In this course you will extend your knowledge and research-based skills through exploration of various fashion research methods with a focus on practice-based research. This includes researching alternates to the way fashion and materials are produced, understood, experienced and includes relationships and collaboration with other disciplines. Creative practice is a model of research that uses design experiments as data in the form of garments, textiles, publications, films, performances and exhibitions. Findings from these experiments are then documented, reflected on and analysed using further research methods to provide insights into and about practice. This might mean using theoretical research to synthesise and more deeply understand the practice and its contribution to broader social, cultural, ethical and environmental issues.

You will explore a range of research methods with application to your practice to consider how these might take existing processes or ideas further, and how you can better establish the foundation for your capstone project. This will involve testing out and reflecting on the findings of methods in action to see if these have further potential. The methods you will explore respond to the aims of your practice, motivation, questions or problems relevant to key issues, conditions or impacts of fashion systems. These methods will be critically analysed, evaluated and synthesised relevant to expand your practice and progress your position with fashion and textiles industries.