ArtEZ Fashion Masters | Master Fashion Design

Contents

FASHION DESIGN

Fashion Design is a specialisation within the Master Fashion Design. This course is especially developed for designers who wish to refine their personal signature and develop their skills as a professional fashion designer. Beyond the regular curriculum we encourage students to work independently by attending design workshops and by participating in events such as international fairs and fashion presentations. A major part of the curriculum consists of excursions, attending symposiums and visits to museums.

The first semester emphasises theory, design, branding and illustration. This includes a specific module on knitwear. In the second semester the curriculum focuses on the key elements involved in designing a full collection. In the third term students design and develop their graduation collection under the guidance of professional designers, who have a national or international background.

During the final months of the curriculum students concentrate on the presentation and promotion of their collection as it relates to the industry and its future embedment within the international field of fashion. They show their collection in a presentation during the Amsterdam International Fashion Week, the Arnhem Mode Biënnale or the Paris Fashion Week. In this same period students complete their paper, which is based on creative research, while they also put together a professional portfolio.

SHOE DESIGN

Shoe Design is a specialisation within the Master Fashion Design. This course is specially developed for designers who wish to refine their personal signature and develop their skills as a professional shoe designer for the fashion industry. Beyond the regular curriculum, we encourage students to work independently by attending design workshops and by participating in events such as international fairs and (fashion) presentations.

The first semester emphasises theory, design skills, branding and illustration. In the first three terms students also attend a course in traditional shoe making. In the second semester the curriculum focuses on the key elements of a collection, and the development and refinement of the student’s own personal signature. In the third term students design and develop their graduation collection under the guidance of national and international professional designers.

In the final months of the course students concentrate on the presentation and promotion of their collection as it relates to the industry and their work’s future embedment within the international field of fashion. At the same time students complete their paper, which is based on creative research, while they also put together a professional portfolio.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME

The course is divided into four semesters, which concentrate on, respectively, orientation, reflection, creation and presentation. In the first semester students will be provided with a broad orientation to the international fashion industry, which will offer them insight into personal capacities and skills. In the second semester the emphasis will be on reflection; this implies the development of a critical view about oneself as a professional and towards the fashion industry in general. During the third and fourth semester students complete their graduation project; this is the phase where all the knowledge they acquired comes together. In the final semester the research process is completed and the project results are presented to the outside world.

Apart from this division into four semesters, the course can be said to cover three domains: artistic, theoretical and professional. These three domains will serve as focal points during the four semesters of the course.

The artistic domain is aimed at further developing a personal signature and undertaking research in order to enhance the student’s artistic abilities. The theoretical domain explores the impact of fashion as an important cultural phenomenon in our visual culture and society. In addition, students focus on the development and application of a distinctive and effective language, in order to communicate ideas and concepts within the proper professional context. Finally, the professional domain is geared to finding cooperation and acquiring a greater understanding of the fashion industry. In this domain active participation is essential; it provides students a routine for researching, collecting and organising informational aspects that will form the basis for continuity and innovation in the fashion industry. Furthermore, this domain stimulates awareness of individual responsibility when working either in a professional team or as an individual designer, when operating in a company-like structure.