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Creative Director Short Course

Key Information

  • Application fee: €50
  • Tuition fee:
    Paris €1,800
    Istanbul €1,800
    Online €500

Introduction

What lies behind the glamour of Creative Direction? In this practical training course students are invited to work collaboratively to understand the interlocking of conceptual and practical roles involved in commissioning, styling and executing a fashion shoot. The mix between practice-based and theoretical modules will bring a new vantage point to the study and appreciation of fashion in negotiating the best from designers, models, make-up and hair as well as fashion stylists according to a planned and flexible concept.

IFA Paris and MAKE UP FOR EVER, two of the most renowned French institutions in their specific industries, have created this exclusive joint course to give its participants the possibility to experience the work of a Creative Director in real-life settings. The training itself is built around 3 pillars:

1. An introduction to Fashion Design, to provide participants with an understanding of the overarching principles behind the development of a fashion house’s positioning
2. An introduction to make-up techniques, to illustrate the main components behind the process of a successful and cohesive creation and understand how the basic technics are reshaped into a trendy make-up
3. An introduction to fashion photography, to explore the main techniques behind the organization of a fashion photo-shoot. Participants will learn how to organize and coordinate their own shoots, select the best possible make-up to convey what is illustrated by their creative brief, find locations and styling methods to produce a body of work that can then be edited and presented to a peer group for critique. The usage of SLR digital cameras in both outdoor and studio will also be detailed to the participants so that they acquire a sufficient theoretical knowledge necessary to provide creative directions for a shoot. In particular, they will be shown the basics of how to use and specify camera techniques, lighting, ambience and finishing.

On completion of the training participants will organize their own fashion shoot and will be given the opportunity to include it in their personal portfolio as a momentum of their learning experience.

Teaching and Learning Strategy:
This course is based on a balanced mix between theoretical modules, workshops and practices. The overarching idea across all the components is to improve participants’ awareness and improve their overall creativity so that they can produce the most impacting, unique and coherent series of imagery

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the role and responsibilities of a stylist, make-up artist and Artistic Director
  • Decipher a client brief in creating a successful proposal
  • Select and plan a suitable theme for shoot
  • Plan, Identify and employ practical photographic and media styling skills
  • Make creative contributions to the styling process
  • Communicate effectively using visual and verbal means
  • Create a body of photographic work (portfolio) for display and critique

Award/Certificate:
Private Professional Training Certificate jointly delivered by IFA Paris and Make Up For Ever

The online program takes place live and in real-time (Paris or Istanbul local time) and you will interact with the lecturer and other students through our online platform. However, if you cannot attend or miss a live class, every session is also recorded and saved, so you can go back and watch it at a later suitable time for you.

Course Structure (Paris, Istanbul)

9 days, from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Orientation

All stakeholders are required to be present for the orientation session. The objective is to ensure that each lecturer will present its component. A detailed explanation of the project with a brief will also be carried out.

Fashion Culture

Throughout history, in public situations, dress has had more than a protective function. It is a principal means of identifying the status of others and positioning oneself in the culture. Many aspects of identity: age, ethnicity, gender and sexuality, class, work occupation and rank, level of earnings, religious beliefs and political affiliations are signaled silently by clothing, fashionable adornments and bodily expression and grooming. During the Fashion Culture module the students will learn about dominant and sub-cultures and their attitudes to dress and behavior in society at specific moments or places. In addition, a section of the module will be carved out in order to introduce the students to the history of make-up as an introduction for the Make-up Forever part of the course.

Trend Workshop

The future is important to everyone. The forecasting business has become a large and significant industry for decision-making and success in discerning trends that can be worthwhile to support. This module sets out to explain the issues through case studies and game-changer situations, demonstrates the communication tools and approaches that are used by the fashion industry to evaluate opportunities, threats and new styles and influences. It summarizes the theories of demand and forces of change, the best practices and the critical analyses needed to determine worthwhile investments. By the end of the study the student should have a good understanding of the occasions and need for research and market intelligence research methods for gaining insight into important trend scenarios and useful competitive perspectives.

 Styling Workshop

In this interactive workshop students will be given a creative brief and assigned a specific silhouette, a theme and a trend report. They will need to mobilize the competencies and skills acquired in the previous fashion related modules in order to construct 3 specific styles illustrating the directives proposed by the creative brief. In order to construct their styles students will have at their disposal outfits previously developed by the students of IFA Paris.

Racks will be available so that students will choose the specific outfits they would like to use.

Models will be present for a first fitting.

Garment & Composition

During this module students will be introduced to the category types and names of various sorts of clothing, styles and materials used for men’s women’s and children’s wear and for sportswear, knitwear and lingerie. You will learn how the technical production and parameters of clothing differ and require careful specification and controls during manufacturing for costs their social uses and sometimes for legal reasons. You will appreciate the key points where garments may differ in silhouette and details for occasion, fashion, size or other reasons. You will deepen your appreciation of the variety of elements involved in clothing production.

Creating a Make-Up Design based on the brief of an Artistic Director

The objective of this module is to understand how to develop one’s creativity while following a creative framework as communicated by an Artistic Director. After following an extensive demonstration of techniques such as brush strokes, shadings, graphic lines…etc. Students will practice in groups of 2 under the supervision of a chief make-up artist

Shoot, Review, Retouch

In this module participants will discover the principles behind the proper handling of an SLR Digital Camera with the help of a professional photographer. After a theoretical introduction of the optical components and shutter mechanisms of a single reflex camera, participants will focus on the coordination of the use of the camera with the different types of lightings utilized by professional photographers. During the follow-up sessions a graphic design lecturer will introduce the students to basic functionalities of the Adobe Suite with a particular emphasis on Photoshop.

IN&OUT Shooting

Understanding how a camera function is important but nothing is as essential as the real practice. IN&OUT Shooting gives the trainees the opportunity to practice what they have learnt by exercising their talents as photographers. The module will be split into 2 sessions:

  • Indoor Shooting, to understand the components of a photoshoot done in a studio environment
  • Outdoor Shooting, to discover the complexity of light adjustment and complexion enhancement when dealing with factors outside of the photographer’s control

Crafting a Visual Editorial Concept

This module will give participants the opportunity to see how a shoot is done with the presence of the different stakeholders: make-up artist, hair dresser, stylist and photographer.

In anticipation of this module students will be asked to do a research and develop an inspiration board as well as a brief for the make-up artist on set.

They will first observe how the main stakeholders interact with each other in the concept of a predefined case study. Then they will need to take over as Artistic Director as mock-up for their final presentation.

The Mode Challenge (Done with Make Up Forever Academy)

The culmination of the training will be reached through entering the participants in our own mode challenge. They will devise their own creative brief and implement each component of a fashion shoot as follows:

  • Presentation of a brief digital mood-board reflecting the theme chosen
  • Selection of outfits in accordance with the theme developed
  • Development of a specific make-up style to be personally executed on the model assigned
  • Provide the photographer creative directions in order to complete a fashion shoot of the selected outfits

The Challenge will end with individual debriefs given by each instructor participating in the training.

Course Structure (Online)

Styling Workshop

In this interactive workshop students will be given a creative brief and assigned a specific silhouette, a theme, and a trend report. They will need to mobilize the competencies and skills acquired in the previous fashion related modules to construct 3 specific styles illustrating the directives proposed by the creative brief. To construct their styles, students will have at their disposal outfits previously developed by the students of IFA Paris.

NB: Starting from Day 1 the students will be given them the theme of the artistic visual and editorial line that they will need to develop as their final project. Therefore, this will be an overarching assessment that will be transversal (i.e. cross modules)

Creating a Make-Up Design based on the brief of an Artistic Director

The objective of this module is to understand how to develop one’s creativity while following a creative framework as communicated by an Artistic Director. After following an extensive demonstration of techniques such as brush strokes, shadings, graphic lines…etc Students will practice in groups of 2 under the supervision of a chief make-up artist

Shoot, Review, Retouch

In this module participants will discover the principles behind the proper handling of an SLR Digital Camera with the help of a professional photographer. After a theoretical introduction of the optical components and shutter mechanisms of a single reflex camera, participants will focus on the coordination of the use of the camera with the different types of lightings utilized by professional photographers. During the follow-up sessions a graphic design lecturer will introduce the students to basic functionalities of the Adobe Suite with an emphasis on Photoshop

Crafting a Visual Editorial Concept

This module will give participants the opportunity to see how a shoot is done with the presence of the different stakeholders: make-up artist, hairdresser, stylist and photographer.

In anticipation of this module students will be asked to do a research and develop an inspiration board as well as a brief for the make-up artist on set.

They will first observe how the main stakeholders interact with each other in the concept of a predefined case study. Then they will need to take over as Artistic Director as mock-up for their final presentation.

Final Presentation

Based upon the creative brief given and explained during Day 1 of the program, students will need to present a planning of their desired photo shoot, incorporating all the elements covered throughout the program. Each student will receive a constructive debrief, before being allocated 7 days to implement and produce their photo shoot.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Applications for on campus format are open until 1 month before the program start date. Past this deadline, applications will be processed based on seats availability.

Applications for online format are open until 1 week before the program start date. Past this deadline, applications will be processed based on seats availability.

Fee Structure

Paris & Istanbul:
Tuition fee: €1,800

Online:
Tuition fee: €500

Early bird discount (10%) for tuition fee payments processed at least 7 months in advance of the program start date.

What is included in the fee:

  • Microsoft Office Pack
  • Access to IFA’s Online Learning Management System (LMS)
  • Course Material
  • Lectures

What is not included in the fee:

  • Expenses related to module specific materials (ex: purchase of fabrics, future boards…etc)
  • Printing and photocopying costs

Material Requirements (Online)

  • A recent computer with a recent operating system
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • SLR Camera
  • Make-up range
  • Sketchbook
  • A good internet connection
  • An up-to-date web browser (it would be advisable to ensure you have access to two separate web browsers)
  • Microphone & Headphones (a headset with microphone/headphones is recommended)