Bachelor of Design specialising in Fashion Design

South Africa

Students with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) stipulating entrance to a bachelor’s degree.

Special admissions

We offer mature age exemption for Degrees, Diplomas and Higher Certificates programmes as per USAf requirements.

Applications from students who wish to gain access through RPL will be considered. The RPL process is described in the Inscape Admissions Policy and Inscape RPL Application form.

International Students

For admissions to bachelor’s degree:  Universities South Africa (USAf) formerly known as Higher Education South Africa, complete or conditional exemption certificate. A study permit in the name of Inscape Education Group is valid for the duration of the chosen course.

Bachelor of Design specialising in Fashion Design is offered at Cape Town, Durban, Midrand, Pretoria and Stellenbosch campuses.

Our programmes are quality assured and standardised across all Inscape campuses. Students who are accepted into certain degree specialisation programmes might be required to complete their 2nd and 3rd-year studies at another specialised Inscape campus.

1st year

Developing fundamental design skills to create design-savvy and critical thinkers form the foundation of first-year studies. Communication, Software and Leadership skills prepare students for intense second-year and third-year studies in their design specialisation. Conceptual focus facilitates awareness of the integrated nature of design, advancing the unique thinking of our students. An appreciation of design history and context is a vital component in developing an understanding of complex influences on contemporary design and the need for sustainable design futures. The fundamentals of the circular economy, circular design and the SDG informs students’ design practice. The first-year establishes fundamental building blocks for creative problem-solving.

2nd year

An introduction to traditional and alternate/sustainable textiles and fabric making process lays the foundation for garment design and designing using multiple mediums and techniques. Understanding fashion trends and history creates a strong foundation for design application and knowledge. Applying theory to practice through an understanding of textile technology, the global and African history of fashion and both linear and circular production. Commercial fashion systems such as clothing production and processes, various clothing technologies as well as re-use and recycle approaches used in the fashion industry assist in innovative and forward thinkers in today’s fashion industry. A basic working knowledge of pattern technology through practical application of pattern construction and application of different hand and machine sewing techniques is introduced. Advancing software skills and technical knowledge through an introduction to visual storytelling and fashion photography, fashion rendering in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Developing an understanding of the Business of Design through the awareness of fashion merchandising covering topics such as fundamentals of fashion forecasting, visual merchandising principles, store layout and merchandise presentation, fashion buying, merchandise planning; through the identification of customer needs, collection development pricing, sales, and traditional and online marketing strategies.

3rd year

Students in their third-year embark on a capstone project that may adopt a theme or direction of their choice. Developing a signature fashion design style by understanding contextual design, focusing on user-centred design for client needs. Sustainable design focuses on the life cycle of a garment from raw material to end user, fabrication, up-cycling, textile manipulation and technology in fashion. Sub-culture in design focuses on looking at a specific sub-culture that informs the capstone project. Developing advanced knowledge and expert skills by exercising progressive and refined skills in textile technology, pattern technology and garment technology. Awareness of the latest design technologies and innovations through practice in software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Business studies expose students to guidelines and principles involved in running a design business, integrating circular design and sustainable development goals.

Articulation Options

Students who have graduated with a Bachelor of Design Degree may apply to register for an Honours or Post Graduate Diploma in Design, Fashion Design or a related field. Institutional minimum requirements will apply.

As part of the Total Annual Fee you will receive:

Tuition including:

Graduates entering the versatile environment of fashion can work in a variety of fields, from business and manufacturing to retail and creative fields.

Apply your knowledge and shape the industry in the following careers:

• Visual merchandiser
• Colourist
• Textile Designer
• Pattern Maker
• Stylist
• Buyer
• Apparel Designer
• Planner
• Distributor
• Fashion Illustrator
• Fashion Journalist
• Trend Forecaster
• Fashion Historian
• Sourcing Assistant
• Sustainability Consultant or Analyst

Graduates entering the versatile environment of fashion design, can work in retail environments as fashion visual merchandisers, stylists, buyers, coordinators, planners and distributors. They can also take up a role in media as fashion illustrators, journalists, editors, photographers, trend forecasters, analysts and fashion historians.

Many designers choose to take up a pure role within garment product development as fashion designers, product planners, colourists, textile designers, pattern makers and production staff.

To apply for this course, please use the link below.