Programme summary for BA (Hons) Fashion Futures: Trend Forecasting & Prediction

If you have always wanted to study fashion but have never wanted to design or make clothes then this programme is for you. You will be involved in trend prediction and forecasting – perhaps ten or twenty years into the future, becoming a confident researcher and presenter, at ease with digital media, and web based technology, able to advise industry professionals on changes and developments that will impact on the retail environment and consumers of fashion lifestyle and culture. The Fashion Futures programme defines fashion in its generic sense – communication, luxury, fashion (clothes), lifestyle and culture, increasingly, these are the areas that the fashion retail and lifestyle sector want to know more about.

You will have the opportunity to do a six to eight week placement in your second year, recently we have had students placed at WGSN, Poke London, Whatwhenadnnow, Yellow Door, LMB and Art Rocker.

You will study alongside other fashion and textile students, sharing the creative space, and will contribute to the innovative and culturally diverse fashion and textile environment.

”Overall, an excellent, vibrant, exciting and well thought out programme,.” Martin Raymond Creative Director Futurelaboratory June 2005

About the programme

This programme focuses on the human experience and the forecasting of forward and future predicted trends. You will be challenged by design and forecasting opportunities as they might exist 10 or 20 years in the future, and will be asked to explore an ethnographic approach totrend analysis. This programme embraces innovation in brands, retail, culture, lifestyle, luxury and communication.

2-subject degrees

You can combine this programme with a range of other subjects as part of a 2-subject degree. Popular combinations include Fashion Futures with Photography.

Programme structure

In this three year degree programme, you will work alongside Fashion Design, Fashion Design with Marketing and Textiles Surface design students in a shared creative space. In level one you will build on and develop some skills that you already have, others will be introduced like research methods for fashion forecasting, and understanding trends and how they happen, visual communication for fashion forecasting and understanding networks and connectivity.

In the second and third levels, students develop their own predictive ideas through an exciting and challenging range of relevant projects which focus on prediction and forecasting. Visiting Speakers from trend forecasting and insight management companies will have input in the delivery and critique of your work. There will be various organised study visits within the UK, and to an appropriate European destination.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities exist as researchers, trend forecasters and futurologists, in broadcasting and the media, in insight management teams and in strategic development in cultural industries.

Support

The University provides a comprehensive range of support services for students which includes: residential / student finance advice / careers advice / study skills development / IT learning resources. The programme provides strong personal tutor guidance and professional advice related to the practice and area in general. Visiting futurologists, researchers, and professionals will visit the programme regularly, and study trips to working environments (both UK and Europe) gives added breadth. There are modules in research methods and practice, and an employability module in level 2 prior to the industrial placement. The University also provides an Employablity event with workshops seminars and visiting speakers You will have the opportunity to enter national and international competitions sometimes as part of the programme, and sometimes as extra to the curriculum.

Admission

Students are selected on their suitability for the programme by the submission of a portfolio and an interview. Applicants would normally have completed an Art and Design Foundation, GAD, or an appropriate BTEC, GNVQ or Access programme of at least one year's duration prior to joining the programme. Students with other relevant professional or life experience will also be considered, but should have a port folio of project work.

Alternatively, students may come from programmes where they have specialised in Digital Arts or Visual Communication - Graphics) you must have a keen sense of fashion in its generic sense, and be able to demonstrate creative thinking and design awareness.

Applicants should normally have GCSE Grade C (minimum) in English and 4 other subjects.

Overseas applicants are required to show certificated evidence of qualifications and have an IELTS score of 6.0, with no single test below 5.5, together with a portfolio of work (which must be submitted digitally.)