The Fashion Design major trains students to create apparel for various markets considering creative, technical, and costing factors. Students develop skills in design, textiles, draping and flat pattern making, garment construction, and computer-aided design. In their senior year, they design and execute an apparel collection under the guidance of a professional designer to be shown at the school's annual Silver Needle Fashion Show.
The Design Major has been constructed to fully explore the critical elements of fashion design. Course offerings support all aspects of the design and construction process as well as the application of fashion industry-specific technology and software. The Design Major curriculum balances the creative aspects of design concept, drawing, color and rendering, collection development, etc. with technical education in sewing, textiles, patternmaking and draping, and the application of fashion industry-relevant technology including Adobe Creative Suite, CS2, Photoshop and Illustrator, Clicdesign, AGE Technologies, Gerber Product Data Management, and Design Library fabrication software.
Particular emphasis on critique of portfolios and design collections allows students to experience corrective criticism within the supportive environment of the Program as well as under the guidance of industry professionals. Internships are also emphasized as a key to developing those skills necessary to prosper in the business world.
The combination of technical and creative design courses are augmented by an array of elective courses, including Accessories Design, Knitwear Design, Surface Decoration and others, as well as short-term studies to Europe and Asia, and full semester abroad studies that expose students to a great number of fashion design electives in London and Italy.
Design Majors are encouraged to pursue a minor in Fashion Merchandising as means of developing a more universal understanding of the fashion industry, and gaining a strong competitive advantage in the industry employment market.
Critical to both majors are courses offered in Product Development. The opportunity for merging both Design and Merchandising majors in the arena of Product Development has been identified as a highly desired outcome for the Program and one that is included in the Product Development minor.
Students wishing to study fashion design @ Marist must submit a design portfolio of original work.
Fashion Design Curriculum & Requirements
Fashion
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