Bachelor in Fashion Design Study Plan

Bachelor in Fashion

Year 1

Introduction to Fashion Design 1

This subject focuses on ensuring students understand one of the central elements of fashion design: materials, or the various substances that can be used in the field. This includes not only textiles but all products used to craft all types of garments and accessories.

That said, the emphasis is primarily on fabrics. Students will study textiles in all forms, including classification, manipulation and processing methods, finishes, dyeing and printing. They will also explore the varied applications and uses of fabrics in fashion design.

Throughout the program, students will learn to incorporate the knowledge acquired through specific exercises and projects that promote study and research, as well as individual and team dynamics. Teamwork will be encouraged in this sense, helping students develop the skills necessary for their future professional development in the early stages of the degree.

Construction and Production Techniques 1: Textiles

This subject provides students with a solid practical foundation in both the techniques and the materials used in fashion production. The main objective is to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with a variety of textile materials and core construction techniques. There is also an emphasis on the importance of sustainability when selecting materials and techniques. Topics covered in this subject include basic weaving techniques, fabric dyeing and printing and fabric manipulation.

Graphics 1: Drawing, Color, and Composition

This subject aims to familiarize students with the fundamental tools required in fashion design: drawing, color, and composition. The subject covers both theoretical and practical content, training students’ ability to communicate fashion-related ideas and concepts effectively through visual representation. It also lays a solid foundation for the expression of creativity and identity

as a fashion designer. It’s worth noting that these skills will be honed over time, given that graphic communication in fashion design is an ever-evolving area.

Creative and Design Methodologies

This subject is designed to introduce students to the central methodologies of design. Through an exploration of different approaches and processes, students will learn to tackle projects and design challenges in an effective manner, acquiring all the tools they need to apply their knowledge to the field of fashion design.

This is a crucial subject as it lays the groundwork for developing a personal creative methodology. Future designers will be able to apply this methodology to various projects, shaping their identity as creators. This is why it is introduced in the first semester, so that students can better understand the foundation of their work and begin applying creative approaches to all kinds of processes to enhance their work.

Art and Design History 1

This subject covers major artistic movements and trends throughout history in the fields of art and design. The cultural, social and aesthetic influences that have shaped art and design over time are studied from a historical perspective, giving students a solid foundation that serves as a reference point and adds context to their work as designers. As a result, they will develop the ability to analyze and critique works of art and communicate ideas related to the field both verbally and visually. The content spans from the pre-historic age to the first half of the 20th century.

SPRING SEMESTER

Introduction to Fashion Design 2

This subject is the second stage of fashion design fundamentals. While the initial content focused on the materials used in fashion projects, this one explores userbased forms, or in other words, human morphology.

The study will cover all elements of the human body as a basis for fashion design, including proportion, fit and sizing of garments and fashion accessories. It also introduces the basis for developing modeling techniques and fashioning garments using a mannequin.

Construction and Production Techniques 2: Patternmaking, Cutting, and Assembly

This subject takes a closer look at the skills used in the production of fashion items, focusing particularly on the design process, patternmaking, cutting and assembly. It helps empower students to transform their designs into tangible, beautifully crafted pieces. On the whole, the subject prepares future fashion professionals to tackle the creation and development of their garments with enhanced skill and precision.

Besides delving deeper into the areas of patternmaking and garment construction, the subject also explores the design and creation of fashion accessories. The primary goal is to give students the ability to design, create and produce unique and appealing fashion accessories, all while expanding their skills in patternmaking and assembly. The content covers specific areas related to the use of accessories as essential elements in the fashion industry. It stimulates creativity in producing complements to enhance an outfit and prepares students to make significant contributions to the world of fashion design.

Graphics 2: Illustration

This subject teaches students how to create effective and communicative visual images using graphic and illustration techniques specifically tailored to the fashion industry. It includes a significant practical component, allowing students to apply what they learned in Graphics 1.

Furthermore, students will develop skills that allow them to better understand and analyze contemporary art and design, evaluating their relevance, significance and relationship to fashion. The content also helps hone students’ ability to communicate complex ideas about art and design effectively and to appreciate the cultural diversity and global interconnectedness of the field.

Art and Design History 2

This subject will help students further develop the skills essential to comprehending, analyzing and appreciating art and design across various periods and artistic movements. There will be a focus on more recent eras, exploring the artistic trends and movements that have emerged since the Second World War.

Humanities

This course provides well-established, fundamental anchors that assist students in conducting a deeper analysis of the world they inhabit. Humanities foster critical thinking and provide the necessary tools to articulate and analyze ideas. This course not only imparts the knowledge needed to comprehend the world around us but also provides the skills that help us build ideas. In a global and interconnected world, the ability to discern and think critically about the vast amount of information available is vital.

Students will address complex issues and challenges faced by societies worldwide. They will develop critical thinking by learning to observe, reflect, compare, question and analyze before distilling and explaining their conclusions.

They will be given the choice of a list of Humanities topics that cover contemporary and relevant themes across a variety of disciplines, such as History, History of Art, Literature, Philosophy, Intellectual History, Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, Communication Theory, Musicology and Film Studies.

Year 2

Fashion Design Projects 1: Series and Collections

In Fashion Design Projects 1: Series and Collections, students will learn to create and manage a fashion collection. This includes the conceptualization and development of series within collections, according to coherent and cohesive proposals for both garments and accessories. The subject focuses on coordinating colors, patterns, silhouettes and details across a collection, as well as taking garment presentation to a higher level than in Introduction to Fashion Design, leveraging the knowledge already acquired.

Construction and Production Techniques 3: Weaving, Knitting, Dyeing, and Finishing

This subject focuses on the design and

production of garments and fashion collections with a specific emphasis on the knitwear and textile sector. It will cover different methods of manufacturing woven garments, as well as techniques and trends in manipulating, dyeing and finishing textiles. The main goal is to provide students with the ability to design and put together unique and appealing fashion collections, while expanding their skills in patternmaking and fabric treatments.

Fashion History

This subject focuses on how fashion has evolved over time. It provides students with a historical and cultural context that will help them better understand the influences and shifts in design and fashion across different eras. It acknowledges historical influences on contemporary design, while appreciating fashion as a cultural and aesthetic phenomenon. The content provides a solid theoretical foundation for the critical appreciation of fashion and gives students the ability to contextualize and reference history in their projects.

Introduction to Fashion Design 3

Having studied working materials and how they interact with the form of the human body as a foundation for fashion design, this subject delves deeper into the creation of garments and other fashion items, their production and how they are made available to the end user.

The content covers various assembly techniques, garment creation and fashion design product manufacturing. There is an emphasis on developing the technical excellence that will be demanded of future industry professionals. The subject also fosters innovation and creativity, essential in a sector that is constantly on the lookout for new contributions and approaches.

Students will acquire basic knowledge of the production and distribution of clothing and fashion products. This will help them understand key aspects of supply chain management in the industry. It will also promote responsible and ethical production to ensure they are well equipped to address the challenges facing the sector going forward.

Fashion Marketing and Merchandising

This subject covers the processes and strategies for presenting new fashion products or collections to the market. Exploring techniques, concepts and practical examples, students gain a deep understanding of how the staging and presentation can influence the image and perception of fashion in various media contexts.

Technology

This subject aims to expose students to the disruptive technologies that are working to resolve some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, all while reinventing how companies design, manage and execute

their projects. It covers all the latest technological trends and explores how they are implemented and understood across different generations and cultures. There will be a particular focus on how society, businesses and individuals utilize technology, taking a practical, human-centric approach. This will enable students to frame, develop and discover how technology can help them in future projects and business initiatives, as well as identifying or generating new business models that solve a vast array of problems.

SPRING SEMESTER

Fashion Design Projects

2: Design and Industrial Production

Students will be taught about the relevant aspects of various industrial production models, including sustainable fashion, and the different tools used in the manufacturing process. The course seeks to encourage students to develop their designs with a global mindset. This includes everything from planning the initial idea right through to how the product will be manufactured, considering all the technical, logistical, quality and sustainability aspects. This course develops students’ ability to manage fashion projects effectively, preparing them for a successful career in the field.

Construction and Production Techniques 4: Industrial Productions and Technical Design

This subject focuses on the practical and commercial elements of large-scale fashion production, preparing students to understand and participate in the fashion manufacturing sector. It will provide knowledge about production processes, supply chain management and the modern technologies used to create fashion items.

In a broader sense, the subject seeks to provide students with all the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about industrial fashion production, taking into account both commercial efficiency and sustainability considerations. The ultimate goal is to help them become active professionals in large-scale fashion production in an effective and sustainable manner.

The content complements the subject ‘Fashion Design Projects 2: Design and Industrial Production’, taking a practical approach in which students apply their knowledge to a real-life project.

Triple balance and the ecological and environmental factor

This subject’s primary goal is to give students a comprehensive understanding of the environmental implications of sourcing and production practices in the fashion industry, as well as explaining current sustainability requirements and measures in place. It will help equip students to become fashion designers aware of the importance of environmental sustainability throughout the fashion value chain, as one of the three pillars of the Triple Bottom Line (economic, ecological and social).

Students will learn to make ethical, responsible decisions regarding sourcing and production, thereby contributing to a fairer and more sustainable fashion industry from a social perspective. The concept of circularity will be studied in depth, alongside the use of advanced materials and emerging technologies in the sector. It will also hone advanced design skills in order to integrate sustainability and circularity at every stage of the fashion design and production process.

Graphics 3: Digital Media Platforms

This course deals with the use of digital technologies and tools specific to fashion design and development. The content provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use digital tools in the creative and technical processes of fashion design, from digitizing sketches to creating patterns and visualizing pieces in virtual environments. It also prepares them to leverage the latest technologies and trends in the fashion industry, enabling them to be more versatile and competitive in the field.

Entrepreneurship

This course tackles the foundations of the entrepreneurship process from both a macro- and micro-perspective. It is built on three main pillars:

1) Creativity

2) Logical reasoning

3) Problem-solving

These three skills form the core of an entrepreneur’s rationale in the current climate of uncertainty. These abilities are highly relevant for future employment opportunities, as organizations look to become increasingly agile and adopt experimental approaches in order to innovate and devise valuable projects that will make a positive impact and meet societal needs.

Students will learn to develop an entrepreneurial mindset to conceive, validate and develop innovative models that can be applied to help deliver sustainable solutions to social challenges.

Year 3

Fashion Design Projects

3: Haute Couture and Craftsmanship

This course seeks to foster students’ creativity and craftsmanship in haute couture. To do so, students will develop a deep understanding of the history and evolution of haute couture. They will also acquire the knowledge to master the process of creating high-quality and personalized garments and accessories, enabling them to contextualize their work in the high-end fashion industry. This course provides the theoretical foundation that complements and brings meaning to fashion design techniques.

Construction and Production Techniques 5: Haute Couture and Craftsmanship

This course focuses on advanced concepts in fashion production, placing an emphasis on haute couture and the use of high-quality materials and techniques. The core objective is to prepare students to design and create haute couture fashion items using premium materials and methods. They are expected to acquire in-depth knowledge of luxury materials and specialized sewing techniques characteristic of haute couture. Advanced skills in patternmaking and fashion design will also be developed to create exclusive and sophisticated items. Ultimately, the goal of this course is to train highly competent fashion designers who will contribute to craftsmanship, excellence and innovation in

The Social Factor: Ethical Fashion and Inclusive Fashion

The main purpose of this course is to encourage students to develop a profound understanding of the principles and practices of inclusive design and fashion. At this stage of their studies, it is essential that they comprehend the social and cultural scope and implications of the sector, as well as the human impact of fashion design processes. They will learn to design garments and collections that consider and respect the diversity of bodies, identities and consumer needs. Essentially, this course prepares students to become conscious and responsible fashion designers, capable of creating clothing and collections that celebrate diversity and respect the needs of a broad and heterogeneous audience, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and respectful fashion industry.

Digital Communication in Fashion

This course develops students’ skills in the creation of communicative content in all its forms. It focuses on broadcasting across virtual media channels, with an emphasis on the fashion sector. The content takes students through the strategies, tools and case studies that will develop their content creation skills for promoting fashion brands online, managing e-commerce platforms and harnessing technology and innovation. They will be prepared to deal with the digital challenges of the fashion industry and leverage the opportunities offered by these channels.

E-commerce

The primary aim of this course is to ensure students gain a deep and practical understanding of the fundamental concepts and strategies of e-commerce, the fastest-growing channel for circulation and distribution of fashion items. As

students progress in their fashion design education, they will have to develop a broad perspective of how to take an item or a fashion collection from conception to the market. This course prepares students to become well-rounded, successful fashion designers. They will not only be able to fashion attractive pieces but also have the skills to market them effectively and profitably in the new world of digital commerce.

IE Challenge

In this course, students will apply everything they have learned in the previous three subjects to solve real-world problems. This course identifies specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the various institutions working to achieve them. Students will refine their use of innovative methodologies like Design Thinking and Lean Startup by solving tangible challenges. They will broaden their understanding of realities beyond their own and develop an awareness of the social issues linked to the SDGs.

Students will tackle the challenges of starting up and implementing projects in complex contexts by applying technological tools. Ultimately, they will learn to understand customer needs and provide value to have a positive impact on their organization and its mission. The course will cover the following topics:

- Immersion in organizational challenges

- Exploration techniques

- Identifying opportunities based on fact

- Cluster generation tools

- Customer and problem validation

- Generating insights

- Processes for ideation and prototyping

- Drafting, analyzing and validating business models

- Startup and implementation strategies

Students will be split into teams and will receive initial training through skills workshops. They will also be guided in devising, validating and presenting their proposals as they develop their respective projects. The teams’ ideas will be presented at a final celebratory event, where a panel will select the best ones.

ELECTIVES

Textiles and Home Fashion

This course aims to equip students with all the knowledge and skills they need to design aesthetically pleasing, functional home decor and furnishing products in line with current fashion and design trends.

Footwear and Handbags

The focus of this course is on providing students with practical, in-depth knowledge of how to design fashion accessories in a sustainable manner, taking in everything from selecting materials to production and marketing. Students are also encouraged to apply these concepts to their practical projects in order to reinforce their learning.

Styling

This subject covers an understanding of trends designed to enhance an individual’s image. Styling requires high levels of creativity, empathy and a knowledge of different techniques that allow you to present a collection or plan tailored to each individual client.

Scenic Design

This course addresses specific elements related to the design and production of costumes for the entertainment industry, including film, theater and television. The goal is to prepare students for a career in the entertainment industry as costume designers. They will hone the skills they need to create costumes that add to the authenticity, aesthetics and narrative

of productions across film, theater and television. There is an emphasis on creativity, collaboration and adaptability, as costume design must accommodate everything from historical dramas to sci-fi worlds.

Jewelry and Costume Jewelry

This course looks at the relationship between jewelry, culture and society, analyzing how these accessories both reflect and are influenced by socio-cultural contexts. The core aim of the subject is to give students an in-depth understanding of jewelry beyond its aesthetic appearance, exploring how this artistic form of expression is rooted in society and culture. Students will acquire design skills, historical knowledge and a deeper awareness of the cultural and social significance of jewelry in different contexts.

Sports and Technical Fashion

This subject addresses key areas regarding the convergence of fashion and sport, with a focus on sustainability and durability. The core aim of the course is to prepare students to design high quality, durable sportswear that is environmentally friendly, contributing to tackling challenges around sustainability in the sports fashion industry.

User Experience (UX) and Digital Media

This course deals with the intersection of fashion and technology. Specifically, it explores the creation of digital fashion and how it adapts to virtual environments in the metaverse. The goal is to provide students with an understanding of virtual fashion in digital environments, teaching them both the technical and conceptual skills required to engage and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Business Analytics

This course tackles the basic principles of business analytics. This entails an understanding of how a business is

performing in a specific market, including the pertinent risks and opportunities. The content will be a valuable complement for any student considering a career in fashion business management, as it provides additional know-how to supplement the design-focused aspects of the program.

3D Printing

3D printing has had a significant impact on the fashion industry, revolutionizing how clothing is designed, produced and consumed. This course explores the basics of 3D printing along with a variety of techniques, focusing on its suitability for use in fashion product design. There will also be an assessment of practical 3D printing use cases in the fashion sector.

Year 4

Fashion Design Projects 4: Experimentation

Over the course of the program so far, students have learned to use a range of techniques and tools. They are now familiar with all aspects directly or indirectly related to fashion design, from planning a collection to presenting it to the public, both in theory and in practice. This course will build on previous knowledge while encouraging creativity and innovation, using case studies of significant projects and proposals in the industry.

Techniques of construction and production 6: New techniques and research

This course focuses on advanced aspects of fashion production, with an emphasis on research and the ability to devise creative solutions and alternatives to the challenges facing contemporary fashion. The core

objective is to prepare students to design and create innovative fashion items using premium materials and methods. They are expected to acquire in-depth knowledge of the materials and specialized techniques characteristic of avant-garde fashion.

Legal aspects, certifications, and protocols

This subject aims to help students understand and apply ethical and legal principles in the field of fashion. Based on this foundation, they will develop a greater awareness of the ethical and legal challenges facing the industry and will feel confident in addressing them in a conscious and responsible manner.

Entrepreneurship in Fashion

The primary goal of this course is to equip students with the skills, knowledge and tools they need to successfully undertake new business and commercial projects in the fashion industry. As students make progress in their fashion design education, they must

develop the ability to turn their creative ideas into sustainable and profitable projects in the competitive fashion industry. Students will build entrepreneurial mindsets, gaining the necessary skills to transform their creative visions into viable and sustainable businesses in this highly competitive and ever-evolving field.

Culture and Identity:

Cultural Debates and New Approaches

This course enables students to contextualize their work at the intersection of fashion, culture and society. It addresses the complex contemporary issues around cultural production and design, giving students a conscious and critical outlook. It helps students become fashion design professionals capable of addressing the relevant issues to today’s society and contextualizing their work within a broader cultural framework. This will ensure they are ready to make a meaningful contribution to cultural production and the discussion of important issues in the fashion industry.

SPRING SEMESTER

Communication in Physical Media and Spaces

This course is designed to give students the knowledge and skills to manage physical media and other spaces used to promote a brand, a collection or any other fashion design product. This is an essential part of any successful fashion project and will address objectives related to aesthetics, function, positioning, style, trends and media impact. The focus is on creativity, resource management, team coordination and promoting a brand or a collection. The advantages and disadvantages of this type of media in specific contexts are assessed according the project’s characteristics and target audience.

Events and Fashion Presentations

This course aims to guide students in conceptualizing, planning and designing ways of presenting fashion collections, pieces and brands in various formats and media styles. Although they may be linked, fashion shows and events differ from marketing campaigns because they occur in a specific space at a certain time and are aimed at a highly specialist, targeted audience who are expected to become customers and allies in raising brand awareness. The focus is placed on face-to-face proposals and word-of-mouth promotion of the project or product. This course encourages the ability to implement spatial design principles in a creative manner, considering the needs and expectations of the end user in order to deliver a memorable experience.

Brand management for Fashion Brands

This course aims to help students understand and apply advanced brand design and communication strategies in the fashion industry. Beyond providing a general view of marketing and communication, it goes into detail about how to deal with a brand as a whole, taking into account its different products, collections, accessories, etc. At this point in the program, students should have a comprehensive understanding of how fashion brands are created, maintained and communicated effectively to forge powerful connections with their target audience. The course content gets students ready to play a key role in creating and promoting successful brands. This entails getting to grips with how to build a cohesive brand identity, communicate it effectively and forge lasting relationships with consumers.

Final Graduation Project

The Final Degree Project (FDP) is an academic and creative project that students must complete as a central requirement in order to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design. It is a fundamental course that marks the end of the curriculum and it is designed to assess their ability to apply the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired throughout the program to a practical, original project.

The FDP should enable students to apply their skills in a hands-on context, demonstrate their ability to create a coherent and original fashion collection and prepare them to embark on a career in the fashion industry or continue their education in the field at a professional or postgraduate level. It also gives them an opportunity to develop a strong portfolio they can use in their job search in the sector.

METHODOLOGY AND ACTIVITIES

The FDP has been devised as an educational activity that enhances students’ independent study, with guidance and support from an assigned tutor within their field. The implicit goal is to demonstrate the learning students have gained throughout the program while incorporating a personal perspective.

Students will have to develop a fashion design project that encompasses elements they have learned throughout their studies. They will be required to present a written document as well as a collection including different items. Components that should be included in the FDP for this degree include:

Student proposals are initially agreed upon with the tutors. The structure is largely flexible, although it must be undertaken within academic parameters. Written work should have an introduction and a conclusion, while all other sections should be clearly distinguished, separating those associated with the review of academic literature, the presentation of information sources and the explanation of what the student has learned from the project.

Each student will be assigned a tutor who will assist them throughout the project. They should meet periodically to discuss their progress and research. The time allotted and monitoring of student progress are highly variable, but in general terms, we estimate that 5-10% face-to-face teaching activity and 90-95% autonomous work. As this is the subject that looks to give students the highest degree of autonomy, teaching activities will consist of mandatory meetings with the tutor. Students must attend the scheduled sessions and consult with their tutor on any questions that arise during the preparation of the project.

ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

The assessment of the Final Degree Project will involve the written presentation of the fashion design project and the different pieces that comprise it. There will also be an individual oral defense before an academic panel. Both theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as acquired competencies, will be assessed according to the following criteria:

- Project and collection: 30%. The student must present the items that make up their collection. The tribunal will assess two areas:

-Material search: the suitability of the resources used, as well as their diversity.

4. Patternmaking and tailoring

5. Presentation

6. Documentation

- Fieldwork: methodological rigor and the correct application of suitable techniques will be taken into account.

- Structured written report: 40%. Once the Final Degree Project is completed, a

1. Conceptualization

2. Research

3. Design

written report must be submitted. The tribunal will assess three areas:

- Search for information sources: the adequacy and diversity of the resources used.

- Report presentation: the periodicity of deliveries and the content discussed.

- Project structure: students must develop a scientific or applied project containing critical content, an appropriate methodology, conclusions and proposals for improvement.

- Presentation before a university panel: 30%. The following assessment criteria will be considered:

- Coherence of the presentation.

- Mastery of the subject matter, the research conducted and the proposal.

- Clarity of ideas.

- Quality of responses to the questions posed.

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