or textiles collection. You’ll apply your creative, technical, and project management skills to develop a cohesive body of work that showcases your unique design voice. Key areas include time and resource management, budgeting, scheduling, and problem-solving. You’ll also reflect on your personal development, update your portfolio, and prepare for progression into industry or further study. By the end of the lesson, you’ll have completed a professional-standard project that demonstrates your readiness for the next stage of your fashion journey.

This lesson explores fashion and textiles through a critical contextual lens, examining historical, social, political, and cultural influences that shape design practice. You will investigate key movements, practitioners, and events that reflect or challenge societal values. Emphasis is placed on understanding audience reception, contextualising your work within global narratives, and critically engaging with fashion as cultural commentary. Through analysis and debate, you will deepen your ability to situate your creative work within complex cultural frameworks and global histories, fostering confidence in your ability to articulate informed, research-driven design decisions.

You will be introduced to philosophical and theoretical frameworks that shape contemporary design discourse. From structuralism and post-structuralism to feminism, Queer theory, post-colonial theory, and media theory, this lesson examines how cultural critiques intersect with fashion. Emphasis is placed on applying critical theory to analyse creative practice, interrogate power structures, and develop design concepts that address identity, gender, race, and representation. By exploring diverse perspectives, you will position yourself as a reflective practitioner who designs with intellectual rigor and cultural sensitivity, supporting the development of original, thoughtful, and socially engaged work.

This lesson examines how globalisation, commercialisation, consumer trends, and the digital economy shape the fashion and textiles industries. You will analyse international supply chains, market drivers, retail environments, and the complex relationship between consumer attitudes and fashion consumption. Sustainability and ethical labour practices are considered within a global economic framework, encouraging you to think critically about your role as a designer within international markets. By the end, you will understand economic factors that impact design, production, and retail, and be equipped to navigate professional conversations around commerce, globalisation, and sustainability.

In this lesson, you will develop advanced forecasting skills by examining trend cycles, prediction methodologies, and the structure of trend forecasting agencies and platforms. You will explore primary and secondary research methods and how trend data informs design and marketing strategies across global markets. You will attend virtual trade shows, analyse case studies, and develop your own forecasting reports. Emphasis is placed on interpreting and applying trend information with confidence and precision, ensuring your creative outputs are relevant, commercially viable, and informed by contemporary consumer behaviours and emerging industry developments.

You will explore forward-thinking strategies for designing sustainably and ethically within fashion and textiles. This lesson introduces circular design principles, upcycling, ethical material sourcing, and craftivism, alongside contemporary debates around environmental impact, biodiversity emergencies, and ethical labour chains. You will analyse case studies of innovative brands and design your own sustainability-driven proposals. By understanding how ecological considerations intersect with commercial practice, you will develop a holistic approach to design that prioritises innovation, longevity, and integrity, equipping you to contribute meaningfully to a responsible and future-focused fashion industry.

Building on your earlier textile knowledge, this lesson focuses on the science of textile properties—including colour, weight, breathability, and durability—and how they inform professional material selection. You will explore dyeing processes, printing techniques, constructed textiles, and surface embellishment through experimentation and prototyping. Innovative and ecological processes such as pigment bacteria dyeing and digital textile design will also be examined. You will be encouraged to push creative boundaries through experimental manipulation while understanding performance, longevity, and market suitability of materials. This lesson promotes a balance of creativity, science, and sustainability in textile innovation.

This lesson introduces cutting-edge digital technologies that are transforming fashion, including 3D design, virtual prototyping, avatar creation, AR/VR applications, and virtual fashion environments such as the Metaverse. You will learn to use software to design, render, and visualise garments in virtual contexts. The impact of these technologies on production, marketing, and consumption will be discussed, alongside ethical questions around digital consumption and accessibility. By the end, you will have developed practical digital skills and an understanding of how to integrate 3D tools into contemporary design practice.

You will develop specialist technical skills in advanced pattern cutting, precision garment construction, bespoke fitting, and tailoring techniques. Emphasis is placed on adapting patterns for complex designs, resolving defects, and achieving exacting standards of fit, comfort, and proportion. The lesson explores traditional and contemporary tailoring methods, integrating innovative construction techniques, materials, and technologies. You will create and refine bespoke garments, gaining confidence in problem-solving and applying iterative testing processes. By mastering advanced pattern engineering, you will develop the expertise to create high-quality garments that reflect craftsmanship, originality, and professional standards.

This lesson examines the principles and practices of effective teamwork, stakeholder engagement, and creative leadership in fashion contexts. You will learn how to define roles, manage collaborative workflows, and evaluate team performance. Case studies of successful collaborations will highlight communication strategies, negotiation skills, and conflict resolution. Emphasis is placed on leadership behaviours, professional ethics, and fostering inclusive and diverse creative environments. You will also engage in practical team projects to develop your ability to work across disciplines and manage creative processes with confidence, empathy, and professionalism.

In this lesson, you will acquire project management skills tailored to creative industries. Key topics include planning and scheduling (e.g., Gantt charts, critical paths, resource allocation, risk analysis, and monitoring progress. You will explore digital and cloud-based project management platforms, with an emphasis on applying these tools to real-world fashion design scenarios. You will learn to balance creativity with efficiency and accountability, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to professional standards. By the end, you will understand how to lead design projects from initiation to completion with structure and rigour.

This lesson equips you to develop comprehensive design proposals that meet client and stakeholder needs. You will learn how to research target markets, define project objectives, structure deliverables, and write service-level agreements. Client communication skills will be explored, from initial consultation through to formal briefing and progress reporting. The lesson also covers legal and ethical considerations in managing client relationships. By the end, you will have the ability to articulate your creative ideas professionally and persuasively, preparing you to secure work and manage projects effectively in a client-focused industry environment.

You will examine quality assurance frameworks, testing methodologies, and parameters for assessing fashion products, including fit, ergonomics, durability, comfort, and sustainability. The lesson introduces tools for quality control at each production stage—from prototyping and sampling to market comparison and consumer feedback. Emphasis is placed on professional standards and continuous improvement, supporting you in producing garments and textiles that meet technical specifications and market expectations. By understanding and applying rigorous testing processes, you will be equipped to ensure the quality and commercial viability of your creative work.

This lesson introduces you to the principles of entrepreneurship and business operations in the fashion industry. Topics include business structures, intellectual property, financial planning, tax liabilities, setting fees, and market positioning. You will explore strategies for launching and growing creative businesses, developing your own business plan with a clear mission statement, cashflow forecast, and USP. Practical guidance on contracts, record-keeping, and compliance will be provided. The lesson also examines professional networking and self-promotion. By the end, you will have a solid foundation for establishing your own practice or contributing to entrepreneurial ventures.

This lesson supports you in curating and presenting a professional portfolio that communicates your creative identity, technical ability, and readiness for industry progression. Topics include editing and sequencing work for different audiences, building an online presence, using social media strategically, and developing marketing materials. Personal branding principles will be explored, alongside preparing CVs, letters of application, and professional statements. You will practise interview skills and learn how to communicate effectively in professional contexts. By the end, you will be prepared to showcase your skills confidently to employers, clients, and collaborators.

The capstone lesson enables you to conceive, plan, and execute a substantial independent design project that reflects your personal creative direction and professional aspirations. You will apply research, design, technical, project management, and reflective skills to develop a coherent, resolved body of work. Emphasis is placed on critical reflection, personal development, and evaluating work in relation to cultural, market, and sustainability contexts. You will also prepare your work for public presentation, portfolio inclusion, or exhibition. By the end, you will demonstrate your readiness for employment, freelance practice, or further study at degree level.