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We are not just a higher education academy. All JCA students are introduced to the basics of planning their own business and taught how to budget, cost and brand their designs. Academy and student led initiatives to sell designs through pop up shops and online boutiques is encouraged. These real life experiences are an invaluable way to learn how commerce intersects with design and gives our students an advantage when entering the industry upon graduation.
There is a strong thread of work-related learning throughout our programmes, Students are treated as aspiring designers, and develop their craft in professional studios with the guidance of expert staff. This progressive engagement includes training in industry standard software, live project briefs, industry visits and field trips, competition opportunities, and professional practice-based reflection. Teaching at all levels integrates theory with practice, each module containing a project as a focus for learning. The theme and scope of each project is carefully curated to extend the depth of entrepreneurial and creative knowledge.
In practice, all the modules reflect important aspects of professional or commercial practice and wherever possible simulate the world of work. Modules throughout the course engage directly with life beyond the Academy, enabling learners to explore the dynamics involved in working collaboratively with fashion and related disciplines. Modules in entrepreneurship and creative practice will take learners into the wider fashion and business community where they will discover new opportunities for their expertise. Students will reflect on their ability to operate as a creative/business and enterprising individual within the work environment and/or industry project.
A blend of lecture, seminar, workshop, tutorials and studio-based project work forms a key part of the assignments undertaken. Our carefully designed projects provide high quality learning experiences, that set specific challenges to enable students to incorporate contextual understanding into their practice. Throughout their studies, students take on progressively more responsibility for the development and direction of their own projects, culminating in the final year of the programme in which students negotiate their own, self-directed final practical and research projects.
We believe the best start to a career in fashion is to learn by doing. All JCA students are encouraged to start operating as freelance professionals during their studies. Selling your work is an invaluable way to learn how commerce intersects with design, and gives you the confidence to move seamlessly into business when you graduate. Depending on your professional direction, you may well find that your relationship with your technical instructor is one of the most valuable during your JCA journey. We provide welcoming co-work spaces with state-of-the-art equipment and meeting rooms, and you’ll have the opportunity to take part in pop-up shops and fashion shows organised by the Academy.
