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

 This programme is no longer recruiting.

Final award

BA (Hons)

Intermediate awards available

Dip HE; Cert HE

UCAS code

 

Details of professional body accreditation

N/A

Relevant QAA Benchmark statements

Art and Design

Date specification last up-dated

Mar 2012

Profile

The summary - UCAS programme profile

BANNER BOX:

-

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

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.)

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

What is Fashion Futures: Trend Forecasting & Prediction?

This programme focuses on the human experience and the forecasting of forward and future predicted trends. Students 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 to trend analysis. This programme embraces innovation in product, brands, retail image, culture, and lifestyle in fashion.

BA (Hons) Fashion Futures: Trend Forecasting & Prediction at UEL

  • Study fashion in its generic sense: luxury, communication, culture, clothes, and lifestyle
  • Make networks and connections (Don't make clothes)
  • Spot new trends rising
  • Become confident with digital and web based media
  • Do lots of field-work - observation and ethnography
  • Study research methods
  • Become confident presenters and proficient researchers
  • Be totally involved with fashion
  • Understand current fashion trends and how they happen
  • Predict future trends and the consumer groups who will adopt them
  • Put together two dimensional imagery that visualises your predictions
  • Research and analyse current fashion trends
  • Understand the methods of data collection
  • Become proficient in a range of digital technology and photography - to assist you with visual presentation of work
  • Interact with various consumer groups - where they are and who they are

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.

Learning environment

Teaching and learning methods in the Fashion & Textiles Subject Area (Field) are varied. Most modules include lectures, seminars and tutorials, and some also involve student-led seminars or other forms of group work. Visits to museums, galleries and other relevant field work play an important part in the Fashion Futures curriculum, and where appropriate there may be video and film screenings.

Teaching methods and learning outcomes of all Fashion & Textiles modules are commensurate with the level of study. Descriptions of the individual modules provide information of teaching formats, learning outcomes, assessment methods and relevant criteria.

Assessment

All work is assessed: summative assessment is given at the end of each module formative assessment is given at regular tutorials, at the end of each module, and in the studio environment. Assignments are verified by an External Examiner, double marked and moderated. There are feedback and appraisal mechanisms in place to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning, reflect on their learning and progression. There are no exams.

Work experience/placement opportunities

The Live External placement module is in the second level, at the end of Semester B. The placement is for between 6 - 8 weeks and carries 20 credits. Staff work together with the student to arrange appropriate sector work placements.

Students may return to their host company, if invited, after handing in their assignment on the given date.

Project work

All assignments are problem based. Projects are either practical, i.e. answering a specific design brief responding to a given problem, (usually a visual outcome) or theoretical, i.e. have a written outcome. They are designed to enable and encourage students to develop individual, creative, academic potential, and demonstrate individuality, flare and insight in research for forecasting and prediction. There will be opportunities to work in groups and develop individually. Project work is an important part of the programme, and contributes fully towards the assessment.

Added value

The programme is sited in a purpose built, new Architecture and Visual Arts building on the University's landmark Docklands Campus, is situated in the creative heartland of London, an area of intense new media activity adjacent to Excel, Canary Wharf, and London City Airport and near the new international rail terminus for Europe at Stratford.

The Programme has strong links with Industry in the UK, ranging from Trend and Forecasting Agencies, Design Studios, Media and Public Relations, and connections within the Cultural Industries.

Programme Staff are well connected with the Fashion Industry, in the area of futurology and trend forecasting, working as practitioners and consultants in the field.

IS THIS THE PROGRAMME FOR ME?

If you are interested in...

  • Understanding trends and how they happen
  • Predicting future trends in fashion - communication, luxury, culture, lifestyle and clothes
  • Digital and web based media
  • Designing presentations and trend briefings
  • Discussing your ideas for the future
  • Research methods
  • Visualising research

If you enjoy...

  • A challenging and innovative programme of study
  • Working with others - members of staff, visiting professionals from industry, and your peer group
  • Being introduced to new concepts and ideas
  • Using digital and web based media
  • Inventing and predicting new ways to present your work
  • Researching all the different aspects of culture, brands and lifestyle
  • Finding out about how and why people consume (make choices and decisions)

If you want...

This programme reflects the youth of the industry sector. Already there are many established trend prediction and forecasting companies, but there are also many insight management teams within large companies working on forecasting future trends in their sector. The range of topics available on this programme will equip you with the skills necessary to be part of this stimulating industry sector.

You may like to combine this programme with BA Hons Moving Image, or BA Hons Photography

Your future career

  • Futurologist
  • Trend predictor
  • Brand strategy / prediction / insight management team
  • Brand development & Re-branding team
  • Futures Researcher - Fashion Forecaster
  • The creative industries

All students have the opportunity to take part in the static exhibition at Graduate Fashion Week, a national showcase for potential employers to meet Graduates, and to fulfil their recruitment requirements. Fashion Futures graduates also have their own exhibition at an appropriate venue.

How we support you

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.

Bonus factors

  • Industry involvement
  • Placement opportunities
  • Overseas study trip opportunity
  • Young industry sector
  • University of East London is well placed geographically, well connected with transport links - DLR tube and airport close to the campus.

Outcomes

Programme aims and learning outcomes

What is this programme designed to achieve?

This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:

  • Become fashion futures graduates equipped to play leading roles in trend forecasting, futures, and the industry sector, and in continuing professional development
  • learn how to locate the future in the present, and to predict future consumers, brands and scenarios
  • Develop a broad knowledge and conceptual base in the field of futurology and trend forecasting

What will you learn?

Knowledge and understanding

  • gain a broad and comparative knowledge and understanding of the visual and intellectual culture of trend prediction and forecasting(maj/joint)
  • develop a broad and varied knowledge of research methods employed in the trend forecasting industry sector (maj/joint)
  • develop a broad knowledge of information hubs and technologies for reporting change and predicted developments (maj/joint)

'Thinking' skills

  • interpret research and research findings visually using a range of media - digital and traditional (maj/joint)
  • employ convergent and divergent thinking in the process of observation, investigation speculative enquiry and visualisation (maj/joint)
  • analyse research findings using effective processes (maj/joint)

Subject-Based Practical skills

  • generate ideas concepts proposals and solutions independently and collaboratively in response to set briefs and self initiated study (maj/joint)
  • select test and make appropriate use of technology processes and environments (maj/joint)
  • articulate research findings coherently and effectively through the presentation or trend briefing (maj/joint)

Skills for life and work

  • manage time efficiently (maj/joint)
  • acknowledge the work of others in terms of professionals and peer group (maj/joint)
  • retrieve evaluate and manipulate information from a variety of sources (maj/joint)

Structure

The programme structure

Introduction

All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.

One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).

Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:

  • 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
  • 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
  • 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
  • 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
  • M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree

Credit rating

The overall credit-rating of this programme is 360 credits.

Typical duration

The expected duration of this programme is three years when attended in full-time mode or six years in part-time mode. It is possible to move from a full-time mode of study to a part-time mode of study and vice-versa, to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.

How the teaching year is divided

The teaching year begins in September and ends in June but some programmes also allow students to join at the start of Semester B, in February. A student, normally registering for 6 modules in one year (3 modules in each Semester) would do so in a full-time attendance mode of study and a student registering for up to 4 modules in one year (2 modules in each Semester) would do so in part-time attendance mode of study.

What you will study when

The following are the core and optional requirements for the single and major routes for this programme

LEVELTITLESKILLS MODULES
(Insert Y where appropriate)		CREDITSSTATUS
SINGLE		STATUS
MAJOR		STATUS
JOINT

1

Visual Communication for Trend Forecasters

 

20

Core

Core

Core

1

Research Methods for Fashion Futures

 

20

Core

Core

 

1

Fashion and Textile Futures Theory

Y Skills for Academic Learning

20

Core

Core

Core*

1

Understanding trends & How they happen

 

20

Core

 

Option

1

Networks and Connectivity at Level 1

 

20

Core

Core

Core

1

Prediction & Forecasting Techniques: Change and the Change Economy

 

20

Core

 

 

2

Brailing the Culture

 

20

Core

Core

Core

2

Predictive Scenarios

 

20

Core

Core

Option

2

Wearable Futures

 

20

Core

 

 

2

Future Groups & Dominant Hubs

 

20

Core

Core

 

2

Fashioning the Future: Data Knowledge and insight management

 

20

Core

 

Core

2

Live External

Y Employability

20

Core

Core

Core*

3

Anthropology and the cultural mix

 

20

Core

 

Core

3

Forecasting Trends and Making Assumptions

 

20

Core

Core

Option

3

Negotiated Theory

Y Research

20

Core

Core

Core*

3

Negotiated Practice

 

40

Core

Core

 

3

Ethnography and Communication

 

20

Core

 

Core

Joint: * core - unless skills modules are selected in your other joint programme

Requirements for gaining an award

In order to gain an honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

  • A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
  • A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
  • A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain an ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

  • A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
  • A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
  • A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher

In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher.

In order to gain an Associate Certificate you will need to obtain a minimum if 20 credits at level one or higher

In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:

  • A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
  • A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher

(A Foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree)

Degree Classification

Where a student is eligible for an Honours degree, and has gained a minimum of 240 UEL credits at level 2 or level 3 on the programme, including a minimum of 120 UEL credits at level 3, the award classification is determined by calculating:

The arithmetic mean of the best 100 credits at level 3

×

2/3

+

The arithmetic mean of the next best 100 credits at levels 2 and/or 3

×

1/3

and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification

70% - 100%

First Class Honours

60% - 69%

Second Class Honours, First Division

50% - 59%

Second Class Honours, Second Division

40% - 49%

Third Class Honours

0% - 39%

Not passed

Assessment

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching and learning

Knowledge and understanding is assessed by

  • Proposals Essays and written reports
  • Research and research findings
  • Application of information

'Thinking' skills are assessed by

  • Concepts solutions and arguments
  • Processes: research, design and investigation
  • Development of ideas through outcomes

Practical skills are assessed by

  • Presentations and the use of technology
  • Visual imagery and research dossiers
  • Exhibition and display of work

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

  • Meeting deadlines and working with others
  • Acknowledging the work of others
  • Managing time and meeting deadlines

Assessment

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Quality

How we assure the quality of this programme

Before this programme started

Before this programme started the University checked that:

  • there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
  • adequate resources would be in place;
  • the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
  • the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
  • the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
  • the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.

This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.

How we monitor the quality of this programme

The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:

  • external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
  • statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
  • student feedback.

Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the University’s Quality Standing Committee.

Once every six years the University undertakes an in-depth review of the whole field. This is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.

The role of the programme committee

This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.

The role of external examiners

The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:

  • To ensure the standard of the programme;
  • To ensure that justice is done to individual students.

External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:

  • Approving exam papers/assignments;
  • Attending assessment boards;
  • Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
  • Ensuring that regulations are followed;
  • Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.

Listening to the views of students

The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:

  • Module evaluations
  • Student representation on programme committees
  • Student/Staff consultative committee

Students are notified of the action taken through:

  • circulating the minutes of the programme committee
  • providing details on the programme notice board

Listening to the views of others

The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:

  • Student evaluation questionnaires
  • Industrial Placement host reports
  • Publicity and coverage gained through competition successes and involvement in Graduate Fashion Week
  • Regular contact with ex-graduates most of whom are employed in the industry and provide valuable links for placements and visiting speakers
  • External Examiners reports

Further Information

Alternative locations for studying this programme

Location

Which elements?

Taught by UEL staff

Taught by local staff

Method of Delivery

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Where you can find further information

Further information about this programme is available from:

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