Fashion Styling & Visual Merchandising

The three year course covers external communication strategies in window display: from styling a product, to communicating the brand message and identity through methods of graphic communication and technology. Methods of composition, colour theory, propping, and display dynamics are also taught and applied. Internal communication investigates the physical store design and layout, fixtures, use of POS and product presentation as well as, engaging the customer through experiential and sensory environment design, learning how to communicate brand message, sell a product, and evoke an emotive response to the customer through narrative and story telling. Participants also create, develop and manage live photo shoots working to a design brief informed by top industry brands. They learn how to construct an immediately identifiable and recognisable style gained through the study of trends and fashion image; this is explored through photographic techniques in still-life set design, and specific merchandising choices in make-up, hair and accessories, relevant to the brand, product or look. As well as interpreting company briefs, participants are also encouraged to decode brand stereotypes and to think about image positioning from a different perspective, in order to discover unique selling points and create interest and desire with their target audience. The course provides a solid base in fashion styling and the fashion system, a model that embraces many aspects of the industry, not only in traditional business practices including brand identity, positioning and marketing, but also interpreting art and craft in fashion, consumer habits, and trends and influences in street style, trend spotting, and photo blogging; creative research methods for product communication are key. Cultural studies in the history of art, design, dress and fashion culture provide the necessary skills to make a critical assessment of a brand or client’s lifestyle and legacy. Communication and presentation skills cover methods of ‘pitching’ a concept via visual skills in CAD and 3D design. This course is part of the fashion styling and creative direction study pathways. With fashion styling as the core subject, participants specialise in the chosen area of interest (visual merchandising), completing the course with a distinct professional profile. This course is also available as a BA (Hons) four-year course (including Sandwich Year placement).

• Photography, image development, selection and editing
• Fashion styling & photo shoot
• Visual merchandising strategies
• Graphic design and commercial media presence
• Brand identity and image
• Fashion marketing and communication
• Trends, customer profiling and forecasting
• Professional design portfolio
• Omni channel retailing: physical/digital
• Visual outcomes: CAD, 2D, 3D

• Visual merchandiser
• Display designer
• Fashion stylist
• Creative team: retail
• Creative/art director
• Fashion business entrepreneur

Year one

• Fashion Image
• New Media Environment
• Professional Fashion Panorama
• History of Art and Fashion

Year two

• Fashion Branding
• Visual Display Strategies
• Retail Environment
• Fashion, Art and Cultural Context

Year three

• Fashion Retail Strategies
• Final Major Project Fashion Styling & Visual Merchandising
• Final Dissertation

Badges of Excellence recognise a school’s strengths in four key areas: Best Overall, Best in Global Influence, Best in Learning Experience and Best in Long-Term Value.

• Global Influence – The global reputation and influence of a school, based on the selectivity of a school in admitting applicants and the enrolment rates of admitted applicants.