Bachelor
The Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles has been designed to enable students to create pathways of learning as they progress through the degree with a flexible and diverse approach to learning. Emphasis throughout this practice-based course is placed on value, innovation, creativity and responsible practice. Students should develop flexibility and confidence in working across the diverse environments that constitute contemporary practice. Taking a transdisciplinary approach, the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation utilises multiple perspectives from diverse fields, integrating a range of industry experiences, real-world projects and self-initiated proposals, equipping graduates to address the wicked problems, complex challenges and untapped opportunities in today's world. The course centres on design studios which integrate practice-oriented learning about specific fashion and textile projects, and parallels the process that professionals undertake in industry. There is strong emphasis on creativity, experimentation and future thinking in the fashion industry. Professional practice is embedded in all fashion studios and builds on contemporary industry practice with a focus on international fashion markets. Projects are developed through individual and group work, and are often tied to external projects with industry or cultural partners. By focusing on the high-level conceptual thinking and problem-solving practices that lead to the development of innovative, creative and entrepreneurial outcomes, students of the combined degree also gain leading edge capabilities that are highly valued in the globalised world including dealing with critical and creative thinking, invention, complexity, innovation, future scenario building and entrepreneurship, and the ability to work on their own across disciplines. These creative intelligence competencies enable graduates to navigate in a rapidly changing world.
Career options include womenswear designer, menswear designer, fashion producer, art or creative director, textile designer, print designer, and fashion forecasting. Some graduates start their own business, while others work in an established company locally or with international brands. Graduates may also continue studies at postgraduate level in both coursework or research degrees. By being creative thinkers, initiators of new ideas, scenario planners, global strategists, open network designers or sustainable futures innovators within their chosen field of study, graduates maximise the potential of their chosen profession, making them highly sought after graduates with the ability to identify and develop solutions to some of the most complex issues that face their disciplines and society.
Students must complete 240 credit points, comprising 144 credit points in fashion and textiles, and 96 credit points in creative intelligence and innovation. The creative intelligence and innovation subjects are undertaken in accelerated form in July and Summer sessions during the first three years of study, and through one full year of study after completion of the professional degree. The Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation is not offered as a separate degree, but is completed only in combination with the professional degree program. In the final year of the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, students can undertake between 6 and 12 credit points of internship (work experience) that relates to innovation within their research, career development or core degree specialisations. For students undertaking 12 credit points of internship, international internships may be negotiated. This course involves significant industry engagement as part of the learning process. Students may be required to relinquish intellectual property when they opt in to certain industry-related experiences, particularly relating to internships and capstone projects.