6 Week Certificate in Creative Merchandising
Course Description
Merchandising is an integral part of every retail business and its importance to the sector continues to grow across many platforms from window design through to online events.
You will learn the importance of brand identity, how to research visual merchandising trends, and how to conceptualise and produce your own original designs. You will learn how to use visual merchandising strategies for window design, in store display, online/product styling and events.
The course is ideal if you are exploring a career change, if you are already working in the retail sector or perhaps have your own store or brand that needs a creative update. Our part-time evening course will allow you to study while working full-time.
In this course, you will learn from an experienced Creative Retailer who has worked for many high-profile stores and brands, in varied creative roles for more than 20 years.
Course Content
We look at how important visual merchandising is to brand success and why/how it works across all platforms. Roles and responsibilities associated with VM from entry to executive level, including window and in-store design, online product styling, events and press days.
Taking a close look how creative retailing is used to drive customers into stores or towards certain brands and what are the most up to date strategies used in VM and Creative Retailing.
Learn how to create a brief led concept and develop that into a design proposal using customer and brand research, inspiration, moodboards, digital tools, visual aids, 3d miniature design, and presentation skills.
Covering the VM strategies for in store display such as shopping zones, horizontal and vertical merchandising, planograms, the use of light, height and colour etc. Then progressing into more complicated strategies such as the pyramid principle and product stories.
Trends in window design, and visual merchandising strategies for creating and installing a great window display Discussion of trends in window display and how to find and follow trends. We learn the importance of composition, lighting, height and all our visual strategies in window design then best practice for installation. We look at mannequins, the different types and suppliers, and best practice for styling and dressing a mannequin or bust.
Learn how to use the visual strategies for online stores. We look at the flat lay method, styling and creating product stories for photography, social media and print. How to design an event and demonstrate a cohesive creative concept across all retail platforms.
I really enjoyed the course. I learned a lot in a short time. The teacher is amazing and very knowledgeable. After this course I feel proud to be creative and I know what I have to do now to follow my dreams and to become a visual merchandiser.
Ambra Pierotti
6 Week Certificate in Creative Merchandising
Admissions requirements
Applicants aged under 23 must have successfully completed the Leaving Cert / comparable secondary school examination, or hold another qualification at Level 5 or higher on the National Framework for Qualifications (NFQ).
Mature applicants are welcome and highly valued at our Institute. We have a robust policy in place to support mature learners, for more information on our approach, please contact our Admissions Team by email at admissions@dublindesign.ie or by telephone on 01 6790286.
Language Requirements
We welcome international students to our courses. If English is not your first language, evidence of proficiency is required. This can be provided through a recognised English test result or qualified by experience e.g. where an individual has been working in an English speaking environment for 12 months +.
Certification
Successful participants will be awarded a Dublin Design Institute (DDI) Certificate in Creative Merchandising.
Progression Options
This course has been structured to allow students advance their studies with DDI. Upon successful completion of this course, students may progress into our:
10-week Associate Certificate in Fashion or Graphic or Interior Design
1-year Certificate in Fashion or Graphic or Interior Design
We encourage our students to look at our short courses as a pathway to other options and courses as well as nationally accredited and internationally recognised degree programmes.
Career Opportunities
Aside from helping owners, managers and store managers up-skill, gain knowledge and insights in to this industry, this course has also provided many retail workers with a first step towards a dynamic career in Merchandising.
Practical Matters
Once you have registered for a course, additional information will be provided to you in our ‘Enrolled Student Information Packs’. This pack includes reading lists, materials lists and any other course specific information or equipment that may be required.
For courses taking place online, please make sure you have access to a computer or laptop, Wi-Fi and that you can access Microsoft Teams
At a Glance
Student Work
Student Work
