Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Fashion Design (with Placement Year)

at De Montfort University United Kingdom

Contour Fashion is a huge, established and specialised field within fashion design. It is defined by garments worn close to, or shaping the contours of the human form, including corsetry, lingerie, swimwear, performance sportswear, nightwear and athleisure. The Contour Fashion Innovation MA is ideal for contour graduates with advanced pattern-cutting skills wishing to further their practice, or fashion or textile graduates who want to specialise in contour design.

The course explores creativity, technologies and entrepreneurship, alongside the technical considerations of this complex specialism. Contextual studies into historical, political, social and cultural considerations are at the core of this programme and fuel intellectual curiosity, speculative enquiry, imagination, and divergent thinking to successfully understand design concepts.

During this course, we prepare our graduates to succeed in this competitive and fast-developing industry. Our unparalleled understanding of the sector informs the curriculum and includes loungewear, sportswear and athleisurewear – these specialisms are in high demand following the global shift to remote working which has led to a growth in comfort-inspired, fashion-driven work attire. Marketing and visual communication is examined from the viewpoint of a creative individual, giving you the skills to develop a leading-edge portfolio and the insight into how a contour fashion label might be launched into the market place.

The future of the design industry lies in advancing technology and emerging digital techniques. Whether your creative specialism lies in media, products, interiors, exhibitions, fashion or branding and marketing, on this course you will explore and embrace digital and design related technologies in your field.

You can specialise in technologies such as user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, mobile app design, e-learning, virtual and augmented reality, 2D and 3D animation, 3D digital printing, digital display and projection design, visual and special effects for TV and film, interactive kiosk and installation design, wearable devices and smart clothing. The course is designed for students with a good working knowledge of multimedia software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator Flash, Dreamweaver and After Effects, and 3D software such as Autodesk MAYA or 3DMax, providing an opportunity to develop these technical skills to an advanced level.

You will examine the practical skills and the academic theories surrounding digital design methods. We will take you all the way from concept development and prototyping to production techniques and testing. In-depth insight into each stage of the creative production process will be supported by training in project management. This broad base of specialised skills will equip you for wide-ranging creative careers as digital designers, web and app developers, and multimedia production directors, while the understanding you will build of business planning and web presence management will teach you the key skills needed to launch a freelance career.

With us, you will gain real-world experience through live design projects, with the opportunity to collaborate with students from other disciplines. Through your major project (either creative practice based or research focused) you will have the freedom to draw on your learning and respond creatively to your chosen specialism.

Throughout the course we will empower and support you to challenge conventions, experiment boldly, and take risks. Prepare to embrace new ways of thinking and innovative approaches to contemporary design challenges, with a sophisticated suite of devices and industry software and hardware  for you to realise your creative visions.

This course will challenge you to explore the diverse and novel application of textiles and push the boundaries of textile design and production. We aim to equip you with the creative skills to enter the industry with an innovative vision for the application of textile materials and the advanced technical expertise to design, construct and test garments in a specialist area.

We encourage applications from students from either design or technical backgrounds, and previous students on this course have created some of the most exciting, pioneering work by drawing on their wide-ranging areas of expertise. We have seen an engineering graduate using lasers to enhance the design process, a mechanical design engineer investigating the performance of lightweight synthetic motorcycle clothing and a contour design graduate developing clothing for amputees.

Sustainability is embedded into the curriculum. You will critically examine the ethical and environmental impact of design and explore a variety of materials and processes. Our range of optional modules span from real-world entrepreneurial skills of marketing and business planning to responsible design and manufacture.

You will learn in a supportive environment with a host of specialist facilities. Our team of academic staff and skilled technicians have experience working in industry and provide expert knowledge across garment and product technology, intimate apparel, textile technology and innovation, fabric construction, and sustainable and ethical practices. You will have the chance to work closely with industry professionals, enhancing your learning with opportunities to connect with a range of businesses, including those focusing on textile product research and development, innovative material development and sustainable design.

DMU’s Music Technology BA is a distinctive, dynamic and market-leading course that challenges conventions in music composition and performance and explores the extraordinary musical possibilities offered by new technologies. It is ideal for forward-thinking and imaginative individuals whose passion is to create exceptional music and forge a unique voice within the arts and creative industries.

You will explore an extensive range of approaches to creating and performing, such as multi-track recording, production and composition, new technologies for musical performance, music and sound for moving image, sound synthesis theory and practice, site-specific and installation work, computer coding for the creative artist, and advanced surround sound.

You will study digital and post-digital history and aesthetics to inspire your creative vision and link your music meaningfully to the world. Based on your goals, you will choose specific compositional, technical and theoretical topics to research more deeply, particularly as you enter our flexible third year of study.

The course is taught by internationally recognised, experienced musicians who are active performers, composers and researchers.

Our professional, broad-minded and flexible graduates are well positioned to succeed in the thriving and rapidly changing contemporary digital media and music industries, and have a very strong track record at gaining employment as composers, sound designers, performing and recording artists, session musicians, recording engineers, producers and audio technicians in music management, theatre, TV and radio content and production. 

The world of marketing is both popular and challenging, offering many creative and fast-paced job opportunities. It’s an exciting and innovative field of work and this course reflects the ever-changing landscape of the industry.

You’ll learn how to analyse markets, apply marketing theories to different scenarios and contexts, identify marketing opportunities and use these to help resolve business issues, and learn about the important role social media and digital marketing play for companies and organisations.

Grounded in the latest theory and with a strong focus on practical elements, you’ll develop marketing expertise that can be applied across many different contexts and enhance your employability across a multitude of career paths. Key topics such as developments in social and digital media are embedded throughout the course and integral to certain modules.

This programme is an ideal choice if you’re looking to start a career in marketing, and offers students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the industry, so it’s suitable even if you’ve previously studied other subjects such as finance, the arts, computing, engineering or architecture.

Visual Effects BSc has been developed in consultation with the industry to deliver skills relative to the production of visual effects (VFX) across a range of contemporary media. The use of VFX is commonplace within broadcast productions, film and animation, video games, and in advertising. This is reflected in the scope of this course as it pulls from a number of disciplines including film, special effects, animation and 3D, to complement the interdisciplinarity of the subject.

This course also encourages you to develop your creative flair and understanding of industry-standard software to create your own 3D content for use in film and television projects.

As an integral part of the multibillion-pound film and television industry, studying the creative and technical skills used in VFX can open up extensive career prospects.

Our graduates have gone on to work in roles such as compositors and matte painters, as well as wider media-based roles such as colourists and finishers.

The language you speak shapes the world you see. This degree helps you understand both better, and to make connections between what you study and what goes on in the world beyond the classroom.

You will develop skills in linguistic analysis and your own abilities to use language adeptly and appropriately in any potential context. You will also acquire a range of key transferrable skills including, among others, textual analysis, synthesis, writing and general presentation skills, which will equip you for a wide range of careers.

We live in a world governed and connected by technology. At DMU we believe that you should study the nature of the 'wired' environment and how it influences who you are. As part of our approach to digital humanities, you will have the opportunity to see how communication and language operate on web-based platforms, and how the application of digital tools and methods can deepen the knowledge of your chosen subject area.

Product Design is the study of the whole design lifecycle – from idea to production. On this course you’ll study the functional and market-led requirements of product and furniture design, looking at ergonomics, aesthetics, usability and the application of technology.

Specific areas include visual language, branding, user-centred design, computer-aided design (CAD), 3D design and modelling, and design cultures. You’ll learn about sustainability and examine the development of socially conscious products that, through their technical specification, reduce waste and conserve energy.

Arts and Festivals Management is the longest-running degree course of its kind in the UK and boasts enviable industry links.

In addition to deepening your understanding of academic debates, our course will equip you with the practical tools and skills needed to become a leader in key areas of the cultural arena, including theatres, music venues, galleries, museums and festivals.

You will develop a range of interdisciplinary skills such as teamwork, marketing and management theory, fundraising, business planning, licensing, health and safety, programming and cultural policy.

In your final year, you will have the opportunity either to produce a large-scale arts event of your choice or be part of the team producing, programming and running the high-profile annual Cultural eXchanges Festival. Previous events have featured inspiring guests such as Benjamin Zephaniah, Grayson Perry, and Meera Syal.

We will teach you to become an adept problem solver, with the ability to provide dynamic solutions within this continually changing and diversifying sector.

Mechatronics covers the integration of mechanical, electronic and intelligent control sub-systems to realise a complete system, which may be a product, machine or process. The multidisciplinary nature of Mechatronics employs design principles, processes, models, toolsets and philosophy unique to Mechatronics Engineers which enable the design and development of simpler, more economical and reliable systems. Mechatronics engineers are in short supply, and enjoy highly versatile careers due to their multidisciplinary skills.

The course covers a unique balance of key analytical subjects and professional skills, ensuring that you graduate well-equipped to face challenging engineering situations in industry. The management skills necessary to operate successfully as a multidisciplinary engineer in industry are promoted and developed at all stages of the course.