In the first year of the extended diploma qualification you will have the opportunity to explore your creativity developing some of the essential skills that underpin all creative disciplines. With access to a designated studio, print-room, mac suite and industrial sewing machines you will learn through experimentation using a broad range of 2D, 3D and digital processes.

Projects will help you to gain a contextual understanding of fashion and textiles and support you to make and articulate personal connections and interpretations. You will have the opportunity to take part in exhibitions and gallery visits and to develop your skills through independent and group learning.

In the second year, projects enable you to develop a more specialist understanding and to apply your creativity in response to a series of fast paced industry relevant briefs. The programme encourages you to combine traditional and digital textile techniques, pattern-cutting and garment production to create a portfolio of work suitable for fashion, textile, pattern-cutting and illustration. Activities exploring the history of art and design, photography and fashion, will underpin and complement your studio work.

As well as contemporary practice, you will learn the historical and vocational skill sets to ensure a broad-based knowledge of the subject area and the wider Creative Arts. In addition to your main study programme you will also engage in activities to develop your English, maths and employability skills to enhance your progression to Higher Education or to employment.

Fashion Design and Textiles Level 3 may include:

• The Creative Process
• Developing Creative Practice
• Responding to a set Brief
• Researching a Specialist Industry Practice
• Specialist Technical Skills Development
• Specialist Creative Outcome

• 5 GCSEs (9-4), including English and Maths (or Level 2 Functional Skills equivalent), plus an Art and Design or Textiles subject, or satisfactory results (Merit/Distinction) in a relevant Level 2 qualification
• An interview with a portfolio of work

On successful completion of the first year Diploma programme you can continue your study of Fashion Design and Textiles onto the second year: Extended Diploma at Level 3; alternatively, you can choose to study for the Art and Design Foundation Diploma, or other further/higher education courses.

The second year Extended Diploma programme will prepare and guide you through the UCAS application to progress to related degree courses or to employment within the Creative Arts sector, or an Advanced Apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles (Apparel).

Opportunities exist throughout the fashion and textiles industry. Successful completion of this course could lead to jobs as a designer for fashion, textiles, fashion stylist, illustrator, wardrobe assistant or supervisor, event coordinator, merchandiser, production manager or buyer.