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Fashion Design Professional Diploma Home Study

Develop the advanced skills and in-depth knowledge needed to start your own fashion design business.
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Professional Diploma Home Study

Start Date

Can be started at any time

Price

€1,785 (Easy-pay plan available)

Duration

Approximately 9 months

Work Placement

Graduates of this course are eligible for a one month work placement with a fashion design company. All placements are made in the Dublin and Cork areas.

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Study Option
Home Study

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Entry Requirements
18 years old or over
Assessment
15 online practical assignments
Recognition

a. The Professional Diploma is accredited by the CPD Standards Office.

b. The Fashion Design Academy of Ireland is an accredited provider of the British Accreditation Council (BAC).

Completing the Professional Diploma in Fashion Design (Advanced Practice) will enable you to start your own successful fashion design business by honing your skills to create, present and manage your own fashion collection.

Designed around 15 practical assignments, you will incrementally develop the advanced techniques and deep understanding of the industry that you need to succeed as a fashion designer.

As a home study student you will have full access to our student area, the Online Learning Centre, which contains course material created by industry experts including: instructional videos, written content and assignments.

Our tutors provide all the support, knowledge and in-depth feedback you need to progress through your course and are always contactable through the Online Learning Centre.

On average a student studying around 15 hours per week can complete the course in 18 months, a student studying around 30 hours a week can complete the course in 9 months*.

*Completion time is based on total course qualification time at either a part-time or full-time rate. Students have up to 36 months to complete the course.

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Topics

The list below provides an overview of the topics covered in this course.

    • Fundamental Techniques in Fashion Design

    Learn the core skills needed to create innovative designs season after season. Explore creative techniques, master flat pattern drafting and pattern manipulation to create new designs. Use this knowledge to create a garment for a customer attending an event. Learn how to:

    • Create and use a sketchbook
    • Generate ideas
    • Create and use a mini mannequin for draping
    • Use flat pattern techniques

    • Working with Materials

    Develop your skills to create a three outfit, ready to wear collection. Experiment with materials to understand their properties and use manipulation techniques to create new fabrics. Learn about:

    • Choosing and examining fabrics
    • Manipulating materials
    • Sewing techniques
    • Swatch books
    • Presentation boards and presenting your work professionally

    • Cultural Movements in Fashion Design

    Examine how society, history, technology, economics and culture influence fashion design practice. Complete a research project to learn about key historical movements in fashion design. Learn how to:

    • Use research methods
    • Analyse key movements in history
    • Develop key insights about contemporary design influences
    • Present research findings professionally

    • Creating a Garment

    Build the technical skills needed to turn a design into a finished outfit. Improve accuracy in pattern drafting and design interpretation by creating a basic garment. Learn how to:

    • Measure a person for a pattern
    • Create specification sheets
    • Research, source and test fabrics
    • Draft patterns
    • Create toiles and examine fitting
    • Cut patterns and sew a finished garment

    • Designing Collections for a Brand

    Examine market trends to identify customer needs and design a six outfit fashion collection. Learn how to:

    • Examine current and future trends
    • Create a strategy for creating a fashion collection
    • Develop designs and brand logos
    • Create line-ups and technical drawings
    • Examine fabric quality

    • Using Fashion Design Software

    Build awareness of computer aided design in contemporary practice. Explore fashion design software to create professional looking 2D and 3D illustrations for a fashion collection. You will learn about:

    • 2D and 3D computer generated illustrations
    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Working with croquis
    • Creating flat technical drawings
    • Understanding the pros and cons of computer aided design

    • Creative Thinking and Independent Practice

    Use your skill-set to create a complete outfit for a fashion show, based on a set theme and topic. Learn how to:

    • Work independently on a fashion design project
    • Practice techniques for developing ideas, produce illustrations and creating an outfit
    • Improve critical thinking and analysis of project needs
    • Manage the development of garment creation
    • Present finished garments to a committee

    • Portfolio Creation and Career Planning

    Examine career goals and different pathways into the fashion design industry. Develop a portfolio for potential employers and customers that demonstrates your skills and shows your approach to fashion design. Learn how to:

    • Investigate the fashion design profession
    • Examine strengths and weaknesses in your skill-set
    • Identify career goals
    • Plan career development milestones
    • Curate a professional looking portfolio

Tutors

All our tutors are fashion design professionals working in the industry.

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The course shows videos on doing the assignments. They also recommended books to help the student with design trends.

Student testimonial

Conor Eason

Student

The course has the right blend of theoretical and practical knowledge. I am really enjoying it and I feel I have learnt so much.

Student testimonial

Tracey Granger

Student

I am pleased with the course - I can fit it in around my schedule. The feedback from my tutor is helpful and informative.

Student testimonial

Shanon Wynne

Student

I am really enjoying the course! I am confident that I will be well set up to work as a Fashion Designer.

Student testimonial

Chalice Harrison

Student

The Fashion Design Academy of Ireland

Our philosophy at the Fashion Design Academy of Ireland is to make high-quality education accessible to all by empowering people to do what they love. Through the power of online and blended learning, our students are able to harness their creativity and practically apply it to succeed in their chosen careers.

Pursue your ambition - because the future is today!

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Choosing the right course

We offer a range of fashion design courses to suit your goals.

Why not contact our experienced staff for advice, or browse to our other courses.

Diploma Home Study
Higher National Certificate Home Study

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