Performance Sportswear Design BA(Hons) Degree

Course outline

Level 1

• Design & Construction
• Designer in Society
• Production & Presentation
• Industrial, Professional & Global Contexts

Level 2

• Human Factors
• Advanced Materials
• Computer-aided Design & Manufacturing
• International Branding
• Professional Practice - Work Placement

Level 3

• Professional Design Practice
• Professional Design Project Proposal
• Dissertation
• Final Project

Tell me more about the BA(Hons) Performance Sportswear Design course

At Falmouth you'll experiment with the latest fabrics and construction methods and, using both hand drawing and digital technology, develop designs that meet the needs of this most demanding of sectors. You'll also study fashion, Computer Aided Design and branding to ensure that your practical skills are balanced with an appreciation of aesthetics and marketing.

This course also gives you the opportunity to put your skills into practice on live projects and undertake work placements with recognised regional, national or international brands to gain a thorough insight into the industry.

By choosing to study for a degree in Performance Sportswear Design at Falmouth you will:

• Benefit from being taught by friendly and approachable staff who are experts in their field.
• Develop the skills to design cutting-edge apparel that's practical, functional and aesthetically pleasing, so you can create wearable designs that will make a mark in this progressive and exciting industry.
• Design a range of performance sportswear as well as associated clothing - like drysuits, wetsuits, thermal garments and base and insulating layers.
• Experiment with the latest fabrics (such as neoprene, Polartec and polypropylene) and construction methods (like glued, blind and stitched seams), using both hand drawing and digital technology to develop designs that meet the needs of this most demanding of sectors.
• Be based at the inspirational Woodlane Campus, with its industry-standard facilities.
• Benefit from visiting speakers - including both design professionals and sports personalities - as well as our links with external sports academies and the local marine leisure industry.
• Go on self-funded study trips to manufacturers and visit design fairs.
• Have the opportunity to gain work placements with leading regional, national and international brands that we have close relationships with, including our international partner, Decathlon, Finisterre and Gul International.
• Engage with current industry debates and compare different approaches to design.

Links

• www.decathlon.com
• www.finisterreuk.com
• http://www.gul.com/

How is the course taught?

This full-time course is delivered through study blocks. Project work is supported by lectures, demonstrations, field trips, professional experience and focus groups, seminars and tutorials. You'll develop peer and self-evaluation skills, which will be used in critical, conceptual, productive and professional capacities.

The course operates on a basis of continuous assessment with no formal examinations.

Assessment

• Visual, verbal and written assignments
• Dissertation
• Final project

Facilities

Our world-class Fashion Studios house the latest technology and industry-standard facilities, including:

• Cutting tables
• Professional tailors' dummies
• Laser cutter
• Silicon taping machine
• Ultrasonic welder
• Designated steam room
• Industrial overlockers
• Blind stitching machines
• Knitting machines
• Video conferencing suite for receiving and presenting live briefs to international clients

Projects & fashion shows

Collaboration with Speedo

Performance Sportswear Design students are the latest in a line of creative collaborations to recycle the surplus Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit.

The swimsuit was responsible for an astonishing 91 world records between February 2008 and October 2009. However, it was rendered obsolete following a change in rules set out by the swimming governing body, FINA, which prevented the use of body suits in competitive swimming. Along with students from the London College of Fashion and the University of Huddersfield, UCF students, Owen Bennett, Mette Larson and Bethany Orrell, worked with Speedo to create new designs from 18,000 excess units of the revolutionary suit.

Media release: Performance Sportswear Design Students Collaborate with Speedo

2010 Graduate fashion show

BA(Hons) Performance Sportswear Design students recently collaborated with Fashion Design, Public Relations, Press & Editorial Photography, Graphic Design, Textile Design, Digital Media, Dance and Music students to put on a catwalk fashion show for an audience of over 800 at the Fal Festival, and at the Eden Project.

Media release: Falmouth graduate fashion show 2010

Work placements

Our students have undertaken work placements with Decathlon, Gul International and Finisterre.

Student websites

Links to the websites and blogs of Performance Sportswear Design students

• http://www.eyeheartpedal.wordpress.com/
• http://www.scosurfing.com/
• sailingbetty.blogspot.com 
• www.wearethetwins.com

Fashion at Falmouth: what the experts say

Articles about our Fashion Design and Performance Sportswear Design courses are available for you to download.

• What the industry is saying (247.49 KB)
• What the press is saying (12.01 MB)
• 'Celebrating twins stick together' - Richmond and Twickenham Times, 21 August 09 (1.58 MB)
• 'A world of possibilities for fashion students' - Western Morning News, 7 August 09 (5.82 MB)

When I read about the Fashion and Performance Sportswear Design courses, I thought it was designed for us and I took no time in contacting Patrick and Jane Gottelier. As a main actor in the sportswear business, with more than a hundred designers on board, such program is very relevant to Decathlon. I see University College Falmouth as a potential partner for a long term relationship. This could allow us to source new talents for our design team as well as develop some prospective design program to stimulate our in-house designers. Philippe Picaud, Design Director - Decathlon

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum

HelpMe Forum

For further information about BA(Hons) Performance Sportswear Design at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 255763.

Taster days

Our taster days are intended to give prospective applicants the chance to immerse themselves in their course of choice for a full day, working on a project with our staff and students. We run tours of all our facilities and accommodation, provide lunch, and really give guests a flavour of life at Falmouth.

• 25 November 2011: BA(Hons) Fashion Design & BA(Hons) Performance Sportswear Design - 30 spaces available

For more information, please email: tasterdays@falmouth.ac.uk

Open Design: UCF for design tutors

At our first Open Design event in February, Heads of Department and Pathway Leaders from Foundation level courses around the UK spent the day with design staff and students at University College Falmouth, learning more about our facilities and courses.

Click here for more information and to register for the next Open Design event

Career opportunities

As a Performance Sportswear Design graduate, you can expect to join the ranks of companies and individuals making clothing for surfing, sailing, diving, snowboarding, walking and climbing as well as foul weather clothes, expedition and polar wear. Further options include teaching and postgraduate study.

• In-house designer for the sports & fashion industry
• Freelance designer
• Specialist retailer
• Proprietor of clothing label
• Buyer
• Merchandiser
• Stylist

Entry requirements

A minimum of 220 UCAS points, equivalent Level 3 qualifications or relevant experience. You may be required to submit some work to help us decide who to interview.

Successful applicants are generally those with the strongest portfolios, demonstrating experimentation, technical ability and understanding of the art and design process.

Please see our How to Apply page for more information.

For further information about BA(Hons) Performance Sportswear Design at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 255763.

Interview and selection process

We invite all applicants invited to interview. Small groups of applicants will be interviewed with their portfolios and sketchbooks by a panel consisting of two academic members of staff and two students. A department tour will follow the interview. The session will last approximately three hours.

Please bring portfolio/project work/sketch books to interview as well as a personal project that represents you. Your portfolio should demonstrate the ability to investigate ideas and use a range of media, skills in observational drawing, and any investigations into design methods and skills. The team will be mainly interested in your abilities in the field of design and design research, but other types of work can be included if it demonstrates capabilities and interest in fashion/performance sportswear design. Please do not bring actual garments, however photographs of made garments within portfolios are welcomed. Life drawing should be limited to two portfolio pages only.

Interviews will be held on 20 January, 24 and 29 February and 2 March 2012 only. Morning interviews will be at 9.30am and afternoon interviews will be at 1.30pm.

Location: Woodlane Campus

Related courses

• Fashion Design BA(Hons)
• Textile Design BA(Hons)