The introductory course module begins with a broad overview of the contemporary fashion design industry, incorporating an exploration of historical design trends. Key fashion movements prevalent in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries are introduced, along with a series of key considerations helpful when predicting and pre-empting upcoming style trends and movements.

An exploration of crucial design elements follows in Module 2, which guides candidates through the four key elements of design – textures, colours, shapes and lines. Course content outlines the specifics and importance of each individually, along with how all for must be considered in context with one another to achieve the desired result.

The following course unit takes a closer look at a series of primary principles of design, focusing specifically on emphasis, balance, harmony and repetition. Each design principle is dissected and analysed both as an independent consideration and as an integral building block in the design process.

A series of crucially important dress designing essentials follow in the fourth course module, in which candidates are guided through several simple yet highly-effective dress designing techniques. Course content introduces a variety of relevant theoretical teachings, along with a selection of tools and resources of importance in the dress design process.

The following unit continues the investigation of professional dress designing basics, incorporating a broad overview of effective and appropriate colour choice and application. Along with exploring the fundamentals of colour clashing and colour cohesion, candidates learn how to effectively select colours in accordance with respective requirements.

Course content in Module 6 guides candidates through each of the crucial steps and elements that make up the professional design process. Candidates investigate exactly how structure, order and control can influence an outcome, while exploring everything from seeking inspiration to putting a garment into production.

How to produce and work with professional-level fashion sketches follows in Module 7, which provides candidates with the essential knowledge and practical framework required to bring concepts and ideas to life. The importance of creating sketches that can be understood by other designers/contributors is also outlined.

Course content in Module 8 focuses on how to strategically and effectively use patterns from the perspective of the contemporary fashion designer. Candidates learn how and why it is that certain patterns build cohesion with one another while others clash, along with how to choose appropriate patterns for specific applications.

The following two course modules guide candidates through a series of important sewing basics and fundamentals – essential in the fashion design process. Along with how to get the most out of a professional sewing studio, course content introduces proficient hand-sewing techniques and the basics of sewing seams into garments.

Sewing continues as the primary theme of Module 10, which along with an introduction to essential repairs and alterations also guides candidates through the adapting of sewing techniques in accordance with specific materials and a series of associated challenges.

Bringing the course to a conclusion, Module 11 introduces candidates to the most important stages and elements in the creation of a contemporary fashion design business. Those interested in setting up for themselves discover how to build and market a new brand, how to identify a target audience and generally how to build long-term success in a uniquely challenging industry.