Natalie
Should I consider going to graduate school for fashion design?
#apparel-and-fashion #fashion-design #fashion-design #fashion-designer
5 answers
Jaye Brown
Jaye’s Answer
Hi Natalie:
It's great that you are considering a graduate degree, but if you are planning to work as a fashion designer then the best education is experience. I suggest, once your undergraduate studies are complete, to find work as a fashion designer, learn from more experienced and/or senior designers as well as be open to acquiring knowledge from colleagues such as merchandisers, product manager, and technical designers. So if you decide you want to further your studies (later in your career), then you have a better idea of your study focus as well as graduate schools that are best suited to your area of focus. I hope this is helpful:)!
Jaye recommends the following next steps:
Emilia J. Boulton
Emilia J.’s Answer
Hi Natalie,
Speaking from experience, I agree with Jaye that experience is the best education. I worked in the industry for seven years before I pursued a graduate course in fashion and I felt grounded while trying to complete my degree. I know school can be a lonely "bubble" sometimes as you are so wrapped up and under pressure in handing in projects on time. Knowing the fact that there are so much to experience and a lot of challenges to take head on outside the classroom, helped me keep an open mind throughout school.
I'm sure you know, the fashion industry is constantly developing and you will get a much better idea in terms of how you can adapt as a fashion designer to the changing market, while still following your design ethos. You need to also learn how you can work in a team - you will mainly be working with the following:
Product developers / coordinators - they make sure your ideas come into fruition while trying to stick to the budget. Designers need to have room for compromise as not every design ideas can be fulfilled. Product developers work very hard to ensure that production issues are minimized, so designers should work with them to find a middle ground that works for everyone.
Clothing manufacturers - they make your ideas come to life! Every factory is different with their own specialities as well as weaknesses. So designers should build a good relationship with manufacturers in order to know what sort of clothes, designs and fabrics can really work in a particular factory. Designers should also know a factory's annual time schedule - when they are most and least busy. Most times, factories will prioritize their biggest clientele in their production run. So, if you are a fairly new designer placing a small order, it will be very unlikely that they will put you at the front of a very long queue of clothes!
Merchandisers / buyers - you will be selling your ideas to them as well as guiding them through your designs. Again, negotiation and finding that good middle ground is key as you need to understand the fact that they have their sales targets to meet and a specific customer base.
Emilia J. recommends the following next steps:
Jennifer Montalbano
Jennifer’s Answer
Irena Daniel
Irena’s Answer
This is a topic that I believe doesn't have one answer, both sides of this question are correct. It is worth it in some cases and it is not in others. But a lot of professionals shows the importance to develop unique design approach to actually make a living out of it.
I think the write answer is to what extend you want to be a fashion designer. Do you want to do it because it looks fun to you or are you being passionate about it ? Those are factors that you have to consider. If it is your true passion and you really want to be a designer than having a major in it it is recommended.
If you just want to learn the insights of the business and the technical skills - yes you can learn this with just internships. University teaches you to be a designer, to think like one, to take the responsibilities to be one and of course to understand the industry and its problems as a designer not as an "employee" of a company. I think education in this field is needed if you plan to become and work to be a great designer such as Maison Margiela or Raf Simons or Alexander Mcqueen.
Of course there is exceptions.
All depends on how much you want to be a fashion designer and what job in the fashion industry you want. If you want to be technician or pattern maker or if you want to become a master in suits, you don't really need to study fashion design those are technical professions in the fashion industry. But understanding and training your brand to translate non-fashion related concepts into garments it is a practice that you get from your major.
Another thing to consider if you decide doing this major, after you graduate unless your school provides one, finding internships and being hired by big companies is pretty hard, you have to be aware of this as well. It is hard to find paid internships, and where you live matters as well. If you are not around a big fashion capital your chances are going down. It may require moving and sacrificing but if it is something that you truly want it is worth it.
