Fashion Media and Industries

Cultural and Contextual Studies in Fashion 1A
This module explores a range of causal factors that determines and influences key sartorial changes from historical, theoretical and socio-cultural perspectives within a chronological framework in modern fashion history, both in the West and also Asia, particularly Southeast Asia You will learn to identify iconic garments, pioneering designers and influential key players within the fashion decades and how cultural forces shape these periods in fashion history. The lectures and class discussions will allow you to acquire basic skills in visual and textual analysis, and be acquainted with key principles, concepts and terms of reference used in the study of fashion. You will learn basic research methodology, techniques of writing and presentation skills.

Fashion Studio 1A (40 CU)
This module introduces you to the knowledge and core skills for fashion media. It emphasises on weekly communication workshops, seminars and exercises, during which you will be introduced to a variety of visualisation skills covering both traditional and digital methods. You will understand the fashion system and its different components as a whole. Within the studio practice, you will also engage in industry-led workshops and/or talks. This will allow you to acquire industry-relevant knowledge and to generate an understanding for contemporary professional practice. You will apply those basic professional skills increasingly to your studio projects.

In addition to your studio project work, you will compile a Creative Process Journal (CPJ), which documents and describes the working practice. The content of your CPJ comprises project-relevant research, as well as the development and application of your ideas. The CPJ will become a visual and textual record of your creative evolution as a thinker and designer. Through compiling your CPJ, you will learn to describe, analyse, reflect and evaluate your own creative efforts, knowledge, experience and process.

You are required to submit all mandatory assignments and show good studentship. Commitment and full class attendance are key aspects of achieving satisfactory studentship for each level of study, and they will be taken into account for the assessment of this module.

Fashion Studio 1B (40 CU) 
This module will expand your knowledge and understanding of the fashion system: What the fashion product is and how fashion markets operate in South East Asia and globally. You will look at the roles that the ever-changing technology and unpredictable fashion economies play, and how they affect the fashion product, fashion calendar and production cycles. This module introduces you to the seasonal fashion cycles, the importance of trend research and fashion forecasting in order to develop the ability to predict the next big thing in fashion. You will be exposed to a range of creative projects to apply knowledge of business principles into your studio practice. You will analyse opportunities regarding market positioning, branding, targeting and segmentation of fashion products and services. This studio class will teach you how to communicate effectively and how to generate media attention by using different communication channels at weekly workshops, seminars and exercises.

In addition to your studio project work, you will compile a Creative Process Journal (CPJ) which documents and describes the working practice. The content of your CPJ comprises project-relevant research, as well as the development and application of your ideas. Thus the CPJ will become a visual and textual record of your creative evolution as a thinker and designer. Through compiling your CPJ, you will learn to describe, analyse, reflect and evaluate your own creative efforts, knowledge, experience and process.

You are required to submit all mandatory assignments and show professional studentship. Commitment and full class attendance are key aspects of achieving satisfactory studentship for each level of study, and they will be taken into account for the assessment of this module.

Cultural and Contextual Studies in Fashion 1B (20 CU) 
This module explores how meaning is created and communicated through dress. This semiotic study of fashion underpins your subject specialism, as you learn about the signs, symbols and semantic codes behind the production of fashion and how ways of thinking and methods of visual analysis can be applied to creative practice and assist in understanding the fashion system. You will also be introduced to the study of visual culture, which will allow you to contribute to the wider dialogue and debate surrounding dress in visual culture, both in the West and Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. The lectures and class discussions will allow you to acquire basic skills in visual and textual analysis, and be acquainted with key principles, concepts and terms of reference used in the study of fashion. You will learn basic research methodology, techniques of writing and presentation skills.

You are required to submit all mandatory assignments and show professional studentship. Commitment and full class attendance are key aspects of achieving satisfactory studentship for each level of study, and they will be taken into account for the assessment of this module.

Cultural and Contextual Studies in Fashion 2B
This module provides an inter-disciplinary approach to fashion, relating and linking it to contemporary culture and issues surrounding music, film, literature and fine arts within a historical continuum. Case studies will be drawn from the West, as well as from Asia, including Southeast Asia. This will allow you to refine your knowledge and understanding of the context of your own creative practice and encourage you to develop specialised areas of interest, which will support creative practices that can further your research in the next level of study. This module will be conducted through a mixture of lectures and discussion groups. You will engage in critical dialogue and present findings about contemporary fashion theories within your specialism as you develop research, writing and presentation skills.

You are required to submit all mandatory assignments and show professional studentship. Commitment and attendance to all classes are key aspects of achieving satisfactory studentship for each level of study and taken into account for the assessment of this module.

Fashion Studio 2A (40 CU) 
This module continues your development as a Fashion Media and Industries thinker and designer, and you will learn to understand the role and relevance of Fashion Media Communication and Business Strategies within culture and society in South East Asia and globally. You will be introduced to an investigative approach to Fashion Media and Industries as applied to design. You will work increasingly systematic, deploying processes of research and critical analysis in pursuit of your design concepts and ideas. You will be exposed to new areas of Fashion Media and Industries such as visual narratives, art direction and communication, business strategies, skills and technology. 

This module advances you to diverse visualisation skills through traditional and digital methods. The continued provision of weekly workshops will enhance your understanding of digital marketing communication tools. You will learn to use software applications for the purpose of designing interactive communication design solutions. You will also be encouraged to use your technical skills in an exploratory way, and to think beyond the boundaries of conventional design.

Industry-led and practical workshops and/or talks will help you inform your work and expertise in a professional context. The module also continues your exposure to multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary teamwork, which will enhance your project managerial skills as well as the scope of your creative thinking. You will also learn to present your work professionally. Self-evaluation and peer evaluation are encouraged to help in your development of critical awareness of the creative process.

In addition to your studio project work, you will continue to compile a Creative Process Journals (CPJ), which documents and describes the working practice. At this stage, your CPJ will be professionally laid out, and it should communicate effectively your research findings, ideas development and how your ideas are applied. Through compiling your CPJ, you will learn to describe, analyse, reflect and evaluate your creative efforts, knowledge, experience and process. The CPJ will evidence your creative and intellectual capacity as a designer, and the quality of the methods deployed.

You are required to submit all mandatory assignments and show good studentship. Commitment and full class attendance are key aspects of achieving satisfactory studentship for each level of study, and they will be taken into account for the assessment of this module.

Cultural and Contextual Studies in Fashion 2A (20 CU) 
After acquiring knowledge on the key causal factors within the fashion continuum and semiotic ways of analysis, this module goes on to investigate the notion of identity and explores how it is formed through fashion. Drawing from a wide range of research materials, this module looks into identities of the self, the community and the nation, and how these are influenced by historical, socio-cultural and theoretical contexts via ideas of the body, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, social class, etc. Case studies will be drawn from the West and Asia, including Southeast Asia. This module will be conducted through a mixture of lectures and discussion groups. You will engage in critical dialogue and present findings about contemporary fashion theories within your specialism as you develop research, writing and presentation skills.

You are required to submit all mandatory assignments and show professional studentship. Commitment and full class attendance are key aspects of achieving satisfactory studentship for each level of study, and they will be taken into account for the assessment of this module.

Fashion Studio 2B (40 CU)
This module consolidates the knowledge, understanding and practical application of creative methods required to generate creative solutions in Fashion Media and Industries. You will engage with the global sustainability agenda; and you will expand your knowledge in areas of Fashion Media and Industries such as curation and narratives, craftsmanship and heritage, art direction and communication, business strategies and technology. 

In this module, you will consolidate your knowledge of the fashion system as a reciprocal mechanism between local and global markets. It is vital for the designer of the future to understand and keep up to date with the global sustainability agenda and actively respond to market demands, demonstrating awareness and responsibility about ecological, environmental, and social issues while maintaining an ethical design approach. Social enterprise business models are actively explored alongside recycling and upcycling. Business practices in value chain and environmental impact management are built to provide a broader understanding of production process in fashio. In a fast growing and changing industry, it is important for a fashion creative to be aware of the impact fashion has on the environment and society. 

This module advances you to diverse visualisation skills through digital methods. You will gain an understanding of design working methodologies, from conception to process to production. Your design decision-making will benefit from your expanding awareness of the social, cultural, economic, material and technological aspects surrounding your design practice in the region and beyond. 

The module also continues your exposure to cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary teamwork, which will enhance your project managerial skills as well as the scope of your creative thinking. You will also learn to present your work professionally. Self-evaluation and peer evaluation are encouraged to help in your development of critical awareness of the creative process.

In addition to your studio project work, you will continue to compile a Creative Process Journal (CPJ), which documents and describes the working practice. At this stage, your CPJ will be professionally laid out, and it should communicate effectively your research findings, ideas development and how your ideas are applied. Through compiling your CPJ, you will learn to describe, analyse, reflect and evaluate your creative efforts, knowledge, experience and process. The CPJ will evidence your creative and intellectual capacity as a designer, and the quality of the methods deployed.

Interdisciplinary Project
Interdisciplinarity is a key principle of a LASALLE arts education. Exploration of interdisciplinarity in your creative practice will provide you with the platform to work across disciplinary boundaries and explore new ways of developing ideas, concepts and practices.

In this module, you will be required to undertake an interdisciplinary project. You will have the opportunity to work with team members from different programmes and disciplines on a common project brief. As a team, you will learn to integrate knowledge and skills from various disciplines to produce new insights and/or outcomes.

Student Exchange Elective (60 CU) 
This module gives you the opportunity to explore fresh perspectives and alternative approaches to your creative discipline, by undertaking a semester-long international learning exchange in another institution. The aim of the module is to provide interested students an opportunity to enrich their learning journey, enhance their creative practice, learn from a socio-culturally different educational setting, and be exposed to new cultural and creative industries.

Please note that this is an elective module. Students who undertake this module will not be required to take additional modules.

In this module, you will spend a semester studying in a cognate programme or a selection of relevant modules at one of LASALLE’s partner institutions. You will also be expected to be an independent learner to relate and integrate the experience, knowledge and skills acquired to the assessments required for this module. Through this international experience, you will be able to strengthen your ability to adapt and react to changing trends and environment. You will build your capacity to contribute effectively as an active and informed local and global citizen, while broadening your network and enhancing your career prospects in the arts and creative industries. 

You are responsible for applying to this elective option through the College’s Division of Quality and Planning (Email: [email protected]) before Week 7 of Semester 1 . 

Your application for this elective module must be supported by your Programme Leader. You are expected to adhere to the regulations, guidelines and planned curriculum issued by the host institution. At the same time, you are expected to regularly update your assigned lecturer on the progress of your learning at the partner institution, and also seek guidance on the completion of the units of assessment for this module.

Industry and Community Engagement (20 CU)
This module is designed to enable you to broaden your knowledge of the cultural and creative industries by placing you, as a learning professional, within a professional work environment. The aim of the module is to help you develop work-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, prepare you to pursue opportunities in fields relating to your study, and expose you to a diverse set of professional trajectories. You will map your acquired skills, interests and aspirations against current (and future) opportunities in the cultural and creative industries, while putting to practice skills and knowledge gained in the classroom. You are required to attend various industry preparation workshops, such as resume-writing, interview skills, and etc., as part of this module.

In fulfilment of this module, you can choose one of the following options: 

Option A: Industry-based Internship(s)
You will independently source and apply for internship opportunities. You are required to identify your interest and career-trajectory. These opportunities should be in an organisation where the job functions are related to your discipline. 

The internship may be with a single organisation or an accumulation of short-term work with different companies, to accumulate the minimum 200 hours of on-the-job training. The internship may be spread across a number of days/weeks and need not be a full-time position. Where possible, you are encouraged to go beyond the minimum hours in order to showcase your talent and abilities, which will aid your quest for permanent employment and/or gain more opportunities to learn about the job and industry. 

All internships must be approved by the Programme Leader, prior to commencement, to align with learning aims and outcomes. 

Option B: Negotiated Projects
You will take a proactive and entrepreneurial approach to identify and create a niche for yourself, within the cultural and creative industries. You may undertake a combination of the following types of projects:

• Industry Live Project: You can source for an industry project, or this can be facilitated through the programme.
• Entrepreneurial Project: You may devise a business proposal and execute it. 
• Community Engagement Project: You can engage with a community of your preference, and develop and execute an initiative for them. 
• Short-term internship (about 100 hours)

To ensure that you fulfil the learning outcomes of this module, all proposals and short-term internship opportunities must be discussed and approved by the Programme Leader. 

Dissertation (40 CU)
This module is the culmination of the research and contextual knowledge that you have acquired during the course of your study. You will be required to undertake in-depth critical research, and present a coherent argument based on investigation and analysis. The chosen topic will be relevant to your main course of study, and will be used to support and inform your specialist practice. It will demonstrate your deep appreciation of your field, and competency of key approaches and methodologies to contextualise it.

You will demonstrate an ability to identify a research topic that is close to your practice or field of study through a clear literature review, and present relevant arguments and hypotheses in the written form of between 6,000 to 8,000 words.

Before commencing your dissertation, you will be required to develop a research proposal outline to demonstrate your research question and approach to completing the dissertation. In consultation with your supervisor, you may form your dissertation around an exegesis that foregrounds your major creative studio practice. Programmes where you are eligible to develop a piece of creative practice as part of your dissertation may be negotiated with your supervisor. In this instance, the word count for the written element may be negotiated, but a minimum word count of 4,000 words is required.

You are expected to undertake a significant amount of independent and self-motivated research. You will be assigned a supervisor who will provide guidance in your research work. You will also be required to attend all dissertation-related classes.

Graduation Project (60 CU)
This module is designed for you to take on a self-directed professional role in translating the areas of interest, which you will have established through your dissertation work and complimentary self-directed research efforts, into a strong portfolio of work.  

This body of work will demonstrate your strengths as a designer and as a critical and creative thinker. Your project development will be conducted in response to a concise project brief, which you will submit during the first semester as result of a preliminary in-depth research. Through writing your own brief, you will learn to identify and clearly articulate the anticipated design challenges. Your project brief is likely to be motivated through insights that you have gained in conjunction with your dissertation. Depending on your preferences, you will be able to work independently or in a team, as well as collaborate with degree students from other design programmes. 

This module provides you with the opportunity to apply previous knowledge and skills acquired in solving a self-initiated project to produce a creative body of work, demonstrating creative independence. A high level of creative thinking and understanding of the contemporary fashion context, together with critical abilities and proficiency in your specialist area of design study, will allow you to negotiate a direction and propose the final outcome of your own Graduation Project. 

You will learn to manage the design process, defining project development stages and benchmarks. You will undertake interim evaluations, tests and experiments that influence and inform the final design outcomes. You will have to present part or all of your design process and outcomes to different audiences, and engage in critical dialogues with both peers and industry collaborators. This will help you get a broader perspective of your undertaken project in order to objectively take design decisions.

To support your design practice at this level, you are expected to document and keep an updated Creative Process Journal, which will gather visual and written material in support of your practice. You will be critically assessing your development along with your research findings. Your choices and progress in relation to the design development will have to be professionally and convincingly articulated.

You are required to submit all mandatory assignments and show professional studentship. Commitment and full class attendance are key aspects of achieving satisfactory studentship for each level of study, and they will be taken into account for the assessment of this module.