DFB102 Introduction to Fashion Communication


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:DFB102
Credit points:12
Equivalent:KFB103
Coordinator:Kathleen Horton | kathleen.horton@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit provides an introduction to fashion communication and is intended to provide foundational knowledge and skills to pursue further studies in fashion communication. It aims to develop your understanding of fashion as both an everyday cultural form and a complex global industry. Learning in this unit will be important in order to gain an overview of the global fashion system and fashion cultures. You will develop and practise foundational fashion communication skills alongside learning how to apply key theoretical ideas to understanding fashion. This unit will provide you with the conceptual basis to pursue further studies in fashion communication.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate foundational knowledge of fashion cultures, practices and industries.
  2. Provide evidence of foundational skills in the visual and written communication of fashion.
  3. Demonstrate skills in both working independently and in a small teams to research, communicate and reflect on fashion knowledge.

Content

The content may cover the following:

  • definitions of fashion
  • theoretical understandings of fashion 
  • forms of fashion communication
  • the visual and material cultures of fashion
  • Australian fashion and global fashion industry
  • fashion and digital cultures.

Learning Approaches

This unit engages your learning through building on your everyday lived experience of fashion, and linking this to broader theoretical ideas. Throughout the semester you will be encouraged to explicitly apply new knowledge in professional and personal contexts and to reflect on your insights and your progressive learning in line with successful course completion. The unit is designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning alongside tutor to student learning. Students work together on small formative projects as well as larger summative projects and engage in peer-to-peer assessment. You will access curated on-line resources and you will engage in small collaborative group work with your peers. 

In the online mode of this unit, you will learn through engaging in a variety of online activities, online self-directed learning, and weekly research and readings that are designed to support your learning experience. The recorded lectures will examine conceptual and theoretical principles and issues across a variety of fashion communication topics, with a focus on contemporary case studies. Throughout the online delivery of this unit, you will receive support from your instructors and peers. You will have access to online resources and materials, and you will be able to communicate with your instructors and peers via various online platforms. A variety of support materials will be published on the Canvas website to coordinate the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided in the following ways:

  • formative oral feedback from the teaching team and peer-to-peer feedback.
  • online criteria sheets
  • Canvas general comments to cohort group
  • all of class feedback pertaining to general trends in the cohort.

Assessment

Overview

This unit has three summative assessment tasks. The first is a style profile that allows you to demonstrate your foundational knowledge of fashion practices and concepts, and practise skills in both visual and written communication. The second assessment task is a weekly response (critique) that allows you to test your knowledge as you progress through the unit. The third assessment task is a visual essay where you will synthesise visual and textual research into a cohesive communication package.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Style Profile

You will conduct a short interview a friend, colleague, or relative, and write a style profile with an accompanying mood board. Through the interview, you will gather information about their style and fashion practices. Based on their responses, you will write a profile that highlights their approach to fashion practices and how they use fashion to communicate their public identity. The written profile must apply key ideas covered in the unit. You will also design a mood board to visually communicate your subject’s aesthetic style. Through this exercise, you will develop foundational skills in written and visual fashion communication, while also begin to analyse fashion as part of everyday lived experience.
 
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Weight: 40
Length: 1,000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Early Semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2

Assessment: Weekly Response

In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to enhance your knowledge of fashion communication by providing brief written responses to weekly questions which draw on various forms of media such as images, videos, and text. Through this exercise, you will gain a deeper understanding of different aspects of fashion, such as fashion practices, identity, gender, image making and digital cultures. By analysing and reflecting on these questions, you will develop your critical thinking skills and ability to communicate your ideas effectively through writing.
 
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Weight: 20
Length: 7 weekly responses x 200 words each response = 1400 words total
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Progressive weeks 2- 9
Formative feedback in mid-semester; Summative late semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1

Assessment: Visual Essay

This assignment requires you to work collaboratively in a small team to create a Visual Essay that explores an aspects of 21st century fashion. You need to gather and analyse 5 images. Your response can argue in the affirmative (by agreeing with the statement), in the negative (by disagreeing with the statement), or your response can discuss both angles. You will need to identify and apply unit key terms and ideas as part of your response. You will also have the opportunity to peer assess team members and their contribution to group work. Through this process, you will develop skills in group work, research, visual communication and critical thinking. Overall, this assignment is designed to challenge you to think creatively and collaboratively as you explore the complex world of fashion communication.
 
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Weight: 40
Length: 1,500
Individual/Group: Group
Due (indicative): Late Semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students and staff who access campus buildings and facilities are required to complete the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.

Resources

There are no set texts for this unit. Recommended references and curated resources will be available from the Canvas site for this unit.

Resource Materials

Other

To enable your full participation in the virtual learning environment, for example, participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required. 

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or facilities, refer to the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction.

Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury. 

Students will be carrying out primary research for the assignments which may involve visiting retail outlets or cultural precincts. Risks associated with these activities are low. Students should abide by the occupational health and safety requirements of the workplace.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries

  1. Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
    Relates to: ULO1
  2. Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
    Relates to: ULO2
  3. Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
    Relates to: ULO2
  4. Communicate effectively in a range of forms across multiple media modes, for sharing and disseminating knowledge, skills and ideas, and collaborative practice and navigation of social networks.
    Relates to: ULO2
  5. Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3
  6. Embody social and ethical responsibilities and exhibit well-developed judgement with resilience, integrity, curiosity and responsibility.
    Relates to: ULO3