BA (Hons) Make-Up and Hair Design (Full Time)

On this creative, conceptual and forward-thinking course you can develop the technical, creative and business skills you need for an exciting career in the make-up and hair design and fashion industries.

Key elements include:

• Research and development of make-up and hair design concepts, from idea to realisation
• Pre-production planning, script research and scheduling, storyboarding and character development
• Designing colour palettes, lighting techniques and photographic styling
• Practical make-up workshops in a high-spec studio
• Technical skills in the application of make-up, hair construction, airbrushing, wig work and basic prosthetics
• State-of-the-art hair design and photography studios
• Live industry projects and client-based work
• Working to formal briefs which refer to industry examples
• Opportunities to work on location
• Photography and image retouching
• Impact of social and cultural theory on design practices
• Development of verbal, written and visual language skills through presentations, research projects and portfolio-quality imagery
• Historical and contemporary contextual studies
• Teaching tools including films and images, group discussions, tutorials and practical workshops.

Our expert teaching team includes artists, make-up artists, hair designers and stylists, fashion stylists, photographers, beauty editors and researchers. We focus on providing constructive written and verbal feedback to support your learning, and use previous work to help you understand grading criteria.

Industrial focus

The emphasis of all Solent Fashion courses is on employability. Trips, live projects, competitions, client-based work and master classes with companies such as MAC and Illamasqua help you develop innovative skills, contacts and an understanding of how the industry continues to evolve.

We’ll also help you develop physical and professional portfolios, which are particularly important for graduates aiming to work as freelance practitioners or consultants.

Members of the team are either researchers or active in the industry, so you’ll be guaranteed the most up-to-date industry knowledge.

Many of our graduates work freelance and assist senior creatives after leaving university. 2011 and 2012 graduates have found work with the BBC and the Premiere Agency.

Course content

• The Fundamentals of Make-Up Design
• Hair and Pastiche
• Photography & Design
• Make-Up in Motion
• Contextual Studies – Historical.

Year 2

our core units and one option unit:

• Contextual Studies – Contemporary
• Freelance and Industry Management
• Make-up and Hair Design (Music, Film and Photography)
• Fashion Styling (Lens-based).

Option Units:

• Interpreting Narrative
• Curriculum Plus.

Year 3

Four core units and one option unit:

• Professional Context
• Major Project – Research and Development
• Major Project – Production and Evaluation
• Portfolio Construction.

Options:

• Dissertation
• Dissertation and Practice.

Why choose Solent?

This course offers collaboration, business skills, industry experience and a fusion of passion with vision and practical skills – all led by an innovative, industry-experienced creative team.

• Dedicated industry-standard specialist make-up and hair design facilities, photographic studios, IT suites and research resource centre.
• Supported by make-up company, Illamasqua.
• Focused on developing the most employable graduates.
• Opportunity to collaborate with an exciting mix of creatives.
• A broad range of industry guests and practitioners.
• A unique course driven by a dedicated, research and industry-active, innovative and creative team.

Assessment

Mix of live, practical and theoretical projects (individual and group), written assignments, case studies, presentations and portfolio projects.

Projects/work experience

Live projects, competitions, masterclasses, demonstrations and client-based work (for example, working with Trend Stop, Illamasqua and M.A.C Pro).

Key career skills

Creative thinking, presentation, research, project management, design realisation, verbal, visual and digital communication, problem solving, collaboration and negotiation.

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Graduate quotes

Stephanie Birkholm, Graduate

“Make-up and Hair Design at Solent University helped me become the make-up artist I am today. It’s a fantastic university to study at, because it offers all the mediums, workspace and photography studios to help you create your visions.

“The tutors all have industry experience, meaning that they give a rare insight into what’s expected in today’s industry. They’re also friendly, supportive and encourage you to always take that extra step creatively. They help you grow in confidence too. It’s the ideal step to take before you face the real world and begin your career in make-up and hair design.”

Lara Himpelmann, Graduate, now working at Premiere

“The BA (Hons) Make-Up and Hair Design course has been monumental in building my vision as a make-up designer through both academic thinking and creative practice. The combination of both elements is crucial in stretching creative thinking, and has boosted my own ambition and passion to push the boundaries in make-up art within fashion and beauty for the future.”

Kat Vogart, Graduate, Freelance Make-up and Hair Designer

"Southampton Solent University with its vibrant and creative atmosphere is the perfect place for an artistic education. The BA (Hons) Make-Up and Hair Design academic and technical team are extremely supportive and encouraged me to find and develop my own unique and unconventional style in make-up artistry. Over three years of study I have grown as an artist, built a professional portfolio and confidence. Without the opportunity to do this I would never been a finalist in IMATS, Los Angeles."

Industry quote

Alex Box, creative director at Illamasqua, on the final major project of Kat Sykes, graduate and Illamasqua prize winner:

“It is a truly innovative piece, presenting both meticulous attention to detail and conceptual flare, seeing the face as a three-dimensional canvas and blurring the boundaries of what we see and use as make-up. I love it!”

Partner Affiliation Network

The Partner Affiliation Network is a group of companies aligned to each course area in the School of Design with the purpose of supporting a range of activities to help students engage with employers and gain relevant industrial experience. This is achieved through live project work, design competitions, work placements and guest speaker programmes.

All students studying on this course programme will have the opportunity to work with industry.

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Key info from UNISTATS