MA Fashion Communication: Histories and Theories

Over the last three decades, fashion has broadened its influence across the creative industries and many art forms. In parallel, new technologies have transformed how the fashion sector communicates with consumers. With the industry in a state of transition, it's more important than ever to analyse the impact of emergent media and to explore the needs of new consumers.

MA Fashion Communication at Central Saint Martins embodies these paradigm changes.

• Explore the discipline through new, cutting-edge digital platforms and media as well as more traditional modes of communication. The course helps you to develop the professional skills to join the next generation of fashion theorists, analysts, writers, journalists, image-makers and visual communicators. We invite you to apply a creative approach to the platforms through which you produce your work  and help you to anticipate and respond to fluid, fluctuating global communication channels.
• MA Fashion Communication offers three pathways. Fashion Journalism focuses on writing, editing and digital media, while Fashion Image is for innovative image-makers. The Fashion Histories and Theories pathway offers an academic approach to the study of fashion. It develops your research skills, allowing you to contribute to the development of the field and debates in other disciplines. The pathway investigates the cultural and historical significance of fashion. You will explore fashion as an object, image, text and practice through disciplines including art, history, sociology, literature, politics and anthropology.
• While the majority of time and teaching is concentrated on your pathway study, there are opportunities to work with your colleagues from other pathways and courses. This structure reflects the collaborative approach of the fashion industry. The curriculum is enhanced by the energy that derives from the fusion of students across three pathways; as such, some (Shared) units are delivered to all pathways on the course. Across all pathways, there is a focus on the realities of the modern fashion industry as well as fashion theory, ensuring your work is informed by current knowledge and debates in your specialist area.   

In the Central Saint Martins Fashion Programme, we work to be at the heart of debate about the future of fashion. Our students are designers, communicators and academics. Teaching is our core purpose and our research and, industry and external  relationships enrich our approach. We are committed to reflecting and influencing the sustainable transformation of the industry.  Social, racial and climate justice are our core values and we believe in a fairer world for all. Our outlook is international, inclusive and diverse, reflecting the global nature of our community. We believe we must constantly challenge ourselves to shape fair and ethical opportunities in fashion. We believe in the power of cooperation, collaboration and partnerships through both analogue and digital experiences.

We are committed to developing ethical fashion practices. To achieve this, we are working to embed UAL's Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.