MA Fashion Communication: Fashion Critical Studies

Course overview

Over the last two decades, fashion has broadened its influence across the creative industries and many art forms. In parallel, new technologies have transformed how the fashion sector communicates with consumers. With the industry in this state of transition, it's more important than ever to analyse the impact of new media and to explore the needs of new consumers.

MA Fashion Communication at Central Saint Martins embodies these paradigm changes. It explores the discipline through new, cutting-edge digital platforms and media as well as more traditional modes of communication. The course helps you to develop the professional skills to join the next generation of fashion theorists, analysts, writers, journalists, image-makers and visual communicators. It also helps you to anticipate and respond to fluid, fluctuating global communication channels.

The Fashion Critical Studies pathway offers an academic approach to the study of fashion. It develops your research skills, allowing you to contribute to the development of the field and debates in other disciplines. The pathway investigates the cultural and historical significance of fashion. You will explore fashion as an object, image, text and practice through disciplines including art, history, sociology, literature, politics and anthropology.

While much of your time and teaching is concentrated on your pathway study, there are opportunities to work with your colleagues from other pathways and courses. This structure reflects the collaborative approach of the fashion industry. Across all pathways, the curriculum focuses both on the realities of the modern fashion industry as well as fashion theory, ensuring your work is informed by current knowledge and debates in your specialist area.

Learning and teaching methods

• Student-centred learning
• Critiques
• Peer learning
• Individual studio tutorials
• Group tutorials
• Research sessions

Assessment methods

• Presentations
• Projects
• Critiques
• Research