In this degree you’ll gain a thorough understanding of the possibilities in contemporary accessories and jewellery through well established and excellent links to industry alongside national and international live projects and events. You’ll be expected to collaborate on professional briefs and experience real work challenges and environments such as placements, competitions and events including International Talent Support and London Fashion Week. Our students have won various awards including the Simon Benny Award for Technical Skills and the Richard Akhurst Award for Technical Achievement.
We provide the chance to visit to high profile fashion houses and manufacturing companies to broaden your understanding of the context of your work. You could also participate in overseas visits – recent trips have been to the USA, Europe and Egypt.
The expertise of current practitioners and teaching staff is supported by our intensive programme of visiting speakers who enrich the University atmosphere, encouraging discussion and the exchange of ideas. These will become part of your network of connections leading to an easier pathway to success on graduation.
With a clear pathway to discovery of your own creative identity and passion your exploration will be highly experimental with results in the form of working prototypes and models through to finished objects. Our studios and workshops are excellent and allow the broadest possible range of options in traditional and digital technologies. Workshop-based equipment includes precision and pillar drills, laser and micro welders, a hydraulic press, enamelling kilns, leather working tools, hat formers and much more.
During your final year, you’ll be expected to work towards completion of professional portfolio of projects, culminating in exhibition of these in the annual graduate show. You’re encouraged to develop entrepreneurial opportunities during the course and apply for and participate in subject-specialist work placements as well as gain professional experience appropriate to your discipline throughout the course. Some of the work experiences have included companies such as Simon Harrison, Aston Martin, Saatchi and Saatchi, Marks & Spencer, and our regular employer Camp America in New York State.
The course has collaborative links with the creative industries directly through visiting professional designer/makers who regularly teach and mentor throughout the programme.
By the time you graduate your CV and portfolio will be full of records of events, exhibitions and exciting projects that will demonstrate your creativity and expertise to prospective employers and your future clients.
Assessment
The course deploys a range of formative and summative assessment methods, including peer appraisal and individual reflective practices throughout studio based work and personal projects. These evaluative achievements are evidenced through coursework and demonstrated within presentations, seminars and portfolio reviews, to accommodate differing learning styles. Each assessment (formative and summative) seeks to build your confidence as independent learners, providing advice for all aspects of learning.
What our students say
„I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Cass and feel it was my tutors who made my experience so special, generous with their knowledge and time and all experts in their own practice. It’s through my tutors that I found employment after graduating and through The Cass social media that I found my workshop!”
Tilly Sudsbury (Jewellery graduate)
After the course
Graduates of this creative courses leave with the skills and practical experience in a wide range of careers in design including product development, self-employed designer/maker, fashion stylist, technologist or curator.
Our graduates are well known in the industry with names such as Zoe Robertson, Imogen Bellfield, Mark Bloomfield (Electrobloom) and Jo McAllister amongst our alumni. Alex O’Neil Skjerdal, one of our recent graduate has been working with acclaimed designer Jasper Conran on some jewellery prices and is currently working the the Horniman Museum on a range of jewellery.
Outside the industry, graduates can also follow careers in journalism, promotion, education, retail or digital media.
There is also the option of further study at postgraduate level.
