2020 Showcase
~Mission Statement UWE’s Fashion Communication programme explores how fashion can be communicated and promoted creatively via different media, through a curriculum that includes, but is not limited to; branding, styling, still and moving image-making, art direction and graphic design, and the creative use of traditional print mediums and new digital platforms, and marketing and communication strategies. Whilst engaging with a community of like-minded individuals, alumni and industry, students gain the necessary skills to produce ambitious portfolios of work that innovate and disrupt fashion. Through tutor support students are challenged and encouraged to see the benefits of testing in the on-going development of their individual creative practice.
~Programme Overview Students develop individual interests and aproaches to fashion communication through experimental, industry-positioned projects, and learn through a combination of taught, independent and collaborative learning, including; lectures, seminars, technical workshops, tutorials, presentations and critiques. Professional and creative practice is developed through practice-led teaching, access to leading facilities and continued professional input. The curriculum introduces and establishes knowledge and understanding of fashion communication through practical and contextual research, with emphasis on projects and activities that introduce creative research techniques, as well as the different ways ideas can be generated, developed and presented. Students are encouraged to test their ideas through the manipulation of media and application of technical skills through both individual and collaborative projects. The lecture programme and studio-based workshop activities assist students in their personal development, with lecturers introducing key debates, practictitioners and approaches, alongside key reading that will accompany tasks and projects, allowing students to unpick and challenge their own preconceptions of fashion. Studio-based sessions develop creative thinking and each student’s ability to problem solve, as well as their verbal and visual presentation and communication skills. Students take part in a critiques on an on-going basis, with feedback from peers and tutors enabling students to consider different perspectives, and to further develop their practice.
~Programme Team Our programme team carry out a variety of roles within the department and industry. Currently, the programme employs 3 permanent members of staff alongside 3 associate lecturers. Core Team: Anthony Wilkins - Programme Leader (specialism; design and research) Dean Davies - Senior Lecturer (specialism; image-making and publishing) Rachel Eleftheriou - Senior Lecturer (specialism; art direction and digital innovation) Associate Lecturers: Diana Hall - Founder of Modus PR Charlotte James - Creative Director, Casting Director and Stylist Alfie Allen - Art Director, Graphic Designer and XL Records Creative Producer
~Visiting Lecturers The programme employs a broad range of visiting lecturers to enhance the student experience, with students benefitting from lectures, live projects, seminars and tutorials with; Jerry O’Sullivan - Brand and Marketing Manager for Lazy Oaf Alice Ray - Art Director Becky Smith of Twin Magazine Charlie Rout - Creative Lead at Warner Music Glenn Kitson of The Rig Out Lorna Milliken - Marketing Director at Lee Cooper James Perolls - Photographer Bertie Brandes - Journalist, Consultant and Editor of Mushpit Magazine Sohrab Golsorkhi-Ainslie - Photographer and Art Director for Tank Magazine Ami Evelyn Hughes - Art Director and Editor of Gut Magazine Rebecca Kinkade and Eshaan Dhingra - Editorial Manager and Buyer for LN-CC Will Dohrn - Director and Editor Clementine Schneidermann - Photographer Ronan Mckenzie - Photographer Grace Wales Bonner – Fashion Designer Sarah Bunter - Casting Director
~Students The Fashion Communication programme is positioned within the Art and Design department at UWE, Bristol and is currently in its sixth year. As of this year, we have 135 students across all three years of the programme. Our 2020 graduates will be our third graduating cohort. Current students have completed placements with the following companies; Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar, Peregrine, Molly Goddard, Levi’s, DAZED, Troy Casting, House of Holland, Puma, Lazy Oaf, Riposte Magazine, Premier Model Management, SHOWStudio, Liam Hodges, London Fashion Week, Vauxhall Fashion Scout, Marquez Almeida, Karla Otto, Marie Claire, Sarah Bunter Casting, Assembly London, Revolt Model Agency
~Destinations Career paths for UWE Fashion Communication graduates include; photographer, stylist, art director, casting director, editor, trend forecaster, photo-shoot producer, marketing manager, buyer, visual merchandiser and events manager. Our graduates have worked for the following companies in various positions; Charlotte Tilbury, Dr Jacksons, Burberry, Gucci, All Bits London, M&C Saatchi, Shortlist Media, Motion, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Lily and Lionel, Selfridges, DAZED, AnOther Magazine, The Face Magazine, COS, Rankin Studio, Libertine Advertising Agency, Bricks Magazine, Riposte Magazine, Warner Music, Garage Magazine, Getty Images, Pandora Jewellery, Crack Magazine
~Graduate Fashion Week As of 2020, UWE’s Fashion Communication programme is a member university of Graduate Fashion Foundation/Graduate Fashion Week - an annual showcase of 38 UK/40+ international universities and colleges specialising in fashion and its related industries. The programme team are excited to be part of this event, which gives us an opportunity to showcase the exciting and innovative work our students produce on a national level. In our first year as a member university, 4 of our 2020 graduates have been shortlisted for 3 national awards, with 2 being selected as finalists; Considered Fashion Award (Emily Sorrell - Shortlist) Fashion Photography Award (Sophie Howard - Shortlist) Fashion Photography Award (Tabatha Lopez Palmby Finalist) Fashion Publication Award (Kit Bacon - Finalist) The programme and finalists will present work as a part of an event in September, coinciding with London Fashion Week.
~National Student Survey UWE Fashion Communication has received 100% overall student satisfaction on the 2020 National Student Survey (NSS). The University of the West of England itself ranked 2nd in England and 7th in the UK for overall student satisfaction. The rankings are based on all universities in England and the UK, with the exception of specialist institutions that focus on just one subject area or discipline. The survey is completed annually by graduating students.
~2020 Showcase In the first module of Level 3, students completed 2 projects, a collaborative research project with Fashion Textiles students and a self-directed project producing a campaign and marketing strategy. In a 3-week collaborative project with Fashion Textiles, students developed bodies of visual and textual, primary and secondary research that explored and challenged their thinking around a chosen subject. The project manifested through physical publications and a presentation, which communicated the findings of each group’s research enquiries in to subjects such as masculinity, sustainability, future, technologies, taboos, collecting, colour theory, identity, subcultures and the human form. In a 5-week self-directed project, students were tasked with producing a campaign of still and moving image and promotional strategy, to be used across different medias and platforms, to engage and grow an identified audience, developing their visual language as fashion communicators in the context of either; an independent body of work, or work for a brand of their choosing. The project engaged students in industry-level pitch and presentation processes, allowing them to further contextualize their work, and to develop creative, content-lead marketing strategies to support the promotion of their work whilst engaging an identified audience. Brands chosen included Dr. Martens, Ahluwalia, Glossier, Wavey Garms, Kenzo, Heresy and Jacquemus.
~2020 Showcase In the final module of the programme students are supported in the development of self-directed study, which considers the market and context in which their practice is positioned in relation to each student’s future ambitions within industry. Outcomes included experimental fashion film, digital and printed fashion publications, photography books, fashion editorial, start-up brands, e-commerce propostitions, custom face filters, digital platforms and community spaces, and strategic marketing campaigns and promotional material.
2020 Showcase