Interactive Learning Skills and Communication (ILSC) will help you to develop your academic, research, communication, and literacy skills in preparation for your undergraduate degree. ILSC covers reading, writing, speaking, and listening and will give you an understanding of institutional culture, practices, norms, and expectations of UK higher education. You will develop transferable skills such as effective communication to support ongoing study, career, and professional development skills.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) provides you with the practical computer skills needed for university. In this module, you will cover fundamental topics surrounding the use of technology and discuss these together with societal and ethical perspectives. This will allow you to reflect on and discuss the main challenges facing society and consider the implications of your technology use. This module requires no previous technical experience and will introduce you to practical ICT skills that will be needed for academic success across many areas of higher education. By the end, you should have sufficient proficiency in the Microsoft Office productivity suite for planning and producing presentations, using functions, and writing formula to display, formatting and analysing quantitative data, and producing written assignments to a standard appropriate to higher education.
Within this module you will be introduced to various fundamental crafts, skills, and techniques required to support and study of a range of subjects associated with art, design and architecture. Creative Workshops 1 is delivered via a series of craft related, hands-on workshops and art practice, which will encourage and facilitate your individual creative expression through experimentation, observation and responding through drawings and image-making, using traditional and digital processes and techniques in a variety of contexts.
Approach to Design will introduce you to some of the fundamental aspects of design and visual language that are required to support a range of subjects associated with art, design and architecture. Teaching for this module is centred on practical exploration and problem-solving in response to a series of lectures, workshops, activities/tasks, and project-based assignments.
Critical and Contextual Studies introduces you to some of the key aspects of visual, contextual, and cultural studies required to support a range of subjects associated with art, design and architecture. This module combines historical and present conceptions on a variety of related topics and has been designed to support you in developing a wide range of study skills needed for your intended pathway subject; this includes research, critical thinking, referencing, reflective practice, communication, visual literacy, and presentation.
Creative Workshops 2 has been designed to help you develop competencies in drawing, visualisation, and image-making which in turn will help to support core skills and techniques required for various subjects associated with art, design and architecture. Within this module, you will explore further elements and principles of art, design, and the built environment. You will combine different techniques to interpret and respond to creative themes and produce creative work.
The purpose of this module is to give you the opportunity to confirm your independent areas of interest through a major Specialist Project. You will apply what you have learnt and developed in other modules and visually communicate your work via a portfolio presentation. Language, communication, and presentations skills will be further explored through report writing and conducting active research with regards to intended study routes, careers, and associated industries. You will be guided towards developing a self-initiated Specialist Project proposal which clearly explores aspects of your intended progression route eg, graphic design, interior design, architecture, digital arts, game design, photography, illustration, fine art.
Composition and Style teaches a structured introduction to all aspects and stages of the academic writing process. This module is vital for providing you with the knowledge required for the preparation and completion of written assignments within university and to university standards. This includes research and note-taking; structuring work; drafting and redrafting; editing and proof-reading; achieving an effective academic style; referencing; writing effectively under differing conditions; using feedback on your written work and grammar and punctuation. A considerable proportion of this module focuses on writing processes, and more specifically how these processes correspond to the different creative stages of writing.
The Cut, Form and Construction module offers a comprehensive exploration of pattern cutting and garment construction, equipping you with essential 2D and 3D technical skills to bring your design ideas to life. Through a series of practical workshops, you'll investigate both traditional and experimental pattern cutting techniques, developing innovative approaches to design and creative problem-solving. These technical explorations are contextualised within contemporary social, cultural, historical, and ethical frameworks, fostering critical reflection and informed practice. You'll develop your technical skills through a creative design project while expanding your critical thinking and inventive problem-solving. You will develop your individual creative identity and a distinctive, personal approach to making. You'll learn through a dynamic mix of lectures, practical workshops and tutorials, where you will engage with the tools, materials, and techniques that underpin both traditional and contemporary pattern cutting and construction practices.
View the full module definitionIn this module you will explore the fundamental practical, technical, and creative interpretative 2D and 3D processes and techniques within research, translation and design process for fashion design. An examination of historical, social-cultural, theoretical and environmental perspectives in contemporary design practice will help develop your understanding of current issues and contexts. You will gain a solid foundation for innovative design through the application of associated practical, technical, and creative processes. Through projects and introductory lectures you’ll explore the structure of the fashion industry and develop an awareness and appreciation of the varying roles and responsibilities within the industry and their associated employability skills. Studio project briefs and inclusive learning environments (e.g. practical workshops, seminars, group critiques, presentations and tutorials) will address context, practical application, process; develop self-reflection, communication skills and professional development.
View the full module definitionIn this module you’ll engage with diverse visual communication methods. You will develop drawing skills appropriate for different purposes, including observational drawing for research, technical drawing and experimental fashion illustration, as you further your understanding of the most effect methods and processes through which to communicate your ideas using both manual and digital techniques. You will learn about key digital communication tools, developing your confidence with key software and digital platforms. You will be encouraged to explore image-making and image-manipulation to develop compelling and engaging visual communication techniques that will contribute to your studio practice modules while discovering the capabilities of the selected programs. You will also learn to critically reflect on your personal skills and develop your individual creativity in promoting your own work, and produce a personal portfolio in both physical and digital formats. Illustration, portfolio and presentation skills will support the promotion of your creative practice to a range of audiences including potential internships/work experience opportunities, and employers.
View the full module definitionThe creative design industry is viewed as a significant contributor to the degradation of natural systems and environmental concerns and therefore the focus on sustainability is fundamental within the industry. You will develop your understanding of the current broad-ranging issues and contexts within the industry by examining theoretical perspectives in contemporary design practice and sustainable innovation. You will gain the knowledge and skills to develop innovative sustainable approaches in your creative design practice. You will develop and further explore your fundamental understanding of the practical, technical, and creative interpretative 2D and 3D processes and techniques within the research, translation and design process for design. You will gain a solid foundation for innovative and sustainable design through associated practical, technical, and creative processes. You will also explore the varying roles and responsibilities within the industry and their associated employability skills in relation to sustainability. Through studio project briefs and inclusive learning environments (e.g., practical workshops, seminars, group critiques, student presentations (e.g., process and outcomes), and tutorials) you will explore context, practical application, process and you will develop self-reflection, communication skills and professional development.
View the full module definitionChallenging the boundaries of fashion design, in this module we'll investigate design as a multidisciplinary practice and explore social, cultural, political, technological and historical issues, and consumer trends based on contemporary debates within the industry. You'll further develop your understanding of industry-led design practices, consumer lifestyle profiling, consumer trends and market level awareness, through lectures and workshops. During analysis of the primary and secondary research, translation and design process, we'll address more complex and conceptual design ideas and problems. These will involve more advanced creative, interpretative and practical 2D and 3D factors and textiles for fashion design, production and further explore more advanced visual communication techniques for design development and professional portfolio presentation. You'll investigate and analyse industry-led and conceptual contemporary fashion design practices and generate creative and innovative approaches to design. You'll build the essential skills and techniques needed to develop your confidence of design and enhance your employability and enterprise skills through application to a particular brand and market.
View the full module definitionThis module enables you to develop your creative communication skills across a range of media, including fashion photography and styling, art direction and graphics, to create brand campaigns that attract consumers and influencers to brands within the industry. It capitalises on your previous knowledge and understanding of fashion brands, and will support you to develop the essential skills and techniques needed to develop your confidence in understanding and designing effective languages of visual culture in fashion promotion, and how to create and implement fashion promotions. By the end of this module, your employability and enterprise skills will be enhanced through the learning undertaken and projects created. Lectures, seminars, workshops, and self-directed learning will help you to critically explore and challenge global perspectives on the different tools and techniques used by the fashion industry, both digital and analogue, for creating fashion narratives for different markets and audiences. By the end of this module, you'll be able to undertake deeper, more focused analysis of the strategies and key success factors of a range of fashion promotion methods.
View the full module definitionRuskin Modules are a great opportunity to explore challenges and ideas outside your area of study. Working with students from a range of courses, you'll be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines, and apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, realise your potential and help you prepare for the world of work.
This module builds on the histories, contexts, and theories introduced at Level 4, and is designed to enable you to build a framework in which to situate yourself and your developing practice as a critical, creative practitioner. With the support of lectures, seminars, as well as independent reading and research, you will consider your work, as well as the work of other creative professionals, within broader historical, theoretical, and critically informed contexts. You'll also start to engage with the ethical considerations and responsibilities that are increasingly urgent for professionals working in the creative industries today and begin to develop an increasingly detailed theoretical knowledge of your discipline. You'll explore and examine critical issues and debates within a variety of creative practices, through examples that address, complicate and problematise key topics which you will analyse in depth. The curriculum content is responsive, meaning that learning activities are open and flexible, and function in relationship to current events, discourses, and emerging debates.
View the full module definitionChallenging the boundaries of fashion design, sustainability and industry practice, in this module you'll develop your understanding of 3D digital fashion approaches for design, innovation, and garment production, from within and beyond the fashion industry. Labelled ‘the future of fashion’, ‘3D Digital Fashion’ and AI have made significant advancements within the industry facilitating sustainable production and supply chain processes, alongside the rise of digital only fashion, digital couture, inclusive markets, explorative wearer experiences, and dynamic self-expression. These are being developed for social media, new virtual and immersive territories, and gaming. You'll investigate and analyse industry and innovation-led contemporary digital fashion design practices and generate innovative approaches to your design process and outcomes, enhancing your employability and enterprise skills. This involves advanced, creative, practical, and technical 2D and 3D factors for 3D fashion design, digital pattern cutting, textiles, virtual prototyping, and 3D visual communication techniques. Through critical lectures, seminars and workshops, this module will develop further your understanding of digital 3D fashion software (Clo3D) and other tools to design and visually communicate an innovative and self-directed design project and professional portfolio for a particular market.
View the full module definitionIn this module you'll extend your skills and understanding of pattern cutting, construction and product realisation. You'll respond to a project brief that explores methods of experimental creative cutting whilst integrating and applying the fundamentals of classic garment design and construction. Challenging your existing skills, you'll develop both physical and digital products through engagement with visual research, technical design development, 2D to 3D translation and both contextual and market research. This module will help you develop confident and creative diagnostic pattern-cutting and construction skills through the application of professional industry practice and standards.
View the full module definitionThis module provides the opportunity to focus on a specialist direction within fashion design, with a view to producing a market-focused final collection and professional portfolio towards a preferred career direction. In addition, project briefs may include opportunities to engage with industry-based projects such as individually commissioned work national competitions and live projects. Your professional outcomes will enhance your employability and enterprise skills through the application of your independent design practice to a particular audience. You will prepare a proposal for an independent project to be approved by your module tutor. Through independent project management and professional practice, you will develop your understanding of appropriate methods and techniques, and demonstrate the professional commercial context of a fashion collection and portfolio for a target market and potential employers. You are encouraged to solve challenging design problems utilising an advanced awareness of contemporary design practice, sustainability in the creative industries, innovative approaches and specialist software resources. This project will also focus upon the practicalities of your coursework, professional visual communication and self-promotion within the fashion industry in preparation for employment or enterprise. Lectures, presentations, product/toile reviews, and seminars will examine creative innovation and design solutions within current dynamic fashion industry design practice. Workshops and seminars on professional practice and portfolio are designed to provide appropriate preparation for the world of work and to explore opportunities for employment, networking, industry roles and self-employment within the fashion industry. You will be expected to confidently engage in professional practice towards a range of industry networks and collaborations, project manage your work in a professional manner and meet designated deadlines. Coursework for set projects will be summatively assessed on conclusion of the module: Sketchbooks, technical file/packs, market research, fully manufactured toiles, fully manufactured outfits, visual portfolio, self-promotion and pitch presentations.
View the full module definitionThe Research Project is intended to foster your independent study with the individual guidance of a supervisor. For this module, you will devise your own clearly defined project through independent research, with the support of supervisions, lectures, workshops, and field tips. Your project may reflect on, analyse, expand upon, or enhance, your own studio work and interests. Your project will be agreed upon in consultation with academic staff and your supervisor, to ensure suitability and sufficient academic rigour. Your Research Project is an extended piece of work which is intended to strengthen and build upon the work undertaken in your previous years of study. Your project will demonstrate a contribution to knowledge of your field, and show you are able to undertake prolonged and in-depth research that investigates, critically analyses and evaluates your area of study. Throughout the Trimester, you will develop an individual research topic with the support of your supervisor. You are encouraged to take a creative, critical approach to your subject, and there is support for a wide range of topics and approaches. Your project should build upon the links between theory and practice, and engage with critical issues that are relevant to your chosen topic. Throughout the module, you will draw on a range of sources appropriate to your research, that might include: primary and secondary sources; art and design work; archives; databases; visual and material culture; critical literature; multimedia output; your own studio practice; and industry-specific publication. There may be overlaps with your studio-based practice. However, the practice-based work included in the Research Project must academically contribute to the final Research Project in terms of the theoretical and methodological framework contextualising it. At the end of the year, you will have the opportunity to present your work as part of the CSA graduate showcase.
View the full module definitionGaining work experience enhances employability, and work based learning offers you the chance to key gain industry knowledge, skills, contacts and networking opportunities. This module will give you the opportunity to explore a working environment in the industry that you have identified as relevant to your future career. The module will encourage self-managed learning, and serves to enhance your employability by developing communication, personal organisation, team-working, and networking skills and providing opportunities to apply those skills to real-world experiences thereby increasing self-reliance and confidence. The experience can be used as a basis for directing and focusing your career plans and can influence your final year projects. Lectures, group tutorials and seminars will explore skills analysis and reflective writing. You are required to identify, negotiate and agree with an employer (or employers) the terms of the placement or freelance work in association with a module tutor, to ensure that the module learning outcomes can be achieved. You will be given guidance and will be required to submit a placement/freelance registration form and risk assessments for approval by the module tutor. The work may be carried out in a variety of settings depending upon your requirements, areas of interest and availability of opportunities. The minimum period will be a minimum of 100 hours, and you can undertake more than one placement/freelance work for the module. You will also create a workplace diary that logs activity and supports an analysis of the learning achieved during your experience alongside evidence to support your application process. You are also asked to create a reflective report on your work experience. The report will include market and background information on the employer, market sector analysis, an outline your role(s) on the placement(s); academic and vocational analysis; transferable/employability and specialist skills analysis, knowledge and experience analysis; a final evaluation (impact on your final year and career aspirations); and will include copies of the submitted registration and risk assessments and other supporting appendices. Alongside contributing to module sessions and briefings, additional module support will be provided by the Anglia Ruskin University Employability Services through drop-in support and CV Surgery sessions and the Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy (AREA). You will also have access to a range of online employability information via the Careers and Employability Portal and AREA network.
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