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Fashion design, what kind of study is it?

If a student has lots of interest in pattern, color and design, and wishes to lead the future style and trend, he/she will be attracted to fashion design. Through fashion design, students can develop their capabilities in fashion design or clothing design sketch, and undergraduate program offers customized curriculum to equip them with necessary skills. Through fashion design, students can study topics such as arts, design, textile and computer aided design, and develop necessary skills for creative works.

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"What would I mainly learn in fashion design major?"

Students of fashion design learn to predict fashion trend and understand business skills. In addition, along with creative factors of fashion, students create desired shape by selecting adequate textile and study practical decision making skill necessary to satisfy the certain price range. Moreover, they learn history of fashion, visual merchandising and computer aided design program, and the school comprehensively provides curriculum related to consumer psychology, commercialization and clothing production. In junior year, classes are conducted around theoretical classes, and it focuses on development of students’ works and portfolio for exhibition during their senior years.

"Fashion design, how does its future look like?"

If you wish to work in fashion related career, job prospect is bright. Graduates with bachelor degree have wide range of job selection in various fashion related careers other than design sector. For example, US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 22% increase in hiring of fashion designers working in retail trading industry. With a bachelor degree in fashion merchandising, job seekers have broad potential such as purchasing manager of clothing retailer, art director of fashion magazine, in-house stylist of a luxury designer, visual merchandiser, film costume designer, etc.

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「Jobs for fashion design majors」

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Fashion design majors can have following jobs.

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▪︎ Fashion Designer

They create creative and unique style, and sketch clothing, costume, accessories, shoes, and more. In general, they first draw design by hand, digitize the design and produce clothing reflecting attractive trend for customers.

▪︎ Art Director

They direct visual style for magazine and other print media including fashion magazine. Art director considers which images and design factors are to be included when they publish periodicals.

▪︎ Fashion Editor

Fashion editor manages entire print media or specific print section in fashion magazine industry. They have to be up to date with the fashion trend and often forecast before the latest style is trending. They edit and revise the story.

▪︎ Purchasing Manager and Buyer

Buyer and purchasing manager purchase merchandise for company or certain market including clothing and accessories for general sales to customers. They predict the fashion trend and understand the effect of clothes on general customers.

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「Average salary of fashion design majors」

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According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, fashion design majors tend to have higher starting salary. Most fashion designers earn $67,420 per year. Art directors make $92,500 while fashion editors earn $58,770 a year.

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TOP 3 colleges for fashion design major

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Parsons, The New School for Design

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ㆍExpected tuition : $46,960

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ㆍParsons The New School for Design is a private art school located in New York City. Founded in 1896, it is considered the top design school in the world. Students can complete internship process at Andy Warhol Foundation, Microsoft, fashion magazine and more. It also offers job opportunities at many corporate including Perry Ellis, Dupont, etc. Currently, the school has exchange student program with France, Japan, Korea and UK.

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ㆍSchool feature : Fashion design major creates innovative, sustainable and practical fashion, and has a goal to cultivate talents who will lead the global market. Collections by students in their senior year are evaluated by the experts in the industry. Graduates can work with the best label in the fashion industry.

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ㆍFashion design degree includes following fields.

Fashion design / graphic art / illustration / photography / studio art / light design

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The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

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ㆍExpected tuition : $10,396 per semester

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ㆍFashion Institute of Technology of New York City offers various degrees in numerous fashion related programs including design, business, marketing, textile, visual art and more. The school offers FIT Museum where students can exhibit their works. It also has regular lecture series, and gives inspiration to students for current design and future trends.

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ㆍSchool feature : FIT is a part of New York state school program and it has relatively low tuition. With its emphasis on practical training, it boasts over 90% employment rate. In particular, its fashion business program is well known. If they desire, student can study abroad for more than a year At Polymoda, a sister school located in Italy.

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ㆍMajor class curriculum are as follows.

Advertisement marketing / fashion design / illustration / fashion merchandising / textile / apparel production management

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Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London

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ㆍExpected tuition : £15,950

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ㆍCentral Saint Martins is an attached college to University of the Arts London, and it is one of the leading institutes in arts and design fields. The school offers curriculum for 9 different areas including graphic communication design, arts, jewelry and textile. The school provides an open environment where students overcome the boundaries of each artistic field, and always develop new approach and creative idea. The school has digital production studio, moveable print studio, digital media lab, animation lab and more.

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ㆍSchool feature : Undergraduate program of Central Saint Martins encourages students to develop the latest idea and unravel their identity and interest during the course. Fashion design course is for students pursuing experience as innovative designers. The school offers professional level experience so that students can develop and realize creative ideas.

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ㆍUndergraduate program includes following fields.

Fashion communication / fashion design : men’s clothing / fashion design : women’s clothing / fashion design : woven wear / fashion design and marketing / fashion print

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List of colleges with fashion design majors

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