Course Description
SAFD offers an all-round course in Fashion Illustration (fashion drawing), which is aimed at both beginners and more experienced illustrators who want to try a new way of drawing people.
This course will cover all types of drawings a designer must be able to deal with. The course can be taken for fun, to help you get your creative ideas down on paper or to put together a portfolio for work or school.
The course will convey basic techniques that include the human body, movement, proportions and colouring, and you will learn to create a set of templates and techniques on how to draw a wide range of styles and shapes for a variety of garments and details such as shadows, folder etc.
At the end of the course you will have developed and refined your personal illustration style and created a range of expressive illustrations that can be used for your portfolio or similar. You will gain new skills that will make you a better illustrator and that can be applied to the development of fashion designs more generally. And you will be able to realize your visual ideas more precisely and with greater expertise.
Yield
By the end of the course, you will have an understanding of the following areas:
- How to create your own personal drawing style
- How to incorporate structured composition into your designs
- The use of multiple media to create illustrations
- How to use traditional methods such as ink, watercolor and pastels
- How to use your creativity to create original designs
- How to use your designs to build your portfolio
Target Group
This course is for people who want to develop their creative skills. This includes:
- Creative people
- Beginners
- Entrepreneurs/Start-Ups
- Students who want to refresh their design practice
There will be thorough and individual guidance for all students.
Course Certificate
Once you have successfully completed our course at SAFD, you will receive a course certificate confirming your completion of the course and its modules. This certificate will strengthen your CV and expand your career opportunities, and it will symbolize your dedication, skills and knowledge of the course’s professional content.
Teacher
René Gurskov
René Gurskov graduated from the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design (formerly Margrethe-Skolen) and has for several decades run his own fashion brand, which has been very successful in the Asian market. René also teaches at the school's 3-year education program.
Modules
The students are introduced to the course and will subsequently be introduced to fashion illustration with a focus on the face and silhouettes, in order to gain experience with how the body fits together in fashion poses.
In this module, the students explore and experiment with different techniques in the realization of fashion illustration, where shadows are explored in depth. Shadows create depth and it is essential to master the illustration of shadows to highlight and transform the two-dimensional surface.
Here we go on to look more illustratively at hands and shoes and learn to angle and change the positions, and finally become familiar with several different ways of drawing and perspective.
To take illustrations to a new level, it is important that the details are visualized in a way that lifts all the lines. Techniques that can be used for detailing will be reviewed and the students will experiment with the techniques so that they suit the individual student’s personal style.
Through a combination of color theory and practical techniques, the students in this module are introduced to how to get to know one’s color strengths and use them to influence our senses and emotions – both consciously and unconsciously in either a positive or negative direction.
A more detailed form of illustration is introduced where perspective and goals are put in focus. When preparing designs to be produced, it is important to be able to illustrate one’s ideas with precision, and precisely this will be practiced in this module.
The course participants will be tasked with drawing a mini collection, where the focus will be on creating a clear common thread between the different parts – both in terms of techniques, coloring and appearance. The exercise will help students find their own visual language and unlock creativity through drawing from idea to completion.
Any collections from the previous module will be completed and the students will also have the opportunity to thoroughly test techniques from the previous module. At the end, there will be a joint discussion about the modules they have been through, and there will subsequently be feedback and guidance on how the course participants can use their newly learned knowledge and experience in their further progress in the fashion industry.
Questions and Answers
Here you’ll find answers to the most common questions we receive from our students – both Danish and international.
We recommend that you read this section carefully before signing up. If you still have questions, you are always welcome to contact us – we are happy to help!
Classes are held in both Danish and English. We have participants from both Denmark and abroad, and it’s fine if you only understand English. The teachers make sure everyone gets the information they need.
To sign up, click the “Enrollment” button and fill out the form. Once you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation email.
Payment is made at registration and can be made with VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Maestro, Apple Pay and Google Pay. All prices are in Danish Kroner (DKK). If you cannot use one of these payment methods, please contact us for an alternative solution.
You will receive a material list after registration. Some courses require specific materials (e.g. fabric, sketchbooks or drawing tools) that you need to bring or buy yourself. Any additional costs over and above the course fee will be clearly stated.
Sewing machines will be available for all participants.
Our courses are designed to cater to different experience levels – from beginners to more advanced participants. Each course has its own target group, and we recommend that you read each course description carefully to find the course that best suits your needs and ambitions.
In all courses, we emphasize thorough individual guidance so you can develop at your own pace – whatever your starting point. If you have previous experience in the field, the teachers will help you deepen and refine your techniques.
We do not provide accommodation for our students, but we recommend using platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com or similar short-term rental services. In addition, we have gathered advice and useful links for housing in Copenhagen here.
Most of our students are between 18 and 35 years old, but we welcome all participants over the age of 16 – regardless of age, background or experience.
Our courses attract a wide range of people, both from Denmark and abroad. From young people considering a future in fashion and design, to students, entrepreneurs, career changers and passionate hobbyists or designers.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful learning environment where diversity is a strength – both academically and socially. Many of our participants say that it’s the mix of age, nationality and experience that makes the courses extra inspiring and educational.
So whether you’re 17 or 57, if you want to learn, be creative and develop your skills, you’re more than welcome.
Application deadlines vary from course to course, but places are limited and fill up quickly. We recommend that you register as early as possible. You can find the exact dates on the individual course pages.
Unless otherwise stated in the course description, you can withdraw and get your course fee back up to 14 days before the course starts. After that, the registration is binding and the amount is non-refundable.
In the unlikely event that a team is not created, we will of course refund the full amount.
