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Fashion Visual Merchandising for 15 - 17 Year Olds

  • Level(s) of Study: Short course
  • Start Date(s): 29 July 2024
  • Duration: Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, one week
  • Study Mode(s): Short course
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

Transform your passion for style and fashion on this short course and unravel the magic behind the captivating displays that grace the windows of your favourite shops.

Visual merchandising is the dynamic art of crafting immersive brand experiences through attractive displays – on this five-day course you'll unlock the secrets to creating show-stopping arrangements that tell a compelling story.

Whether you're a budding fashion enthusiast or someone intrigued by the allure of retail, join us for an immersive adventure where you'll learn to design and breathe life into your ideas.

Making a mark in the thrilling and fast-paced world of fashion retail, this practical course will give you the opportunity to experience what it's like to design and develop your own ideas through visual merchandising.

  • You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas.
  • With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your portfolio.
  • Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices.
  • On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.

Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award?

This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential.

DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.

What you’ll study

Unleash your creativity and lay the foundation for a future in fashion, retail, and visual merchandising.

Over the five, intensive days, you’ll learn how to create visually effective window displays for fashion retail, exploring how to tell the story of a brand and communicate that feeling to customers.

In an era where changes in society and economic factors are reshaping the retail landscape both locally and globally, this course is a practical way for applying your creative skills to real-world problem-solving scenarios, challenging you to demonstrate both creativity and critical thinking.

During this course, you will:

  • gain an insight into the key roles and responsibilities of a visual merchandiser
  • develop your creativity and explore your personal style
  • analyse shop floor plans and how to work within a space
  • research fashion retail trends and merchandising best practice
  • explore colour, light and visual graphics and how they can enhance a display
  • create visual merchandising plans
  • learn techniques for displays used by professionals in the industry
  • build confidence in communicating your ideas
  • appreciate how customers engage with displays and how they impact on their retail experience.

Nurture your creativity and uncover your unique style through hands-on workshops and practical projects which will conclude with a final presentation of your ideas.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course.

Embark on an exciting journey as we kick off the course with an engaging seminar.

Understand the profound impact of environmental and societal factors on fashion retail.

You’ll get straight into practical work and get hands-on as you begin to craft your own 2D window or virtual space, laying the foundation for the rest of the week.

You’ll look at the fundamental principles that make visual merchandising an art form.

Explore the basics of creating visually stunning displays and understand the strategic layout of floor plans in a retail setting.

Navigate through the intriguing landscape of the retail calendar in fashion, gaining insights that will elevate your design concepts.

You’ll also go out on a field trip for inspiration, immersing yourself in the local of museums and retail stores to let the real-world surroundings ignite your creative spark for the upcoming practical sessions.

As we move into the third day, you’ll put the finishing touches on your concepts.

Engage in a practical session where you'll finalise your brainstorming ideas, transforming them into a concrete plan for your window display or virtual space.

You’ll then develop your envisioned window display or virtual space, refine your design, and witness your ideas take shape as you build your model 3D window display.

As you refine every detail to ensure your creation embodies the essence of your unique concept, you’ll put the finishing touches on your model 3D window display during the last practical session.

The final day is dedicated to presenting your window display or virtual space to the rest of the group.

You’ll share the inspiration, thought process, and what concepts you’ve applied behind your design.

Further information on what you'll study

By the end of the course you’ll have explored retail trends and a theme of your choice, and developed your ideas into a model 3D window display.

You’ll also leave with plenty of sketches and ideas to add to your portfolio, and ideas about how to progress in this industry.

Social events

We appoint NTU Student Ambassadors who host social events on Monday and Wednesday evening to help you make friends across the whole of our summer school programme for 15 – 17 year olds, which are free to attend.

How you’re taught

This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.

You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.

Tutor Profile: Jason Forrest

Jason Forrest is a specialist in visual merchandising and brand presentation.

He has worked with luxury and premium fashion brands such as Burberry, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser for the last twenty years, designing window displays and product placements across the UK and Europe.

Jason also teaches Fashion Communications and Promotion courses at Universities in the UK.

Careers and employability

The course is designed to give you a real experience of university life, make new friends who share similar interests and develop your portfolio so that ultimately, you can make an informed decision about your future.

It’s a great introduction for anyone interested in exploring future studies and a career in fashion, retail, and visual merchandising.

It’s also ideal if you are looking to gain first-hand experience and create portfolio-standard work.

On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.

Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award?

This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential.

DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.

Campus and facilities

You will be based in the School of Nottingham, Design and Built Environment on the City Campus.

You will have access to our modern teaching rooms, IT suites and collaborative working spaces to develop your concepts.

You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Entry requirements

Level: Beginner

Entry requirement: You should have an enthusiasm for fashion and retail along with a keen interest in colour, texture and trends.

You must be 15, 16 or 17 years old at the time of the course in order to attend.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

Level: Beginner

Entry requirement: You should have an enthusiasm for fashion and retail along with a keen interest in colour, texture and trends.

You must be 15, 16 or 17 years old at the time of the course in order to attend.

Fees and funding

The fee for this course is £525.

Payment is due at the time of booking.

Secure your place with a deposit:

If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.

Please bring with you to the first day:

  • a notepad and pen.

All other materials will be provided.

If you would like to do some pre-course reading you can look at:

  • Visual Merchandising for Fashion by Bailey Sally
  • Visual Merchandising: Window and Indoor Display for Retail by Morgan Tony

You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.

The fee for this course is £525.

Payment is due at the time of booking.

Secure your place with a deposit:

If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.

Please bring with you to the first day:

  • a notepad and pen.

All other materials will be provided.

If you would like to do some pre-course reading you can look at:

  • Visual Merchandising for Fashion by Bailey Sally
  • Visual Merchandising: Window and Indoor Display for Retail by Morgan Tony

You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.

How to apply