In response to a significant industry need, this course provides an innovative and relevant training programme for potential and practising pattern cutters and designers who need to expand their experience. It is designed to enhance creativity and provide a supportive postgraduate learning environment for personal and professional development.

Emphasis is placed on exploratory and versatile approaches to this craft through practical work carried out both as a group and independently. You will build your knowledge by being encouraged to unlock the potential of your existing pattern cutting skills. You will discover the creativity of your own discipline by developing new practical, analytical and interpretative skills. The course normally features two or three 'master classes' given by highly regarded specialists who have reputations for working in particularly creative ways. Attendance is 5 days per week.

Innovative Pattern Cutting framework comprises a full time mode of study with a single exit point.

The course has been structured to attract recent graduates and practising professionals and offers a ten-week full time mode of study. It runs during the summer months and is led by Patrick Lee Yow a respected Associate Lecturer on the BA Fashion at Central Saint Martins College and supported by experienced designers and pattern cutters from industry.

The course will develop your knowledge of the interdependence that exists between the designer and pattern cutter in translating innovative design into finished garments. The course is mainly delivered through practical workshop sessions, specialist demonstrations and studio critiques. The aims and objective of this course is to help you develop the creative problem solving and practical skills required by pattern cutters today. You will also be expected to develop your skills further through self-directed study as well as through studio supervision.

The aim of the course is to enhance your employment prospects, whether you wish to follow a career as a pattern cutter in education or the industry or to enhance your understanding and effectiveness as a designer.

This course was running successfully as part of the Post Graduate provision at Central Saint Martins for over ten years, and the content remains the same but without the qualification element. In that time it has gained a high profile and a strong reputation in education and the industry. The course to date has more than met its intended aims to provide education and the industry with highly employable graduates. We now have a large percentage of graduates teaching and working in the fashion industry. Among first destinations in education and industry are:

BURBERRY, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, ROBERT CARY-WILLIAMS, AARDMAN ANIMATIONS, BATH THEATRE, UNIVERSITY WEST OF ENGLAND, VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, JENS LAUGESEN, RAVENSBORNE COLLEGE, ALICE TEMPERLEY, GHARANI STROK, CHINA ACADEMY OF ART SHANGHI, UNIVERSITY BRIGHTON, CLEMENTS RIBIERO, JOHN ROCHA, MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY, PRESTON UNIVERSITY, ELEY KISHIMOTO, RICHARD NICOLL, JULIAN MACDONALD, JONATHAN SAUNDERS, TRISTON WEBBER, OLD VIC, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, EMMA COOK, GILES DEACON, NIGEL PRESTON, ZAC POSEN, BRISTOL UNIVERSITY, CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS, MARIOS SCHWAB, CHRISTOPHER KANE, KATHERINE HAMNETT, PETER PILOTTO, VIKTOR & ROLF,BOUDICCA, MARY KATRANTZOU, BAZZO & BROOKE,CELINE.

The course is suitable for both recent graduates and practising professionals.

English language requirements

All classes are conducted in English, so you will be required to have a fluent understanding of the language. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability. We strongly advise international applicants to take an IELTS test as soon as they consider studying in the UK. Minimum scores for entry on to a postgraduate level course are as follows:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 7.0
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): hand written test: 568 - 587, computer based test: 226 - 240, internet based test: 88 - 95.

You can now study English online at the British Council website - please visit www.learnenglish.org.uk

We provide free tuition in English for international students and regular workshops in the language of art and design. We also offer a number of short courses that enable students from overseas to improve their portfolios and English skills before applying to their chosen course.

Entry requirements

Honours degree; evidence of experiential learning equivalent to a degree; or 3 years relevant professional experience.

Due to the popularity of the course we recommend that you send your application as soon as possible and by the end of April at the very latest. Applications are welcome up until the start of the course or when the course is full, whichever occurs first. 

In order to ensure that you are suitable and that you will properly benefit from the course the tutors will need to see some examples of your work to assess what stage you are currently at. Download the application form , fill it in and attach / include a short statement explaining why you wish to attend the course (no more than 250 words). Return it with between 12 and 20 images of your current fashion and/or pattern cutting related work. If you are not form a fashion background, images of work that you feel will show your knowledge, training and experiences. Images should accompany your application form as 96dpi Jpegs or .avi , scans or photographs-no origianls please! to: portfolio@csm.arts.ac.uk (maximum total attachment size is 10MB) or send your application to the above email address as one single compressed zip folder via a file sharing site like http://www.yousendit.com/ (maximum file attachment size is 100MB). Alternatviely, you can send us your application as hard copies or on CD/DVD (please ensure you disk can be accessed by PC) and post to: IPC Course Administrator, Short Course Office, Central Saint Martins College, Granary Building Room A005, Granary Square, London N1C 4AA, UK We recommend that you send your application by recorded mail. Due to the large number of applications, we are unable to send confirmation that your application has been received.

If your work is selected you will then be contacted to arrange an interview. Appointments for interviews are arranged for the third week of March, and for applications received later, the first week of May.