Fashion and Collection Design

Director of the Master's Programme

Professor Kirsi Niinimäki

Learning Outcomes

The programme deepens and extends the students’ skills in strategic thinking as well as creating, coordinating and leading fashion and design concept processes. Students cultivate their personal creative vision as a base for portfolio design and management skills by creating fashion, clothing, textile and design collections. The collection design process is deepened to consist the whole path from concept to marketing and sales. In the core of the program is understanding of the fashion system and its impact on the society and business. Students are challenged to explore the possibilities of new technologies and innovative design solutions in both physical and digital media.

During the studies the student learns to combine design, commerce, industry and research. Artistic and creative problem-solving strategies and techniques in mastering silhouettes, structures and materials are a part of the studies. The students learn an experimental and conceptual approach in creating fashion, clothing, surface design and colour collections of a high international standard. They also learn an analytic approach to trends, events and phenomena. The program emphasises the understanding of different cultures and encourages students to innovate and re-think current practices in fashion as well as design business and industry in order to extend it to new domains. Entrepreneurial and sustainable thinking as well as multidisciplinary co-operation and communication in product development are an essential part of the acquired skills.

The students learn to analyze the mechanisms and phenomena in fashion, clothing, textiles and design. The programme fosters students skills in presentation, writing and visualisation. Students gain an understanding of design research methods and learn to apply them in academic, societal and business contexts. The program also gives skills needed in doctoral studies.

Education Content

Fashion as phenomena is extended beyond clothing and textiles to include the production and consumption of many other types of products and services. Joint studies help the students to learn skills beyond their own field. The program cultivates a fashion-driven approach and gives methods of practice to bring the students work on a high international and professional level.

Career opportunities

The graduates have the skills and knowledge needed to sustain a professional career in fashion, clothing, textile and design business and industry, media and education. The master studies prepare the students for a career in academic as well as corporate research.

Internationalization

Students are encouraged to apply for international exchange studies or internship. In addition, they are expected to gain experience in international competitions, exhibitions, conferences and trade fairs.

Further information about the programme: fact.aalto.fi

Major Studies 90 ECTS

Elective Studies 30 ECTS

In addition, students choose 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete minor studies and/or take individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University or other Finnish universities, participate in an international student exchange programme, do an internship in Finland or abroad, or take elective courses offered by Fashion and Collection Design. The programme’s own offering is presented in the following table.

Elective Studies in Fashion and Collection Design

Open to all Design students, please see prerequisities from course description in WebOodi.