Fashion Styling and Creative Direction BA (Hons)

Southampton Solent University

If you have an eye for style and are looking to delve into the world of fashion, Solent’s fashion styling and creative direction degree can help you turn your creativity into a fast-paced and exciting career.

Throughout the course you will acquire skills not only in styling, but also in make-up and hair, photography, retouching, trend forecasting and branding – making you a complete creative director with the skillset to become a distinctive and visionary voice within the fashion industry.

You will be supported to grow confidence in your understanding and use of independent learning and show an awareness of professional and personal development. And will be taught how to professionally apply the practical and technical skills developed throughout the studies for a diverse range of media and design platforms.

Crucial for this is collaboration and working as part of a creative team, with the ability to have an open and flexible approach to ideas. You will be encouraged to show initiative and demonstrate the ability to research and discuss sociocultural issues and perspectives that are related to the progression of visual design practice.

You will evaluate both contemporary, and historical fashion and lifestyle trends, for the formulation of creative and visual communication. And throughout this process, will practice self-reflection and critically challenge your own work and that of others, to develop a deeper understanding of your own development as a creative practitioner whilst being conscious and aware of how their work and research can impact on the wider community, both locally and globally.

Your learning is aided by free access to specialist hair and make-up studios. These studios include airbrush guns, studio lights and other industry-standard fixtures. Solent’s media academy boasts high-spec photography studios and IT facilities, as well as a range of the latest editing software.

The collaborative culture on campus encourages students to work on exciting shared projects with students from other creative disciplines. Recent projects have included live fashion events and work on the course’s own fashion brochure, Anon.

What does this course lead to?

This course is suited to students who want to hone their creative skills, and learn how to channel these into the hands-on development of visual concepts.

Applicants should have a keen and broad interest in the creative industries, from fashion and design, to art and graphics, and will need to show a varied portfolio of both visual and written work upon application.

Who is this course for?

The course can lead to a wide range of exciting career prospects in areas such as magazines, advertising, design, catwalk shows, digital media and e-commerce.

Recent graduates have gone on to a variety of roles including online styling, head styling, trend research, fashion administration, studio management, visual merchandising and visual styling. Marks & Spencer, Lenis Model Management, Hungry Tiger, Karen Millen, Trendstop, Topshop and Campaign Design are just a few of the businesses who have hired our graduates.