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Fashion Design Short Courses

Successful designers have a knack for transforming abstract ideas into tangible, innovative designs. They can take inspiration from anything—art, nature, culture—and translate it into something wearable.

These fashion design courses are an exciting blend of creativity and technical skill, where each designer follows their own unique path, but all share the same essential principles. As a fashion designer, you’re more than just an artist—you’re a visionary who crafts clothing with a purpose, catering to specific themes and markets. From the world of cutting-edge haute couture and luxury brands to the bustling mass-market scene, fashion designers shape trends and solve real-world problems through their creations.

The key to success? Interpreting a design brief and turning abstract ideas into stunning, market-ready products. Designers who can think outside the box and create innovative solutions are the ones who stand out in this fast-paced industry.

And what’s the secret weapon in a designer’s toolkit? Drawing. It’s the ultimate form of communication for bringing your ideas to life. Those who master the art of fashion illustration and visual storytelling have a serious advantage, able to turn concepts into eye-catching presentations that captivate and inspire.

In these courses, you’ll discover how to turn your boldest ideas into reality by mastering the essential skills of design and illustration. You’ll not only refine your creative vision but also learn the techniques that set successful designers apart. Ready to dive in and develop your unique style? This course will give you the tools to transform your creativity into a powerful force in the fashion world!

Level 1
This course is an introduction to Fashion Design principles and practices and you will learn the following skills:

Basics of Fashion Illustration:
Assembling a basic fashion figure (proportions & poses)
Introduction to gesture drawing to capture movement and flow
Understanding fashion figure proportions and balance

Introduction to Fabric and Textile Basics:
Identifying basic fabric types and their visual properties
Understanding how different fabrics behave and drape on the body
Learning to illustrate textures like denim, silk, and knitwear

Research and Concept Development:
Basic research skills: creating mood boards, concept boards, customer profiles
Defining themes and sources of inspiration
Developing a personal mood and story for design projects
Introduction to colour palette selection and cohesion

Basic Technical Skills:
Introduction to sketching flats and simple garment elements (understanding the need for flats alongside fashion Illustrations)

You are now ready to move onto level 2.

Level 2
In this more advanced Fashion Design course you will apply all the skills learnt in level 1 to achieve the following:

Creating a Signature Design Aesthetic:
Identifying personal inspirations and influences in fashion
Experimenting with silhouettes and garment details (3D design vs 2D design)
Developing a cohesive design style
Exercises on mixing and matching different eras, textures, and styles

The Fashion Design Process:
Understanding the steps from concept to final collection
Learning how to organize and structure a mini collection (Editing and Styling)
Introduction to seasonal and market-focused design considerations (If necessary)

Advanced Illustration Techniques:
Exploring unique illustration styles (stylized, realistic, minimalistic)
Learning how to combine flats and technical drawings with creative illustrations
Detail work: illustrating zippers, seams, and garment construction

Exploring Different Illustration Mediums and rendering methods:
Experimenting with markers, gouache, and mixed media for vibrant looks
Creating mixed-media collages as an alternative illustration style
Learning advanced techniques for illustrating complex textiles like lace, sequins, and fur.
Practice in illustrating movement and flow in fabric

Understanding Flats and Technical Drawings:
Detailed breakdown of flats for a professional presentation

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Villioti Short Course Fashion

DURATION

12 Weeks per level

Short Courses run once a week in the evenings from 17:00pm to 21:00pm, Saturday mornings from 09:00am to 13:00pm or Saturday afternoons from 13:30pm – 17:30pm.

12WKS

CREDITS

Certificate of completion (Non-credit bearing) after completing Level 2

CRED

NQF LEVEL

Successfully completing these short courses, will allow you to include it in your portfolio of evidence for consideration for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Find out more about RPL here.

RPL

BLACK NOVEMBER SPECIAL

Option A – R5 500 course fee per level
Option B – R1 500 securing deposit and balance of R4 000 course fee per level before the start of the course.

All fees are valid until the 31st October 2025.

Allow a budget for consumables.

2025

Level 1 12th February – 14th May

Level 2 04th June – 20th August

ARE YOU THE RIGHT FIT?

If you want to pursue a career in fashion, a qualification from Villioti Fashion Institute is the ideal way into the industry. No matter which avenue of fashion you’re interested in, we offer fashion qualifications that align perfectly with the needs and trends of the industry.

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