Courses

YEAR ONE - FOUNDATIONS

Semester One

Patternmaking I
Foundations

Introduces the fundamentals of pattern cutting and drafting, with a focus on skirt and shirt blocks. Students explore dart manipulation, pleating, and shaping techniques, developing a strong understanding of how two-dimensional patterns create three-dimensional forms. The course runs in tandem with Construction I, allowing for immediate application of techniques through sewn garments.

Construction I
Foundations

Covers the practical side of garment construction, emphasizing the use of industrial sewing machines and foundational techniques such as seam finishes, darts, and zipper installation. Students produce skirts and shirts from patterns developed in Patternmaking I, reinforcing the technical relationship between pattern cutting and construction.

Fashion Culture Studies I
Fashion as Cultural Expression

Covers the practical side of garment construction, emphasizing the use of industrial sewing machines and foundational techniques such as seam finishes, darts, and zipper installation. Students produce skirts and shirts from patterns developed in Patternmaking I, reinforcing the technical relationship between pattern cutting and construction.

Design Development I
Conceptual Foundations

Introduces students to the research-based design process, encouraging exploration of personal identity and conceptual thinking through mood boards, collages, and development spreads. Students begin to translate abstract ideas into design concepts while building a strong foundation in visual communication and portfolio development.

Fashion Illustration

Develops students’ ability to illustrate fashion concepts using diverse techniques and media. Coursework includes fabric rendering, gouache color mixing, fashion figure proportions, and live model drawing. Students build a personal illustration portfolio culminating in a final project based on original designs from Design Development I.

Surface Design I
Dyeing Techniques

Covers the practical side of garment construction, emphasizing the use of industrial sewing machines and foundational techniques such as seam finishes, darts, and zipper installation. Students produce skirts and shirts from patterns developed in Patternmaking I, reinforcing the technical relationship between pattern cutting and construction.

YEAR ONE - FOUNDATIONS

Semester Two

Patternmaking II
Streetwear

Builds on foundational patternmaking techniques with a focus on streetwear garments, including pants, tops, hoodies, and jackets. Students work with stretch and heavy fabrics like jersey and denim, adapting their approach to match the requirements of streetwear silhouettes. The course reinforces the connection between pattern development and construction, aligning closely with Construction II.

Construction II
Streetwear

Focuses on advanced garment construction techniques specific to streetwear. Students work on pants, t-shirts, hoodies, and jackets, refining their stitching, finishing, and assembly methods. Emphasis is placed on material handling, innovation, and sustainability, preparing students to produce well-finished garments that align with contemporary streetwear trends.

Design Development II
Streetwear & Solution-based design

Challenges students to translate concepts into wearable collections through two design projects: one focused on streetwear, and the other on functional, solution-based fashion. Emphasis is placed on research, problem-solving, and merging creativity with technical skills. Students create mood boards, sketches, and technical sheets, presenting their work to an external jury at the semester’s end.

Visual Communication I
Image, Storytelling & Photography

Introduces the basics of photography, composition, and art direction within the context of fashion. Students learn to operate cameras, use lighting creatively, and develop strong narrative concepts through mood boards and image recreation. The course builds foundational skills in visual storytelling that feed into advanced photography work in later semesters.

Digital Design I
Introduction to Digital Tools

Provides students with essential digital skills using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Coursework includes creating technical flats, digital prints, mood boards, and professional presentations. Students apply these tools to finalize and present their streetwear designs in a cohesive digital portfolio.

Fabric Construction
Feltmaking, Basketry, Coiling, Weaving

Explores foundational and creative textile techniques through hands-on practice in felting, basketry, coiling, weaving, macramé, and crochet. Students learn to manipulate materials to create texture and structure while engaging with the cultural and historical relevance of each craft. The semester culminates in a final project integrating multiple techniques into a cohesive textile piece.

Creative Draping
The Caroline Simonelli Method

Introduces draping as a design method through the lens of CSB co-founder Caroline Simonelli’s signature approach. Students practice core techniques such as cowl draping, bias cutting, ruching, fluting, and structural experimentation. The course emphasizes silhouette creation and fabric manipulation, guiding students from draping to full garment construction through a final design project.

Creative Space Beirut encourages peer-to-peer learning and creates individualized paths of study where students produce their own work under the mentorship of local and international artists and designers. 

Through this progressive method, Creative Space Beirut has created a space that fosters dialogue between diverse students, nurtures their talent, and helps them turn their ambitions into solid skills while harnessing the ability to properly navigate their industry.