MA Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship: Fashion Pathway

Theories of Capital critically examines key theories of social, economic, cultural and symbolic capital.  The module details these conceptual capital frameworks and compliments this theoretical foundation with application in the creative and cultural industries with a focus on government policy and the unique economic characteristics of the creative industries.  For example consumer consumption of status goods will be assessed using theories of symbolic and social capital. Emphasis will be given on the role of intellectual capital in policy. Students will learn the analytical rigour to critically assess creative and cultural industry policy and market structures.  Students will be able to translate theory into practice, and practice into theory.

This module will introduce students to a range of business modelling tools, and provide insight in to the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and enterprises. The module has evolved from NESTA’s Creative Pioneer Programme and will use the Modelling Techniques that were designed and have evolved from The Academy and Insight Out which provide approaches to commercialising creativity.

It will critically review the key characteristics of successful enterprises, entrepreneurs and leaders, within the cultural and more commercially focused creative industries. It will look at the range of business models that exist and review how best to build a financially sustainable organisation.

Students will be introduced to a range of techniques:

1. Relationship Modelling – this will assist students to understand the range of business models in the creative industries, and to create the most appropriate route to market; it will consider the relationship that the originator of the creative idea has to the production, distribution and the audience/customer/client; it uncovers the student’s relationship to “reward”.

2. Evidence Modelling – this model uses Marshall McLuhan’s Tetrad Model to review the likely impact of the idea; it helps makes the enterprise tangible and to ensure that the entrepreneur remains in control of the effects of their ideas. Using the modelling technique helps students to articulate their values and the benefits of their ideas.

3. Blueprint Modelling – an approach to creating an operating plan which will move their idea to market, articulating all of the activities and responsibilities required.
Consequence Modelling – using all of the knowledge from the modelling techniques, this will uncover the financial consequences of the decisions made. It will introduce them to basic financial modelling concepts, and ensure they are comfortable with the financial language of creative entrepreneurs.

This module is specifically for both the Fashion and Design pathways for students from ICCE (Institute of Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship) on the programme, to study design practice within the Department of Design and alongside design students. This module consists of a single practice-led project brief and is intended to be an introduction to design practice. The module is intended to integrate the ICCE and Design students into one learning experience in the first term of study of their respective programmes, in order to build a strong community of practice and “studio culture”.

Students will choose to situate themselves within one of the following thematic Studios for the duration of this module (subject to change and can be updated annually):

• Cities & Urbanism
• Communication & Experience
• Fashions & Embodiment
• Innovation & Service
• Interaction & Technology
• Participation & Politics

This project acts as a platform upon which each Studio builds its own identity, whilst building a collective MA community. At key points throughout the project (such as briefing, midway critique and final presentations) Studios (staff and students) will be mixed in order to encourage inter-disciplinary exchange, provide the opportunity for wider formative feedback, gain tutorial advice, the experience of critiquing and also offer opportunities to present their practice work.

The theme for the studio project brief will change each year and is drawn from a range of curricular 'lenses', which are a set of socio-cultural concerns which apply design and shape the Design Department's discourses. The indicative curricular lenses are: Education & Pedagogy, Nature & Environment, Curation & Heritage, Health & Wellbeing, Policy & Governance, Science & Infrastructure, Activism & Citizenship, Fiction & Narrative, Data & Information.

On this module students will review and critically appraise:
1. The way design works in different sectors of business,
2. The many ways in which professional practice is organised across different sectors
3. The professional practice that is required by designers and managers of Innovation.
4. Applying this knowledge to building a critical approach and understanding of design in business to a personal plan.
5. Communicating both knowledge and understanding of the business of design through a formal presentation to peers and staff.

Students will look at how designers (and managers) within organisations, working in design consultancies and studios and in their own practice locate themselves and negotiate the political, social, economic, environmental and technological contexts that impinge on their practices. The module will introduce students to different examples of business structure and practice of design and innovation. Students will explore how design is involved in business, so that they may critically appraise and contrast different models of design-related business. The module will engage in new developments in technology are changing both the structure and culture of management within these organisations. Issues of audience development relating to access and diversity as well as funding sources have a political dimension that has to be addressed in parallel with an understanding of the techniques and tools used.

The culmination will involve both written reflection and a proposition for how this knowledge can inform their own future careers. The students will be required to make a report of their engagement with the materials and also create a presentation of their proposed professional practice plans that take this knowledge and synthesise it into their own plan. This will be presented to a forum of staff, students and invited guests.

This module will introduce students to models of management, entrepreneurship and professional practice appropriate to creative, social or cultural organisations. It will examine the relationship between arts management practice, design thinking entrepreneurial practices and the culture in which that practice is situated. The module is in two parts, the first through presentations and seminars will equip students to develop a critical approach to both general management policy and practice and to practice has been developed to meet the characteristics and requirements of the arts sector. Students will be introduced to key ideas in organisational management from Weber to Handy and Belbin and current writing on leadership. Students will also be introduced to different forms of legal structures for organisations and basic issues relating to employment.

The second part of the module is the placement, which will work where possible as or like a knowledge transfer partnership scheme. One of the key aims of knowledge transfer partnerships to help businesses ‘improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base’. So, we understand this placement as not only an important learning experience for the student but also as an important link between companies (across sectors) and academe (Goldsmiths and its offer particularly). The placement may be attached to various projects - research and consultancy – ICCE and or the Design Department is engaged with and also continuing to develop but equally may be a new initiative.

The dissertations are intended to assess the full range of students’ abilities and to apply a range of learning outcomes which the programme enables students to develop. In particular, it enables assessment of the ability to design, develop and write an advanced research project using primary and/or secondary materials appropriate to the topic and according to the necessary conventions of scholarly work. It requires independent motivation and self-directed learning, under supervision, and enables students to demonstrate competence for critical analysis and sustained persuasive argument.

The dissertations and projects are intended to assess the full range of students’ abilities and to apply a range of learning outcomes which the programme enables students to develop. In particular, it enables assessment of the ability to design, develop and write an advanced research project using primary and/or secondary materials appropriate to the topic and according to the necessary conventions of scholarly work. It requires independent motivation and self-directed learning, under supervision, and enables students to demonstrate competence for critical analysis and sustained persuasive argument.