What Schooling Do You Need to Be a Fashion Designer?
In the clothing design business, employers generally seek candidates with college degrees in fashion design. Certificates in fashion design also are offered at some vocational schools. Some students choose to combine a fashion degree with business, marketing, or fashion merchandising classes. Others choose to go to art school to get a sense of where their passions and talents lie before pursuing fashion design.
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Associate of Arts
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Offered at many colleges and universities, an associate's degree in fashion design gives you two years of hands-on training in design. This degree, while focusing more on the business side of the industry (e.g. manufacturing, buying, promoting, selling), is a good way to prepare yourself for an entry-level position in fashion, which will bring you close to designers.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
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A BFA in fashion design is offered at many universities, colleges, and private art and design schools. After four years, students will be thoroughly knowledgeable about sketching, clothing construction, patternmaking, draping, computer-aided design (CAD), and portfolio development.
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Master of Fine Arts
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An MFA in fashion design embraces both the academic study of design as well as the technical aspects (e.g., sewing). Many MFA programs include classes in marketing, product development, consumer trends, and visual communications.
Certificate
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A certificate in fashion design is pragmatic training that leads to the creation of a portfolio. Offered at some vocational schools, a certificate program aims to develop a student's basic understanding of design and how to translate that understanding into a career.
Art School
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Art school introduces an individual to the basics of fine arts as a medium for original self-expression. Many individuals choose to study fine arts to find where their creativity lies before choosing one discipline to focus on, such as fashion design.
Programs in Art & Design
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The National Association of Schools of Art and Design reports about 250 postsecondary schools with programs in art and design. Many of those schools offer associate, bachelor, and master degrees in fashion design.
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References
- Photo Credit genshi/flickr.com
