MA Creative Direction for Fashion Media

The programme is structured as four 10-week terms. The first three are taught and the final term is dedicated to independent study to complete the final projects and a thesis. The programme structure consists of modules that are shared across all media programmes that focus on research skills and building critical awareness of current issues as well as developments in the fashion and media industry along with programme specific modules that enable you to acquire technical and practical skills aligned with your careers goals.

Programme Structure

MA Creative Direction for Fashion Media programme is a highly practical option that allows students to develop their existing visual communication skills with a focus on fashion. It is suited to those with creative degrees and strong portfolios in areas such as photography, fine art, visual communication or graphic design. You are expected to have existing skills within your preferred creative field and the course will provide opportunities to put those skills to use. Modules on the programme are:

Critical Research: Understanding Audiences

The purpose of this module is to provide you with an overview of the range of research methods, approaches and tools that are vital developing an insight into audiences. The module will cover the philosophy of research, ethics, primary and secondary research methods, how to analyse, evaluate as well as disseminate research findings. The module will consider research in a range of contexts relevant to the media industries and enable you to understand the relationship between theory and practice.

Fashion Media Futures

In order for fashion media to stay agile, it is important that companies, brands, publications and indeed individuals are aware of the issues as well as opportunities relevant for the industry now and in the near as well as distant future. As part of this, you will be introduced to skills of evaluating how societal, technological, political and economic change and how these impact fashion media. In teams consisting of students from different media programmes, students will collaboratively respond to emerging trends and to create new solutions that capitalise on this.

Multi-Media Production

This is a skills-based module to provide you opportunities for the development of practical production skills in areas such as photography, image editing, print layouts and graphic design for fashion. You will develop a digital design and multi-media communication skills across various mediums. The module aims to prepare you for further project work on later modules and ensure your technical and design skills are developed to a level suitable for producing work at level 7.

Visual Culture & Creative Direction for Fashion

Having learned creative and technical skills relevant for creative direction in term 2, this unit allows you to apply those skills in a more professional context whilst examining key aspects of visual culture and exploring what inspires innovation in creative direction. The balance between creativity and commercial concerns will be considered as part of the contemporary practice in a creative direction.

Final Master’s Project

During this module, you will create a practical outcome aligned with your programme specialism and identified career focus. You might approach this as an opportunity to create a portfolio of work, initiate a live or simulated industry project or to take an entrepreneurial approach by creating a project that you might continue to pursue after finishing the degree.

A written thesis will underpin the practical element, allowing you to identify a clear connection between academic theory as well as scholarly research and genuine industry practice. The aim is to consolidate and enhance previous learning on the programme and provides the opportunity to develop an individual research proposal in any are of interest relevant to the programmes content.

This project aims to provide you with an opportunity to conduct live research in a topic of interest to you, developing skills in project management and engaging with professional development planning.

Entry Requirements

Students must be aged at least 18 years old on 31st August at the start of the academic year in which they intend to join this course. An academic year runs 1st September-31st August annually. For the duration of the academic year, a student is considered to be their academic age for admissions purposes, regardless of when their birthday falls within that academic year.

The standard entry requirements for this course are an honours degree, preferably at 2:2 or above, or an equivalent EU/international qualification.

Specific Entry Requirements for MA Creative Direction for Fashion Media

A design/visual-based degree in an appropriate subject such as Graphic Design, Fine Art, Visual Communication, Photography or UX design.

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

Exceptional applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements may still be considered through APEL if they can extensively demonstrate the skills and capacity necessary for academic study at postgraduate level. Sometimes experience is as beneficial as what is learnt in a classroom. The admissions and academic teams will consider applications that show exceptional strengths and alternative evidence, which may include:

• Work experience
• Non-accredited courses
• Extensive reading and research
• A brilliant, relevant and credible personal statement
• An exceptionally strong academic or professional reference
• OR a combination of these.

Each application will be considered on its own merit, although we cannot guarantee every applicant an offer.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.5 or above or equivalent Secure English Language Test (SELT) Full information can be found on our International Students webpage.

Selection Criteria

We select applicants according to potential and current ability in the following areas:

• Demonstration of a strong personal identity
• The potential to benefit from the course
• Excellent communication skills
• Evidence of motivation and commitment

How to Apply for the MA Creative Direction for Fashion Media

All applicants are required to complete the online application form using the “Apply now” button.

You will also be asked to submit examples of work as a way to demonstrate your creative and technical skills. Examples could include photography, layouts, styling, image making, UX design and graphics.

Successful applicants will be invited to the College for an interview.

For further information or any queries regarding entry requirements or admissions, please contact the Admissions Office.

With our unique access to the fashion industry, the College prepares students for employment through live industry projects and provides expert career advice to students and graduates.

In recent years, technological developments have driven new opportunities in the sector and there is no longer such a distinct separation between fashion media and fashion retail. The removal of these boundaries has broadened the scope of careers available.

Fashion media professionals now move seamlessly between roles at magazines and positions with major fashion brands and retailers, making the focus of the MA Creative Direction for Fashion Media relevant to an increasingly broad range of job opportunities. Within fashion media specifically, the course is suitable for those keen to pursue careers as:

• Art Directors
• Creative Directors
• Graphic Designers

During the course, students will examine the roles outlined in magazine mastheads and the increasing roles in digital media.

“We look forward to welcoming the very brightest and most able of the College’s students onto our highly coveted work experience programmes.” Hazel McIntyre, HR director, Condé Nast Publications

Students on this course will also have access to our Career Services including, but not limited to:

• Strengths testing
• CV editing
• Mock Interviews
• Career path planning

For more information on careers, please visit our Careers in Fashion webpage.

Paying the Course Fee

In order to confirm and secure a place on this course, students will be asked to pay a deposit in the amount of £1,200 at the point of receiving an offer from us.

UK students can pay the tuition fee in instalments throughout the year.

International students will be asked to pay their course fee in full in advance of arriving at the College and prior to the issue of CAS.

More information can be found on our International Students webpage, including visa requirements.

For complete fees information visit Terms and Conditions

Bursaries & Alternative Funding

There are no bursaries or funding options currently available for this course.

Additional Course Costs

There is an optional study trip abroad that is not covered by the course fee. This takes place in spring and further information is provided at the outset of the course.

Alumni Discount

Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design offers course fee reduction to our alumni.

For more information visit Terms and Conditions

Studying & Living in London

For information on studying in London and what this could cost, please visit our Living in London page.

For information on accommodation while you study at the Condé Nast College, go to our Accommodation page.

You will be studying this course with the only UK fashion education provider that operates from within the fashion industry. This exceptional environment provides you with a unique insight into fashion communication in all its forms and the workings of the creative industries, as well as providing access to numerous unrivalled experts in their fields.

With weekly guest speakers from a broad range of professions within the fashion and creative industries, you will be learning directly from the best in the industry.

The Campus

Condé Nast College is situated in a historic building at Bedford Square, in Central London.

The area was built between 1775 and 1783 and is one of the best preserved set pieces of Georgian architecture in London.

The square has had many illustrious residents including Lord Eldon, one of Britain’s longest-serving and most celebrated Lord Chancellors, who lived in the largest house in the square for many years. Other famous residents include the second Duke of Devonshire; William Butterfield, an architect; and H H Asquith, a former Prime Minister.

The square takes its name from the main title of the Russell family, the Dukes of Bedford, who owned much of the land in what is now Bloomsbury.

Bedford Square is in the heart of Bloomsbury, an exciting area for academia and the arts; originally made famous by Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Set.

The College is a short walk from the headquarters of Condé Nast, as well as Vogue House, which our students visit as part of their exposure to the professional world.

Who Teaches at the Condé Nast College?

A specialist in communication, media and writing, Johannes Reponen is the Programme Director of our MA Fashion Media Practice course. He has previously headed MA degrees at the London College of Fashion, writes for a number of fashion and design publications, and works with international clients on future insight. With BA and MA degrees in communication and criticism, Johannes is currently completing his doctoral research degree.

During your course, you will also be taught by a range of our academic staff as well as industry guests and visiting lecturers.

Visiting Lecturers & Guest Speakers

• Osman Ahmed, senior editorial associate at The Business of Fashion
• Georgia Murray, fashion editor at Refinery29
• Nova Dando, creative director
• Aled John, head of business development at Condé Nast International
• Paul Nesbitt, head of audience research at Condé Nast International
• Dr Kate Nelson Best, fashion and media scholar
• Marcus Agerman Ross, Founder and editor of Jocks&Nerds

Students on the course also have access to the College-wide industry lecture programme that takes place once a week. Previous speakers include Victoria Beckham, Suzy Menkes and Becky Smith to name a few.