Education will get your foot in the door
Becoming a fashion designer is a career that many young people aspire to. Starting out by sketching designs at the back of their notebooks, they believe that there’s no better job than be paid to design beautiful apparel. But the trouble here is that many young people see fashion design from rose colored lenses. They don’t realize everything they need to do just to get their designs noticed. They think that being a fashion designer is about talent. Well, they’re right – but talent alone is not enough.
Going academic
Fashion design school can be very rigorous. If you are planning to enroll in one, then prepare to study such things as manufacturing technologies, time and motion studies, labor motivations, plant efficiencies, and quality production on top of design courses. More than taste and sketching skills, excellent communication skills are also developed in fashion schools (since fashion designers always have to work with clients).
Certificates versus degrees
There are many types of fashion design education, and the two most common are (a) short-course fashion design certifications, and (b) fashion degrees. Which one should you enroll in? That depends on your objective.
Certificate programs in fashion design
A certificate program combines select courses taken from the degree program. Its objective is to equip you with a basic understanding of designs in fashion that can be utilized in a short period of time. As such, certificate programs are best for those looking to switch to a career in fashion design while at the same time working full-time in another field. Certificate programs are also great for those already in the industry but without formal training.
Degree in fashion design
The degree program, on the other hand, includes general education courses that are aimed at providing you with the foundations of fashion design, as well as its technological and business aspects. Courses may include introductions to theories and practices associated with areas of the industry such as principles of design, the history of fashion, and merchandising.
What happens after fashion design school?
After finishing your degree, expect that you will have to work even harder since in the fashion industry, everyone, even those that carry higher degrees, have to start at the bottom. Besides working with fashion brands, take note as well of your other options such as doing freelance work or setting up your own line. Try to get as much experience as you can because these will help you in your quest to become part of the industry’s elite. You can also keep abreast of current trends and styles by joining and contributing to fashion design community web sites like StyleFlair.Com. Since trends and styles are always changing, staying updated helps you to see how designs develop over the years. Aside from helping you understand fashion better, keeping track of designs may also help you in developing designs of your own.
