Digital Media Applications
Fashion Image Making and Styling With Foundation Year
Full-time
Four year
September 2024
In a nutshell
The Foundation Year of this four-year programme aims to provide you with an understanding of the subject to allow you to progress on to the BA (Hons) Fashion Image Making and Styling course.
The world of arts and media is changing at a phenomenal rate, and there has never been a better time to explore your creativity and the ways in which you can apply it to the world around you.
This Foundation Year provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore the key principles of art, design and media. The course is designed to help you develop your creative skills, it gives you a chance to build a larger portfolio, and provides a good transition period to familiarise yourself with the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology and life as a student at Salford. You will then be in a strong position to progress onto your chosen degree pathway.
This is a shared Foundation Year across Art, Design and Media disciplines, and will give you a collaborative environment to explore ideas, take creative risks and become confident independent learners. You will be joining a thriving and creative community.
Find out more by signing up to our upcoming Open Day, or if you have any general questions please contact course enquiries.
You can also find helpful FAQs, learn more about student life at Salford or explore all our Fashion courses. Continue reading to understand more about this BA (Hons) Fashion Image Making and Styling with Foundation Year course.
You will:
- develop your creative skills and academic confidence
- familiarise yourself with student life
- prepare to progress onto one of our degree programme
options available
This is for you if...
You have an interest in photography, styling and image making
A career in fashion photography, PR, film, TV or media appeals to you
You want to discover and develop your own creative aesthetic and gain a deeper understanding of styling and image making
All about the course
The Foundation Year will provide you with a dynamic, exciting and collaborative environment in which you will become a confident self-learner, with the underpinning skills and knowledge to apply in your studies. You will be taught with students interested in progressing to different art, design and media programmes, and study modules that will help you increase your knowledge and understanding of basic art and design as well as other aspects of creative thinking.
Our strong connections within Greater Manchester’s thriving creative sector mean you will also hear from practitioners working in the industry right now about their practice, journey into the world or art and design.
In the first term you will study modules that introduce the key concepts, skills and knowledge of art and design. Modules will help you to develop your study skills such as note-taking and structuring reports. In the second semester, you will further develop your creative practice and be introduced to the creative industries.
The assignments are flexible enough to allow you to interpret and tailor your submissions to your preferred area of study. Tutors will help and support you, in creating a portfolio of work to progress onto the BA (Hons) Fashion Image Making at Styling here at the University of Salford. You will be integrated slowly into the degree course with opportunities to meet tutors from the BA and by using our shared collaborative facilities within our vibrant New Adelphi building.
This programme prepares you to study on the three-year University undergraduate programme, meaning the duration of your degree is four years in total. The Foundation Year is not a standalone qualification.
Following the Foundation Year, you would progress onto BA (Hons) Fashion Image Making and Styling:
As you progress on to the BA (Hons) Fashion Image Making and Styling degree, you will see that it is unique in its contemporary direction. From working on your photography portfolio, publications, exhibitions, and more, you will learn the essential techniques and subject knowledge, alongside the necessary critical and creative processes, to identify your aesthetic style.
Through project briefs you will explore fashion image making and styling within the wider context of art and culture, where fashion is viewed as a set of lifestyles and beliefs.
Our students enter the industry in a wide variety of roles relevant to the ever-changing fashion environment. The great versatility of the course means that alongside freelance photographers and stylists, our graduates also go on to work in PR, film, TV and media.
This module helps you to become more familiar and confident with technology. As well as learning creative software and photography skills, it will allow you to explore a creative subject of your choice and give you essential time management and research skills.
Creative Methods
This module will enable you to examine the creative and professional practice of others as a way of reflecting on your own practice. You’ll create a range of outcomes to help you build a dedicated portfolio as well as learning about major influences in art and design.
Creative Risk Taking
This module is all about challenging your creative thought and highlighting the importance of creative risk taking. The briefs allow you to produce a range of outcomes that underpin all of the main art and design disciplines as well as giving you the flexibility to interpret the brief to your area of interest.
Creative Practice Major Project
This module is designed to allow you to bring together all your prior learning from the previous modules. It gives you the opportunity to propose and create your own brief based on a theme, topic, or issue that you are passionate about. Within this module you’ll be supported by tutors who will guide you in creating a meaningful body of work that demonstrates confidence in your chosen area. Your work will be exhibited in the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology's end of year Degree Show.
Introduction to the Creative Industries
This module allows you to explore the creative industries and its career opportunities. You’ll learn about a range of subjects including responsible design and future trends within your chosen area of art and design. It will allow you to build on the technical skills that you gained in the first semester to produce a creative publication.
Introduction to Fashion Design
This module introduces the basic skills and knowledge required as part of the fashion design process. It aims to provide the essential foundation upon which your understanding and awareness of the conceptual processes are underpinned by your technical and creative responses. It also aims to generate a sense of confidence and encourage you to think and explore in an open and expansive manner, allowing you a period of exploration within which more personal and creative responses can be generated via 2D and 3D solutions.
Fashion Styling and Image Generation
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the basic aspects of fashion styling and image making through approaches to research and exploration of concepts and techniques that are pertinent to fashion. This includes looking at contemporary fashion practice, trends and image that inform society both at a commercial and artistic level. You will be encouraged to appreciate the opportunities that these areas can offer, providing the foundation upon which you can supplement fresh thinking and apply future projects.
Fashion: Industry Practice Part 1
This module is delivered through a series of lectures, seminars, supervision sessions and practical workshops involving the development and research of fashion thinking via short exercises and focused projects. The sessions also incorporate individual and group tutorials to discuss student development and encourage an exchange of ideas and approaches to learning. Students have a series of lectures which will introduce them to topics surrounding the fashion industry. Typically, students will produce a book as a summary of everything they have learned in the lectures written along with visuals. Continuous formative feedback will be available in the form of tutor and peer-led group and individual crits. Students will give a presentation both visual and verbal.
Exploring Creative Contexts: Fashion
The module is taught through a variety of complementary teaching methods and formats including lectures, tutorials and projects. These various methods and formats will use our virtual learning environment (VLE) to encourage your participation in research, study skills and interpretation of teaching material. The two assessed components encourage you to explore, consider and reflect on a range of perspectives in the field of creative practice, especially in the context of your own practice. Sessions focus on issues affecting visual culture in relation to fashion and visual culture. Connected visits may be arranged.
Introduction to Pattern Cutting and Construction Techniques
A skill based module taught mainly in the workshop/studio through a series of demonstrations and lectures. You will be introduced to materials, workshop machinery and studio equipment through a series of demonstration and exercises. Assessment will be through a project that will typically include a body of work demonstrating understanding and application of techniques, materials and practical skills. Typically, this would be in the form of a project file built throughout the module.
Fashion Illustration
This module is created to challenge you to engage with diverse approaches to fashion communication. The learning is achieved through workshops including practical drawing for fashion and the use of computer software appropriate to the fashion industry.
Styling and Image Making Specialism
Acting as an introduction to the pathway, this module aims to provide you with the opportunity to develop your understanding of styling and image making and give you a solid foundation of knowledge for future modules. You will develop the technical skills necessary for the effective realisation of concepts within this discipline.
Techniques in Fashion Photography
This module aims to introduce you to the basic skills associated with the discipline (photography/image making), equipping you with sufficient knowledge to enable independent work in the area of fashion styling and image making. This module deals with the professional strategies necessary to gain both experimental and creative sensitivity towards every aspect of the project.
Industry Practice Part 1: Fashion Image Making & Styling
The purpose of this module is to place fashion styling and image making within a business context, enabling you to consider the specialism in relation to the needs of a diversity of end users within the fashion and style related industries. Developing an awareness of business and marketing issues enables you to develop professional and creative skills which reflect the relationship between product, consumer and needs. This experience will allow you to gain sufficient skills to work independently in all areas of fashion styling and image making practice.
Responding to Creative Contexts: Fashion
The module is taught through a variety of complementary teaching methods and formats, including lectures, tutorials and projects. These various methods and formats will use the VLE to encourage you to participate in research, study skills and interpretation of teaching material. Connected visits may be arranged. Sessions focus on issues affecting visual culture in relation to design and visual culture and on an appreciation of contextual influences. In addition, you will be challenged to develop an informed view of the programme’s disciplines, the relationships between these disciplines, and the wider relationships that can be made to other forms of visual, creative and cultural expression. The assessed component challenges you to investigate and test your position in relation to creative and cultural communities, relevant to your practice.
Styling and Image Making: Comparative Shoot
In this module you will develop an understanding of the image-maker and stylist’s role in spotting and instigating new cultural trends, developing an awareness of fashion’s place within wider culture. You will also research a wide variety of fashion publications in order to understand different markets within fashion. Building on your research into emerging cultural trends, you will develop a concept that will inform a shoot for two contrasting magazines of your choice. Throughout this module you will be initiating your personal direction in preparation for your final year, while also learning to develop a flexible approach in order to adapt your work to different markets.
Work Placement - FIMS
Placements within industry not only add to your knowledge and appreciation of your chosen discipline but can also enhance future employment prospects. This module encourages a liaison between you and leading practitioners, publications and brands in industry – allowing you to apply and develop your knowledge and skills gained on the course while offering an understanding of the relevant working procedures and the professional activities. You will be encouraged to identify a placement that supports your interests and future career aspirations.
Create and Research for an External Brief
The aim of this module is to extend and refine your understanding of styling and image making and develop your ability to solve a series of issues fully in response to an external brief within a professional context. You will aim to develop a personal and informed body of work, developing integrity, authenticity and professionalism, skills that will underpin the final year.
Styling and Image Making in Professional Context
You will develop an understanding of the process of producing a collection of images, and explore the full potential of the creative interpretation and consider styling and image making as a creative process.
Negotiated Major Project
The final major project is designed to allow you to synthesise your experiences on the course through the definition, negotiation and implementation of a self-directed programme of design investigation, research and development leading to the presentation of a major design project. You are encouraged to identify an issue or set of issues around which to focus your design investigation. The primary responsibility for the implementation of the project lies with you, and you will be assessed on your capacity to undertake a detailed examination of the territory you have identified. Effectively, this negotiated study provides a framework through which you are able to demonstrate a capacity to practice your understanding of the particular contextual circumstances in which you operate.
Portfolio Module
This module aims to challenge you to reflect critically on your personal skills and to exploit your individual creativity in promoting your own work. You will use the experiences and approaches to specialised research as a platform for your Final Major Project work.
Independent Research Project: Business Practice for Fashion Image Making and Styling
This module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of business practice and management of interest to you. The module enhances your ability to contextualise design as a commercial activity thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and understanding.
You will undertake either this module OR the Visual Culture module detailed below.
Independent Research Project: Visual Culture
This module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of visual culture of interest to you. You are encouraged to explore connections between your proposed study and your studio practice in a connected but distinct programme, thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and providing an intensification of understanding.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
BE PART OF A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
All our Fashion courses are delivered by the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology. We are a creative community with a focus on creating a collaborative environment where you can thrive and gain the skills needed to pursue your dreams.
Our Engagement Team coordinates school-wide events such as the Create Student Awards, academic conferences, networking and volunteering opportunities, welcoming and wellbeing fairs and exhibitions like our annual Degree Show.
For non-course matters, you will have access to our university-wide support service askUS, who will support and guide you to be successful in all aspects of your life.
Throughout your time at Salford, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there. You’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, meaning you’ll be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.
FASHION FACILITIES
This fashion image making and styling foundation year degree course is based at our £55 million New Adelphi building, the home of design and creativity on campus.
When you study with us, you’ll learn from our experienced tutors and demonstrators, who’ll teach you how to use our design facilities. These include:
Studio space – dedicated areas for each course, giving you room to think and create.
Maker Space workshop - create digital rapid prototypes using 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters and more.
Photography studios - industry-standard photographic studios, which you can use in conjunction with darkrooms and digital printing facilities.
Workshops – from print to textiles, wood to metal, our range of workshops allow you to take your ideas from page to reality and work in a variety of media.
Mac suites - equipped with the industry-standard software you’ll need during your studies and in the world of work.
Want to explore our Fashion Facilities? Take a 360 tour of our New Adelphi building or sign up for an Open Day.
MEET THE FASHION TEACHING STAFF
Are you looking to learn more about the background of our fashion tutors and demonstrators, or put a face to a name?
Sign up to an Open Day, and find out who'll work with you throughout your academic journey at the University of Salford.
What about after uni?
Our graduates that enter the fashion styling and image making industry work across a diverse range of roles, such as editorial/commercial/personal stylist, photographer, art/creative director, model scout, visual merchandiser, publisher and artist.
Our recent graduates have a client list that includes: Frank Ocean, Marfa Journal, Tom Ford, Adidas, Mulberry, Burberry, Pop Magazine, Dazed and Confused, Rat & Boa, MTV, Universal Music, Polydor and Hypebeast.
Career Links
You will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a wide range of industry professionals. The course has a network of professional contacts with leading fashion brands, publications and practitioners including Magma, X-Factor, River Island, Selfridges, Pop, Dazed & Confused, Man About Town, Optology, Nevs Casting Agency and Ryan McGinley.
The valuable knowledge and experience this brings, ensures that you are kept informed of the current changes and demands within the fashion industry.
What you need to know
This course isn’t suitable for international students. If you are an international student and interested in studying a foundation year, please visit our International Foundation Year course page.
By applying to this Foundation Year you are applying to a four-year programme - the shared Foundation Year, followed by a three-year art, design or media degree here at University of Salford. The Foundation Year is not a standalone qualification.
APPLICATION PROCESS
As part of the selection process, you may be invited to submit an online portfolio of your work. You may then be invited for an interview with our tutors. If you are called for interview we will send you further guidance well in advance.
GCSE
English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent). Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) is preferred but not essential.
You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.
UCAS tariff points
64 tariff points from A-levels (or equivalent) to include an Art and Design qualification preferred
A Levels
64 tariff points from A-levels (or equivalent) to include an Arts & Design qualification preferred
T Levels
Pass: D or E in core subject.
BTEC National Diploma
MPP including Art and Design.
Scottish Highers
64 points including Art and Design.
Irish Leaving Certificate
64 points including Art and Design.
International Baccalaureate
24 points including Art and Design.
European Baccalaureate
Pass Diploma with 60% overall (in a relevant subject).
Access to HE
Pass Level 3 Access to HE Diploma with 64 points (in a relevant subject).
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
How much?
Type of study | Year | Fees |
---|---|---|
Full-time home | 2024/25 | £8,250.00 for Foundation Year and £9,250.00 for subsequent years. |
Full-time home | 2025/26 | £8,250.00 for Foundation Year and £9,250.00 for subsequent years. |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.