QQI Level 5 Visual Display – one module

Designing product displays and shopping experiences is an essential element of fashion marketing and visual merchandisers are key members of the marketing team employed to maximise sales.

Portobello Institute’s QQI Level 5 Minor award in Visual Retail Display gives a comprehensive overview of the practical techniques and methods used in industry today. This visual display course is part of our popular Business of Fashion portfolio of courses and is available to study as a single module.

This module is run over ten weeks, during which you will attend 4 interactive webinars scheduled at different points during the programme. You will learn to apply all the core skills of visual merchandising, from using colour and arrangement to capture attention, lighting techniques, use of graphics, styling mannequins, point of sale displays, seasonal displays, and sale and clearance promotions.

Once completed, you can choose to progress onto one of our many other courses in the business of fashion. Or you can choose to complement the skills you will acquire during this course with the business skills of fashion buying and merchandising which is available as part of a booking package.

Why should I study this course?

This course is ideal if you have an interest in the creative skills needed to deliver imaginative visual retail displays. It is suited to those seeking to explore the role of a Visual Merchandiser, learn to create their own stunning visual displays, and to anyone looking to find a way in to this interesting and rewarding career.

The award you will achieve upon completing this course, can form the academic basis for continuing your learning journey to a degree or if you already hold a degree, to a postgraduate certificate in Fashion Buying and Merchandising. This course is also an excellent choice if you are interested in adding new skills to your existing role. It is also suited to you if or you are interested in exploring a possible career change and would like to gain more insight before committing to a longer programme of study.

During this course you will learn the skills essential that underpin required as a visual merchandiser.

You will learn the key characteristics, processes and terms involved in visual merchandising and display.

This module also investigates the purpose and activities of promotion in the fashion industry and you will develop a promotional display for a fashion retailer.

During this course you will cover the following topics;

• Interpret key terminology and features in relation to display and presentation of products for sale in the retail environment
• Examine the key principles and theories relating to merchandising and product display design.
• Analyse the characteristics of a range of materials and retail display components available to the retail sector.
• Analyse the impact of a range of factors on the design of a retail display to include customer needs, retail ethics, location, type of goods, stock rotation and retail environment.
• Analyse key legislation in relation to retail display to include public liability, sale of goods and consumer rights.
• Evaluate the use of lighting and background colour in merchandising.
• Discuss the impact of marketing and branding on retail display.
• Analyse the health and safety implications of a retail display.
• Suggest health and safety initiatives aimed at improving safety in relation to a retail display.
• Design a retail display to include appropriate materials and construction.
• Create a thematic display relevant to a specific retail context and product.
• Employ the use of a range of graphics to communicate pricing and offers to customers of a retail outlet.
• Assess the impact of security considerations on the design of a retail display.
• Assess the suitability of various locations within a retail unit for positioning of product displays.
• Suggest suitable display types for a range of retail contexts to include self service, self selection and personal service.