Overview
This course examines fashion and design as cultural practices shaped by migration, trade, media, technology, colonial histories, and global consumer cultures. Students investigate how clothing, textiles, accessories, architecture, graphics, and product design communicate identity, status, gender, ethnicity, belonging, and resistance.
Topics include cultural appropriation and appreciation, intellectual and cultural property, Indigenous design sovereignty, diaspora and transnational exchange, the circulation of motifs and techniques, ethical production, sustainability, fast fashion, luxury branding, museums and exhibitions, digital platforms, and collaborative design. Local, national, and international case studies are used to examine representation, power, benefit, and accountability in cultural exchange.
Students develop skills in visual and material analysis, contextual research, ethical interpretation, source evaluation, and critical presentation. The course culminates in a design or curatorial concept that acknowledges cultural sources, communities, and power relationships.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain how fashion and design participate in cultural exchange across historical, social, political, and economic contexts.
- Analyze objects, images, materials, and design practices using historical, social, aesthetic, and cultural frameworks.
- Distinguish cultural appropriation from appreciation, ethical collaboration, and Indigenous design sovereignty using relevant principles and case evidence.
- Evaluate the labor, environmental, intellectual-property, and cultural consequences of fashion and design production and circulation.
- Conduct contextual research using culturally responsible methods, authoritative sources, and appropriate acknowledgment of community knowledge.
- Synthesize visual and material evidence to communicate an evidence-based critical interpretation in written, oral, and visual forms.
- Propose a design or curatorial concept that acknowledges sources, communities, cultural protocols, and relationships of power.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Seminar | 2 hours | Fortnightly | Second term |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Visual and material analysis of a selected design object or image. | 20.00% |
| Quiz | Concept and case-study quizzes (4 × 2.5%). | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Critical research essay on cultural exchange, appropriation, or design sovereignty. | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Ethical research portfolio documenting sources, methods, and cultural responsibilities. | 15.00% |
| Tutorial | Tutorial participation and facilitated case-study discussions. | 10.00% |
| Capstone | Design or curatorial concept with critical rationale and presentation. | 25.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
