If you want to start a career in fashion design, a great education in the field is a must. Before you can create the fashion of tomorrow, you have to know the history of fashion design and what people want from their clothing. You can get started with the help of FashionSchoolsUSA.com. We have information on all 221 fashion schools in the United States, including 117 graduate school options.
Fashion design requires skills in a variety of areas. It is important to have some artistic skills so you can sketch designs, and you should be able to sew in order to bring them to life. You can also look forward to learning about the psychology of fashion design—what do different demographic groups buy? What makes people choose one piece of clothing over another? Learn more about fashion design degrees and let us help you find a fashion design school near you.
Fashion Design Degree Types
As a new student, you have two degree options: an Associate’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree. Earning an Associate’s degree in fashion design requires you to complete at least 60 credits. A Bachelor’s degree includes 120 credits. Both degrees include general education courses in addition to fashion design courses.
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree in this field, you can look into the 117 graduate programs in the United States. You can choose between a Master’s degree and a doctoral degree.
Curriculum
The fashion design curriculum at each school is designed to prepare you for the various tasks you will be expected to perform in your new career. Fashion design is a unique degree because it doesn’t just involve traditional lecture courses. Since you need artistic skills as a designer, you can expect to spend time in the art studio, creating designs with a wide selection of materials.
Almost every fashion design program also includes a portfolio requirement. Not only can this help you assess your work and improve your designs, it can be an integral part of your job search after graduation. As you begin your fashion design program, these are some of the classes you can expect to take:
- History of Fashion Design
- Pattern Making
- Fashion Illustration
- Textiles
- Portfolio Preparation
- Draping
- Product Development
Career Paths
Fashion can be a competitive field to work in. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects little to no change in job growth for fashion designers through 2020, except for self-employed designers and those who work in specialized design firms.
Every part of the country needs fashion designers, but areas with the highest concentration of fashion jobs include New York, California, and Texas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fashion designers earn a wide range of salaries. As of May 2010, the median salary for fashion designers was $64,530 per year.
As a new fashion designer, there are many different work environments you may work in. Many fashion designers work for apparel wholesalers, apparel manufacturers, and specialized design companies. Regardless of where you work, many of the job duties of a fashion designer are the same. You may be expected to:
- sketch designs
- create designs with digital media
- obtain fabric samples
- attend fashion and trade shows
- work with other fashion designers
- oversee clothing production