Trend Forecasting

Module overview

‘At its very basic, a trend can be defined as the direction in which something tends to move and which has consequential impact on the culture, society or business sector through which it moves’. (Raymond. M. 2010) This module introduces you to the essentials and theories of trend forecasting within the context of the fashion industry with the emphasis on product trends. You will examine the role of the futurologist whose task it is to pinpoint the zeitgeist, the direction society is moving. The module will have you develop an understanding of the anatomy and process of trends and how they inform brands, helping them to respond to changing consumer demands and support the development of products.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

the context of the fashion forecasting industry and the role it plays today;
the process and development of future focused intelligence within a range of contextual issues.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

communicate your ideas coherently in a number of way including written, and visual formats with increased autonomy;
confidently apply a range of extended digital media skills to the production of your work.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

critically analyse research to make informed judgments and proposals in the context of the trend industry to increasingly complex situations.
demonstrate the ability to select, analyse and evaluate relevant fashion information from appropriate sources;

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods: •lectures; •seminars; •practical workshops; •project briefings. Learning activities include: •group tutorials; •group discussions; •study Skills Hub; •peer group learning.

Study time
Type	Hours
Lecture	12
Preparation for scheduled sessions	10
Practical classes and workshops	9
Follow-up work	45
Wider reading or practice	20
Seminar	9
Completion of assessment task	45
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Lynda (Software Tutorials).

BOF.

Journal Articles

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management. , Emerald.

Textbooks

Holland G.& Jones R. (2017). Fashion Trend Forecasting. Laurence King.

Raymond, M (2010). Trend Forecasters Handbook. Laurence King.

Brannon E. (2010). Fashion Forecasting. Fairchild Books.

Hewson M and Vinken B (2004). Fashion Zeitgeist: Trends and Cycles in the Fashion System. Berg publishers.

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Digital project

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Feedback on Annotated Visual Digital Trend Book will take place through the following forms: - •Group tutorials •Peers and tutors discussion reflection and critique. Focused targets will be agreed at each formative meeting that will inform the summative assessment.
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Digital project	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Digital project	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Digital project	100%