Advanced Diploma in Fashion
Culture and Arts - Design Studies
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Overview
Purpose: The purpose of the qualification is to develop learners who can demonstrate focused knowledge and skills in the field of Fashion with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship. The qualification is designed to meet the requirements of a specific niche in the labor market. It is suitable for continuing professional development and provides an in-depth, systematic understanding of specialized theory and practice in fashion design. The qualification aims to encourage fashion entrepreneurs by preparing learners to be problem finders and problem solvers, who can work independently as fashion design entrepreneurs specializing in the field of fashion. Learners will demonstrate an understanding and application of crucial fashion terms and concepts, advancing knowledge literacy and problem-solving skills within the context of a fashion entrepreneurial rationale. Qualified learners will be able to identify research gaps in the market, apply design knowledge, skills, and practice to an individually designed range, enhance skills, and act professionally and ethically in the workplace.
Rationale: There is an increasing awareness that fashion designers need to adopt a thinking style that reflects intellectual integrity when designing objects, services, and systems, including considerations for sustainability (environmental), social development, and upliftment. Industry insiders and educationalists recognize the importance of equipping designers with competencies and qualifications necessary to develop a strong brand, market South African designer's clothes, and ensure reliability of on-time delivery. Stakeholders in the fashion industry emphasize the need for these qualifications to support education and development in various areas:
- Grow the brand 'South Africa' as a cultural and economic hub.
- Support small businesses, fill employment vacancies, and promote entrepreneurial activities.
- Raise awareness of the unique nature of South African design through specialized fashion designers.
- Enhance graduate skills in computer-aided design to compete against overseas imports.
- Collaborate with other design sectors to elevate creative industries.
- Support the country's fashion textile industry beneficiation efforts.
Outcomes
- Identify and solve complex design problems in an innovative manner through the application of integrated disciplinary knowledge and critical and conceptual thinking skills.
- Apply advanced design process methodologies to solve complex fashion design problems.
- Demonstrate appropriate integrated knowledge in the Fashion discipline in the application to research and design projects.
- Display the ability to work and act in an ethical and professional manner in both design and research and take full accountability for her/his actions and work.
- Demonstrate the ability to function as an independent individual who takes full responsibility for own decisions and actions and display an ability to self-direct own learning needs.
- Display the ability to actively participate in collaborative activities through the use of communications skills, using appropriate academic, professional and occupational discourses.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the critical concepts, principles, and theories of the practice of fashion design.
- Demonstrate innovative design conceptualization and product development.
- Write reports that show awareness of historical and contemporary fashion influences and the ability to critically evaluate fashion-related literature.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Display problem-solving ability and advanced design methods and competence in the use of advanced design applications, processes, and technologies in solving complex fashion design problems.
- Produce a capstone project consisting of a professional portfolio and a collection of fashion products that displays the learner's personal style and fashion brand.
- Solve complex problems by applying 'evidence-based' solutions relevant to the field of study.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Demonstrate the ability to use design principles.
- Show an understanding of sophisticated product development practices such as fabric manipulation techniques, pattern and garment construction methods.
- Use technologies to create and produce a professional collection of fashion products that displays the learner's personal style and fashion brand.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Act ethically and professionally by creating and producing a professional portfolio.
- Display a collection of fashion products that shows an understanding of environmental and social requirements.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Demonstrate management skills and work effectively as an individual designer as well as a team member within a commercial design and/or retail context.
- Provide effective leadership in project work.
- Show initiative for own learning and development.
- Organize, delegate, and coordinate activities towards achieving goals within allocated budget and time.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Work collaboratively with peers through the execution of written and practical work.
- Critically reflect on own actions and decisions using appropriate standards of acceptable performance as a professional fashion designer.
Integrated Assessment:
Integrated assessment forms part of continuous assessment at the institution and takes the form of an appropriate mix of both formative and summative assessment methods.
- Formative assessment is aimed at enhancing student learning and provides students with an opportunity to reflect critically on their own learning and to improve their own levels of personal accountability and time management.
- Summative assessment will take place at the end of a section of work/quarter or semester and is aimed at assessing learner's attainment against the learning outcomes of the program and subject(s).
In this qualification, it will consist of written assessments in the form of written class tests and examination conducted during and at the end of the academic semester/year as well as portfolio assessments. Learners will be assessed holistically using project reports, a portfolio of evidence, and an oral presentation related to the needs and requirements of the industry.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.