Prepare yourself for a successful career as a fashion product designer and developer able to explore and exploit cutting edge technology and aesthetics for clothing.

The BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development course is situated in the School of Design and Technology, and is concerned with the design, development and realisation of fashion products for the fashion clothing industry. You will learn the skills of research, how to produce initial design ideas, and how to develop designs through to a finished 3D prototype. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry, its markets, and the particular role of the fashion product designer and developer within the industry. Fashion Design and Development is one of a group of fashion product courses, all of which are designed and delivered with employment in the relevant industry in mind. To this end you will study a range of units that will equip you with the relevant professional, communication and business skills, and undertake live projects set by industry where there will be presentations to and from the companies involved. You will have the option of doing a placement year in the industry between the second and final year of the course. Successful completion of this year will give you an additional qualification, and you will have the opportunity to make contacts and build valuable relationships for your future career before the end of your studies. This course focuses on producing graduates who are encouraged to make an innovative and visionary contribution to product development within the fashion industry.

BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development is based at Curtain Road in Shoreditch, on the edge of the City of London and very near to Hoxton. The area is rich in creative studios, fashion PR companies, magazine head offices, art galleries and hip restaurants, bars and clubs. Specialist markets nearby include Spitalfields and Columbia Road, the White Cube Gallery is just down the road in Hoxton Square and the Geffrye Museum is a short walk away at the bottom end of Kingsland Road.

Developing your skills

All our undergraduate courses are concerned with the development of your personal and professional skills. On your course you will evolve from learning basic skills in your discipline through to a position where you are an independent creative thinker capable of making an effective contribution to the relevant sector of the fashion industry. Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills are embedded in all units on every course. Speaker programmes with contributions from alumni, members of industry and others are a part of many courses, as are work placement opportunities in industry. Where relevant, students have the chance to attend trade fairs, enter industry competitions, visit exhibitions and go on field trips and visits. The central position of our John Prince’s Street site in the West End affords students easy access to all sectors of the fashion retail market. In addition, our position as a constituent College in the University of the Arts London means that our students have access to the wide range of activities and events that occur in all the Colleges and at the University’s centre. Last but not least, being in London gives every student opportunities to explore and be inspired by the cultural, intellectual and social life of one of the great capital cities of the world.

Future Careers and Graduate Prospects

Graduates who wish to continue their education at postgraduate level are encouraged to progress to suitable courses within the College, the University or elsewhere.

Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. Recent graduates have found employment with Hussein Chalayan for Puma, Marks and Spencer, Burberry, Jaeger, Mothercare, Jasper Conran and Matthew Williamson. Last year the following companies have employed graduates from this course: Mulberry, IT Boutique, Suitcase Magazine, Victoria Beckham, Richard Nicoll, Roksanda Illinic, White Stuff, Topshop, Karen Millen, Browns and Massimo Dutti.

LCF Careers

LCF Careers provides a comprehensive career management service supporting our students to become informed and self-reliant individuals able to plan and manage their own careers.