Fashion Design
Bachelor of Design Degree
Centring on innovative and conceptual design, Bachelor of Design, Fashion Design, offers comprehensive design education for ambitious individuals looking for a rewarding career within the fashion design industry.
Our philosophy is to create a learning environment in which innovation and originality are nurtured within the full spectrum of fashion design and marketing practice.
We aim to produce versatile fashion design specialists, able to solve problems creatively while drawing on a deep knowledge of their chosen fields and a critical understanding of the social, economic and cultural factors influencing their professional environment.
Just some of the industry partners our students & alumni have had opportunities with:
Fashion Design
The Bachelor of Design, Fashion Design, is for students who want to pursue careers as innovative designers. It sets out to deliver a clear understanding and experience of generating, developing and realising a variety of creative womenswear, menswear and accessory design to a professional standard.
Students are encouraged to develop their personal design vision within the context of an existing and expanding fashion market, incorporating both classic and innovative design concepts. The diversity of the fashion industry is conveyed through a varied curriculum, targeted projects and the guidance of established and visiting lecturers who are specialists in this sector.
Essential skills you will learn include: design research methods, flat pattern cutting, modelling on the stand, garment construction, tailoring processes and finishing, technical specification, illustration and presentation, textile exploration, print making, marketing & branding.
We proudly deliver an exceptional 1,728* hours over two years and we encourage you to compare.
You won't find another degree like it in Australia.
Student Opportunities
As a Whitehouse student, you'll have access to a number of industry opportunities which include showing your work on fashion runways, receiving scholarships/bursaries from industry partners and be invited to fashion design events.
Over the last 12 months, our students have been invited to: In Conversation with Anna Wintour (Editor-in-Chief of Vogue US) hosted by Vogue Australia. In Conversation with Tommy Hilfiger and Edwina McCann (Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Australia). Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) Student Runway.
Course Structure
Design Contexts
In year one, students will be immersed in the foundation elements of design context that look at the historical, cultural and social influences that impact on contemporary design practices. Students relate their research to their chosen specialisation and how the relationship of culture, history and marketplace informs design and designers today. In the second and final year, design context students investigate the relationship between design and marketing, how to integrate design with industry business models and how design integrates with the professional world.
Digital Design
Focuses on visual communication through print and digital media. This area of study examines the principles of communication realised through effective and innovative visual outcomes. Students use the following programs: Adobe Creative Cloud and Style CAD for Pattern making.
Illustration for Design
Focuses on communication techniques relevant to the specialisation of choice. A diverse range of media is investigated, used and mastered to successfully communicate design intent through illustration.
Design Methods
Delves into the question of What is Design? This subject investigates and interrogates design innovation in Fashion Design. Methods has a strong focus on putting your ideas into practice and preparing for industry
Design Workshop
Supports students through the realisation of their 2D design to a 3D prototype. This area of study provides students with the opportunity to integrate and apply their skills and knowledge from all other subject areas. Students learn basic to advanced pattern making techniques and construction techniques using a variety of machinery for construction to create a reference portfolio of all technical and design work.
Graduate Outcomes
Here are just some examples of career outcomes our Fashion Design graduates have continued into:
- Fashion Designer
- Fashion Buyer
- Art Director
- Marketing Manager
- Blog Director/ Editor
- Magazine Editor
- Fashion Journalist
- Advertising Manager
- Textile Designer
- Pattern Maker
- Costume Designer
- Visual Merchandiser
- Brand Manager
- Fashion Illustrator
- Tailor
- Trend Analyst
Campus & Facilities
With design-centric campuses in Melbourne and Sydney, Whitehouse students are provided with state-of-the-art facilities within each of their subjects. Exclusive access to digital resources, online trend-forecasting services, a specialist design library, student rooftop garden and fully-equipped photography studio.
Whitehouse is continuously updating and replenishing resources to ensure that students have extensive research support. Check out our campuses here.
