BDes Fashion Design

South Africa

National Senior Certificate with admission to a Bachelor’s Degree, or verification Certificate indicating an equivalent. Competent in English at NQF level 4. Mathematics preferred.

Special admissions

We offer mature age exemption to Degrees, Diplomas and Higher Certificates as per USAF requirements.
Inscape will consider Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) based on informal or non-formal learning for admission to this course.

International student

For admissions to Bachelor’s Degree: Higher Education South Africa (USAF) complete or conditional exemption certificate. A study permit in the name of Inscape Education Group is valid for the duration of the chosen course.

You can enrol for our Bachelor of Design programme at any campus to complete your 1st year. 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.

FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN 1st year – DESIGN SKILLS

Developing fundamental design skills to create design savvy, critical thinkers. 
Communication, Software and Leadership skills in preparation for intense 2nd and 3rd-year studies. 
Developing an awareness of the integrated nature of design, advancing the unique thinking of our students. 
Introducing an appreciation for Design History and context. 
Establishing fundamental building blocks for creative problem-solving. 
Exposure to various design disciplines within the Bachelor of Design to assist in selecting the ‘right’ specialisation from 2nd Year.

DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC 2nd year – DESIGN KNOWLEDGE

An introduction to 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, history and production.Fashion systems such as clothing production and processes as well as various clothing technologies used in the fashion industry assist in innovative and forward thinkers in today’s booming 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 Fashion Design Flat Drawings in 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 identification of customer needs, collection development pricing, sales and marketing strategies.

SPECIALISATION 3rd year – DESIGN STYLE

Developing a signature fashion design style by understanding contextual design, focusing on user-centred design for specific client needs. Sustainable design focuses on the life cycle of a garment from fibre to end user in stores, fabrication, up-cycling, textile manipulation and technology in fashion. Sub-culture in design focuses on looking at a specific sub-culture allocated to groups. 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. Developing an understanding of the guidelines and principles involved in running a design business. Promoting business vision, mission and values gives graduates the confidence and ‘know-how’ to start their own design initiatives based on a foundational knowledge of strategic development, marketing strategies, the importance of branding and managing finances.

Articulation options

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

As part of the Total Annual Fee you will receive:

Tuition including:

• Industry relevant and suitably qualified faculty members
• Positive teaching and learning experience
• Continuous based assessment
• Custom designed curriculum and courseware
• Enabling learning environments
• Modern, design sensitive, well located, easily accessible and secure campus locations
• Online Learner Management System with live data
• Industry collaborative engagements
• Extended campus hours and Onsite wifi connectivity
• Onsite library and resources

And Compulsory study packs include*:

• Textbooks
• E-books
• Stationery and equipment
• Wacom intuos tablet
• Adobe creative cloud
• ProQuest
• Grammarly
• Autodesk*
• LinkedIn Learning
• Workshop fee
• Hardware support including 3 x support tickets (onsite & helpdesk tickets)
• Student card                                                                                                                                                                        *course dependent

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.