Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design

Course Description:

Programme Specification

Programme Title: Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design
EQF Level: 5 Total Credits: 20 t0 25
Programme Duration: Approximately 275 t0 310 Guided Learning Hours

Programme Description

The Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design is a professionally oriented programme designed to expand students’ creative, technical, and conceptual understanding of contemporary fashion design practice. The programme develops advanced skills in garment design, dress modelling, fashion illustration, branding, digital fashion presentation, accessory design, and costume studies while encouraging innovation, experimentation, and professional identity development.

Students explore specialized fashion sectors including evening wear, bridal fashion, menswear, childrenswear, casualwear, and fashion collections while developing advanced rendering techniques, pattern development, and computer-aided fashion design skills. The programme combines artistic creativity with practical garment construction, trend analysis, branding strategy, and fashion communication aligned with current industry practices.

Strong emphasis is placed on concept development, fashion visualization, silhouette experimentation, material awareness, fashion branding, and portfolio presentation. Through studio-based projects and practical workshops, students develop professional competencies suitable for higher-level study or entry into the fashion industry.

Who Is This Programme For?

This programme is suitable for:

Students progressing from a Diploma in Fashion Design
Aspiring fashion designers seeking advanced technical and creative skills
Individuals interested in fashion collections, garment construction, and fashion branding
Learners preparing for higher education in fashion design or related disciplines
Creative practitioners seeking professional development within the fashion industry

The programme is ideal for students with foundational fashion design knowledge who wish to strengthen their conceptual, technical, and professional practice skills.

Programme Aims

The programme aims to:

Develop advanced fashion design and garment visualization skills
Strengthen creativity in fashion collection and silhouette development
Build technical competencies in dress modelling and pattern construction
Introduce digital fashion presentation and computer-aided design methods
Explore branding, fashion identity, and fashion communication strategies
Develop professional rendering and illustration techniques
Encourage innovation, experimentation, and trend analysis within contemporary fashion design

Programme Structure / Course Outline

1- Fashion Design 3

EQF Level: 5 Credits: 4 Duration: 50 Hours

Module Description

This course develops advanced creative approaches to evening wear and wedding gown design. Students explore fashion aesthetics, luxury garment structures, silhouette development, and specialized rendering techniques while learning how to communicate sophisticated fashion concepts visually and professionally.

The course emphasizes experimentation with fashion illustration media including rapid techniques, gouache, markers, and polychrome pencils to develop expressive and high-quality fashion presentations.

2- Fashion Design 4

EQF Level: 5 Credits: 3 Duration: 40 Hours

Module Description

This course explores fashion design for menswear, childrenswear, and teenage fashion while examining relationships between garment structure, body form, and fashion harmony. Students develop practical and creative solutions for diverse fashion markets through collection design, silhouette analysis, and casualwear development.

3- Dress Modelling

EQF Level: 4 Credits: 4 Duration: 50 Hours

Module Description

This course introduces advanced dress modelling and garment construction principles through pattern making, motif development, sample creation, and dress processing techniques. Students gain practical understanding of garment structure, production methods, and fashion prototyping.

4- Computer Aided Design

EQF Level: 4 Credits: 4 Duration: 40 Hours

Module Description

This course introduces digital fashion illustration and computer-aided fashion presentation using Adobe Photoshop. Students learn digital rendering, composition, colouring, and presentation methods relevant to contemporary fashion communication and portfolio development.

5- Coats & Over Coats Workshop

EQF Level: 5 Credits: 1 Duration: 10 Hours

Module Description

This workshop explores contemporary fashion trends related to coats and overcoats through trend analysis, volumetric silhouette experimentation, and collection development. Students investigate oversized forms, cut-out techniques, and modern outerwear aesthetics while developing conceptual fashion responses inspired by current fashion movements.

6- Rendering Techniques

EQF Level: 4 Credits: 3 Duration: 36 Hours

Module Description

This course develops advanced rendering techniques for fashion illustration using colour pencils and markers. Students strengthen their ability to communicate textures, fabrics, lighting, and garment movement through professional fashion rendering methods.

7- Accessory Design

EQF Level: 4 Credits: 2 Duration: 30 Hours

Module Description

This course explores the design and development of fashion accessories including buttons, zippers, shoes, sunglasses, bags, gloves, and decorative clothing elements. Students investigate accessory aesthetics, functionality, and integration within fashion collections.

8- Branding

EQF Level: 4 Credits: 2 Duration: 24 Hours

Module Description

This course introduces branding principles within fashion and creative industries. Students explore brand identity, storytelling, archetypes, mission statements, tone of voice, and unique value propositions while developing an understanding of how branding influences fashion communication and consumer perception.

9- Modern Styles in Costume Design

EQF Level: 5 Credits: 2 Duration: 24 Hours

Module Description

This course explores the evolution of costume and fashion styles from the 19th century to contemporary design movements. Students investigate conceptual art, Pop Art, Op Art, and modern Persian fashion influences from the Qajar era while analyzing how artistic movements shape fashion aesthetics and identity.

Teaching & Learning Methods

The programme is delivered through:

Studio-based fashion workshops
Fashion illustration and rendering sessions
Garment construction and dress modelling practice
Digital fashion design workshops
Trend analysis and branding studies
Portfolio and presentation development
Group critiques and creative discussions

Assessment Methods

Assessment may include:

Fashion illustration portfolios
Garment and collection design projects
Pattern and dress modelling exercises
Digital fashion presentations
Branding and accessory design projects
Historical and trend research studies
Final fashion portfolio presentation

Progression Opportunities

Upon successful completion, students may progress to:

Higher education in Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Textile Design, or Creative Arts
Fashion styling and branding industries
Fashion illustration and garment development practice
Independent fashion label development or creative entrepreneurship

Software & Creative Tools

Students may use: