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 you the possibility to experience the work of a Creative Director in real-life settings. The training itself is built around 3 pillars:
An introduction to fashion design, to provide participants with an understanding of the overarching principles behind the development of a fashion house’s positioning
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
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, ambiance 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.
A Transversal project will be presented on the first day of the program. Students will be given a creative brief in order to put together a shoot that will be presented in 2 steps:
Day 5 of the program: presentation of the organization of the photo-shoot with a detailed approach to all elements to be incorporated. Each presentation will be done in front of the entirety of the instructors so that each student receives a constructive feedback.
One week after the end of the program: the students will be given 7 days from their presentation in Day 5 to execute their photo shoot. A choice of 3 pictures will need to be sent to their instructors. A final critique will be shared with the students during a live debrief session and a professional print-out of the photo shoot selected will be sent to all participants.
Award/Certificate: Private Professional Training Certificate jointly delivered by IFA Paris and Make Up For Ever
Course Structure
Day 1: Styling Workshop – 6 hours
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)
Day 2: Creating a Make-Up Design based on the brief of an Artistic Director – 6 hours
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
Day 3: Shoot, Review, Retouch – 6 hours
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
Day 4: Crafting a Visual Editorial Concept – 6 hours
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.
Day 5 – Final Presentation – 6 hours
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.
Fee Structure
Tuition Fee: € 800
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:
Expenditures related with module specific materials (ex: purchase of fabrics, future boards…etc)
Printing and photocopying costs
Requirements
Pre-requisite:
Basic Knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite (Particularly Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator)
Material required to follow the course:
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)
