The unique cooperation between both specializations, fashion and textile design offers great advantages. The subjects keep their own characters but strengthen and influence each other. This creates a productive interaction between students and lecturers.
Therefore, products reach a high level of depth and consequently, our department gives lots of attention materiality, i.e. the material itself. We highly estimate individual study advice, but our students are no clones of their teachers. They learn how to use their strengths and weaknesses and develop their own vision of the subject. Self-study is stimulated and emphasis is put on research, innovation and a modern vision. We therefore organize regular excursions, as we deem it important that our students expand their perspectives beyond their respective field, for example by visiting a variety of museums. The development of professional expertise is our first priority, on a technical level as well as with regards to design. Students are provided with perfectly equipped working areas, where they are taught and where they can work either independently or under supervision. The fashion show is a magnificent ending of the academic year, which combines the work of all our students and those at other departments to an outstanding event that takes place at changing and sometimes surprising locations. All students are highly motivated and hard-working, which explains why the atmosphere at the department has such a good vibe. Perhaps this is also the reason why employers know where to find us when they are looking for future employees and interns.
Fashion
This specialization educates students to become fashion designers and is an applied discipline. Developing an insight to design is central to the programme; students acquire a modern and “fashionable” vision on designing clothes. They are trained to communicate their work and ideas by means of sketches and oral presentations.
Before graduating, students design their own clothing range on the basis of a selfchosen theme. A part of this collection, thus a series of clothing has to be produced. The choices students make can vary from a collection of experimental form studies to a practical, modern and consumer based collection. At the end of the year, all collections are shown on the runway, in an especially arranged fashion show. Next to that, students assemble professional photographs of their work in a book.
Textile
This specialization educates professional textile designers, who can work in the area of interior design or fashion.
Here, mostly “half-products” are used and worked with, which means patterns, fabrics, wallpapers etc. Students are stimulated to formulate individual and self-chosen or provided themes and to translate them into the material, in form of images, design, fabric and pattern collections. The students’ good feeling of the zeitgeist is essential. Before graduating, the student develops, with the help of the teacher team, a coordinated range of products, either for interior or fashion.
Contact
Lotte Martens
Herdenkingsplein 12
NL-6211 PW Maastricht
+31 (0)43 3466 670
info.abk@zuyd.nl
