<p>Hi, I'm very interested in pursuing fashion design after graduation, but I'm still not sure how technically difficult a major it is, or what skills I should know prior to going to fashion school? (Note: I plan on attending the Academy of Art University and I know I'll be accepted). No portfolio is needed for the fashion program which is good as I currently have no background in fashion, so any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>If you can afford it, you should try to go to Parsons for their summer program. That will give you a good idea of the job potential in New york--the center of the industry in the US.</p>
<p>I believe it is a fairly technical major. The kids who are succeeding and getting the best summer jobs in NYC are the ones who can design with originality, do slick illustrations and sew like a demon. Jobs would be awarded on the basis of recommendations from summer empolyers and portfolio. As in all the otehr arts--the portfolio is everything.</p>
<p>is Parson better or Pratt?</p>
<p>My best friend's daughter just completed her degree in fashion design and is now employed in the business. She has said that it is a much more technical degree than she would have imagined. But in high school she was a whiz in calculus and physics.</p>
<p>Parsons is right in the city--25 blocks ( 1 mile +) from the fashion district. Pratt is in Brooklyn.</p>
<p>for fashion design, Parsons is infinitely more well regarded than Pratt...</p>
<p>thankx for the info guys. I was also intrested in double major in parson as fashion design and interior design. but it seems very hard to achieve that because of busy schedule and long time to graduate. it may take 5 to 6 years to graduate.</p>
<p>I cannot imagine you will bea ble to double major in those two subjects. Each is too time-consuming.</p>
<p>Yes, thanks for your input. Parsons is definitely out of my budget though. :(</p>
<p>And the thing is that, well, I suck at math. Completely and utterly ( I haven't even taken Algebra 2 and have 0 intentions of doing so). Is math vital to fashion design? If so, I'll have to look for another program. :)</p>
<p>I know that parson and pratt will make you take at least one math class if you do get accepted.</p>
<p>Kindlycuddly, The most important entree to the fashion business is talent plus presentation. Talent is abstract and relative to the product's end use. We're talking about consumer products here not fine art and it's important that the designer understands and relates to his/her ultimate customer. </p>
<p>Presentation is also multifaceted. First to get the job, you have to present yourself visually in the form of a professionally portfolio and personally as well in being articulate and poised. Then to keep the job and to move up in the organization you need to work well with others and communicate your ideas both visually and verbally.</p>
<p>No matter what kind of organization your end up designing for -- whether Wal-Mart or your own fashion forward line -- you will have to commit to devoting enormous energy to the job and constantly "sell" your ideas. Of course being able to sketch and sew (or at least to understand garment construction) is important but nowhere near as important as raw creativity, ability to interact in a business setting and an understanding of your market.</p>
<p>Most fashion programs will help their students get experience through interships or summer jobs. New York is really the center of the garment trade but most cities will have one or two wholesale companies and retailers are everywhere. The easiest starting place is to get a retail selling job and learn about why people buy what they do.</p>
<p>Being a fashion design major myself, you honestly have to know that this is what you want and the only thing you want. If you think you have a small interest in something else, pursue that something else before you pursue fashion design. </p>
<p>It's hard to even start going in to detail of what majoring in fashion design consist of. It is so much work, that in all honestly, I don't even know where to begin, or even know if i should begin speaking about the major. My experience from going to school maybe different from any other fashion design major at another school.</p>
<p>But the one thing that you need to know about the business, is that this business becomes your life. If you enjoy leisure, and enjoy having a lot of time for your self, then do not get into fashion. When you're at school, and studying at any reputable program that covers everything from pattern, draping, sewing, illustration, on top of your liberal art classes on a weekly basis, the amount of work you will get will leave you no time but for sleeping.</p>
<p>I think math is a vital part of fashion design, its not like if you're going to be doing calculus, but how else will you learn how to make your own pattern or do your own drapes if you don't even know how to measure. Basic math is essential.</p>
<p>I think that what has turned me off about this major or at least has made me realize that it's not the career i want to pursue(at least the design side of it) is that there are so many people out there die-ing to be a designer, even if it's under someone's, that your seat can easily be replaced by someone up and coming. All your classmates are your competition, as other students in other schools are your competition. You cannot be idle in this industry an expect to go big places.</p>
<p>On top of that, the monetary compensation for being a fashion designer is not that much compared to the amount of output you give. You really have to love designing, to be ok with that.</p>
<p>And know what kind of school would make oyu happy. Because some schools will be more conceptual than others, and some more commercial than others. If you don't like the idea of structure, and being trained to work for a commercial industry, than going to a commercial school will make you an happy.
If you want your own voice as a designer, and frankly come up with whatever the f### you want without anyone telling you what to do, than be sure to hit up a conceptual school, but be sure to be able to defend your work.</p>
<p>Conceptual</p>
<p>Liek0806 could you list and describe some examples of the two types of fashion design programs you noted in your post. My daughter is interested in otis, cca, pratt, parsons, saic, and fit. She has been accepted at Moore College of Art as an early action applicant. Can you help us out. She has a good chance to get in all the programs except for Fit.</p>
<p>You might consider Univ. of Cincinnati's fashion program. They have been repeatedly ranked #1 in the field by fashion professionals per Design Intelligence's annual report for several years running. The report would give you a great look at many of the schools and programs already mentioned in this thread. momrath's and leik's take on the field is invaluable input also!</p>
<p>Where could I find a copy of the Design Intellignece Report on the net.</p>
<p>Otis pushes commercial. I attend this school. I would know.</p>
<p>Central St Martin's pushes the more fine art of fashion. From my understanding you're given creative freedom to do whatever you want, and the problem with that is that if you don't already know the skills to design, you may have a problem, just because i don't think teachers have the time to teach or go to every student just to teach them the skills needed for their particular work.</p>
<p>Fashion schools are extremely political, well at least mine is, within my first semester I've heard inappropriate conversation from staff members regarding students that the department wants to weed out, just because they aren't up to the level of the standards of the department.</p>
<p>If you're absent 3 times, and being late to class more than 20 minutes is consider an absence, in a semester, per class, you will automatically fail out of the class. One of my teachers told of us a student who on the last day of finals she was late, and failed out, regardless of how good of a student she was. One of her classmate, seeing what happened, decided to take a stand, and not return the following semester or continue pursuing fashion because they were turned off by it all, and this student was considered to be one of the best the dept had ever seen.</p>
<p>I got accepted to The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) at Los Angeles for Fashion Design (Fall 2007). I have no experience in the major--just drawing clothes, the designs, and I am very interested in it. But after asking for more advice and thorough research, I have decided to stay with my #1 choice, which is Pratt, and go with their "Foundation" program for the first year because I'm just not sure if I am 100% committed to Fashion Design when I can do Graphic Design too, which I like and can do. I hear back about their decision in mid-February. I haven't decided if I want to apply to Parsons yet because of the Parsons Challenge...if I do end up applying there, I'd have to submit everything soon because the deadline is Feb. 1st.</p>
<p>FIDM is frowned upon by people who are in the industry, and mainly it's because the way it's run as a proprietary school, and just the quality of student that attends that school. It's easier to get into FIDM than it is to probably get into your local state college.</p>
<p>I'm glad you're sticking with Pratt Institute, and it's a good idea to stick with a reputable institution like is Pratt.</p>
<p>Thank you so much again, liek0806! :)</p>
<p>I've heard the same thing about FIDM before too--that it's frowned upon by many. I've heard some positive things about it as well...but would rather go with Pratt since there are more majors, it's in Brooklyn, and they offer Bachelors, unlike FIDM that only offer Associates. FIDM is really expensive too, same as the application fee. I actually paid $225 for the application fee...now that I think about it, what a <em>waste</em> of money. I was saving that money for a LONG time...and had to use it for FIDM since they do not offer SAT/ACT college application fee waivers. I didn't know, but now I learned.</p>
<p>liek0806,
Today I got my acceptance letter from OTIS for Fall 2007! :) I don't know if I am going there or not--still waiting for Pratt's decision. I still have to do the FIT (NYC) Home Test if I am considering on finishing my application. :) Either way, I am happy that I got accepted into another art/design school, more choices later on.
- college18</p>