<p>My daughter is a sophomore at Parsons in NYC. She had an excellent freshman year in the Foundation program and ended the year with a 3.0 gpa. She is currently enrolled and having a tough time with the fashion illustration class. She is more of an expressive drawer than a realistic drawer and is falling behind and getting discouraged. The pace is unbelievably fast and little help is given to struggling students. She is considering transferring to a school that has a program in textile/surface design. Several of her teachers from last year have suggested this as she has an excellent color sense and is very interested in the area. My question is where are the good programs in this area. FIT? but where else. Her interest is more of design for the industry father than a fine arts focus. She also has an interest in digital fashion design. Parsons does not have a major in that area either. Any suggestions on that front as well. We are really hurting as this kid wants to stay in school but needs to make a switch.</p>
<p>from last year's NPD booklet. I am sure there are more others out of the link.
Fibers/Textiles major
Alberta,SAIC,CCA,CIA,FIDM,FIT,KCAI,MICA,MASSART,Memphis,Moore,NovaScotia,RISD,
Syracuse,Tyler,UMassdartmouth
concentration
AAU,CCS,Memphis,Moore,Montclair state,VCU,Uarts</p>
<p>Surface pattern design
Syracuse,VCU</p>
<p>james46, from what I have seen, most of the better art/design/fashion programs require a LOT of work even past the freshmen year. I do know that this was true for University of Cincinnati,where my daughter goes. She ends up working till 5 AM on a number of occasions. Your daughter will really need to evaluate her needs since I am not sure that transferring will solve her problem.</p>
<p>I hear what you are saying. She is a very hard worker. I am just concerned about their is a good fit in the Fashion Design Program. I am looking for alternatives to fashion design but want to keep her in NYC. I am thinking that FIT has more "faceted" programs. Parsons is a one size fits all type program which may not work for everyone. She is committed to staying with it but I am looking for all the options etc</p>
<p>james, has your daughter had any real work experience in the fashion industry? Like an internship or a summer job? I've worked in the garment industry for decades and would say that unless you're aiming for your own branded line, illustration is the least important aspect of the total design function. In fact most designers have illustrators who put the designer's ideas on paper.</p>
<p>Many famous names in the garment industry have come out of Parsons and equally many have come out of FIT. There's an underlying competition between the two and design studios tend to hire their own. A general statement, Parson is regarded as more pure design with an emphasis on creativity, FIT for more technical knowhow with an emphasis on the more practical aspects of the industry.</p>
<p>To me, the most important attribute for a clothing designer -- no matter whether it's top of the line or mass market -- is technical know-how, an understanding of pattern making and garment construction. An in depth understanding of raw materials is next. Overarching all is an understanding of how design fits into the corporate structure and an innate sense of how to work and play well with others. This is business afterall and the most successful designers are those that can parlay creativity into a money making proposition.</p>
<p>Fabric design and development is a lucrative sub-set of fashion. There are just of handful of experts in this field and good people are always in demand, both in the textile industry (the mills and converters) and in the creative studios of major brands. At smaller companies the designer usually covers both functions, but the larger houses have fabric/yarn design teams, who often incorporate trend prediction and fashion direction in their job responsibilities.</p>
<p>In addition to technical knowledge and taste level, the job requires a high level of organization because you are exposed to zillions of options from all over the world and a high level of communication skills because you need to "sell" your fabric choices to the garment designers and merchandisers.</p>
<p>Again, before your daughter gets of the general design road onto the fabric/textile path she should try to get some hands-on experience to see if it appeals. It's a great career, but more limiting (or at least more specific) than garment design.</p>
<p>bears and dogs- did you say that Dartmouth has a apparel/fibers major? I know Cornell does, but I didn't think any other Ivy League did lol I'm also having trouble finding good overall schools that have fashion design programs...not just fashion design schools. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I believe the refernce was for the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth Mass campus
They have an excellent textile design and also textile science dept.</p>
<p>yep University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UG) (GR) to be precise.</p>