Develop the business knowledge, professional skills, industry awareness, and career judgment emerging designers need to navigate the fashion industry.
Self-paced
Project-based
Portfolio-focused
One-on-one mentoring
Certificate upon completion
The program is project-based and built around professional practice. It is self-paced to accommodate working students. Lessons and learning materials are available 24/7 and you can schedule mentoring appointments during weekly online office hours. You have up to one year to complete the program and will receive a certificate upon completion.
Across six connected workshops, you’ll develop a market-driven fashion concept while creating work that demonstrates how you research, think, communicate, design, use technology, solve problems, and make decisions.
The workshops simulate the process of developing a fashion brand so you can better understand how the industry operates and how its different functions connect. The objective is not to start your own business.
Across six connected workshops, you’ll develop a market-driven fashion concept while creating work that demonstrates how you research, think, communicate, design, use technology, solve problems, and make decisions.
The workshops simulate the process of developing a fashion brand so you can better understand how the industry operates and how its different functions connect. The objective is not to start your own business.
Workshop 1
The Fashion Designer as Career Strategist
Start building a career strategy that develops throughout the program. You’ll clarify your objectives, reposition your résumé and portfolio, expand the range of roles you consider, strengthen your interview skills, and establish a more proactive approach to potential employers.
Workshop 2
The Fashion Designer as Business Thinker
Understand the designer’s role inside the business of fashion. You’ll explore how financial objectives, business structures, operations, communications, globalization, and sustainable business initiatives influence design decisions, then begin developing a market-driven fashion concept and business plan.
Workshop 3
The Fashion Designer as Market Researcher
Apply market research, consumer behaviour, competitive analysis, and trend forecasting to fashion design. You’ll define a target market, investigate market opportunities, and use your findings to inform the design and construction of a first product offering.
Workshop 4
The Fashion Designer as Brand Developer
Explore how brand strategy informs product and design decisions. You’ll examine why fashion brands succeed or fail and develop the positioning, identity, messaging, and visual direction for your final project concept.
Workshop 5
The Fashion Designer as Production Coordinator
Follow the journey of a garment from concept to customer. You’ll explore sustainable supply chains, international trade, product lifecycle management, costing, technical documentation, production planning, and relationships with suppliers and collaborators.
Workshop 6
The Fashion Designer as Creative Director
Move beyond garment design to understand how fashion products are presented and sold. You’ll develop skills in creative direction, commercial fashion writing, styling, photography, graphic design, and fashion event presentation.
Capstone Project
Part 1: Complete your fashion business plan, prepare an investor-style pitch deck, and present and defend your business case to me as if I were a potential investor.
Part 2: Complete your résumé, industry-standard portfolio, and focused job-search plan, and conduct a mock job interview.
Part 2: Complete your résumé, industry-standard portfolio, and focused job-search plan, and conduct a mock job interview.
Program Requirements
- ChatGPT Plus (paid) or Claude Pro (paid)
- Microsoft 365 (paid) or free MS Office app (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Canva (paid) or Affinity (free Canva app)
- Adobe Illustrator (paid) or Inkscape (free alternative)
- Photoshop (paid) or GIMP (free alternative)
- Figma (paid or free Starter plan)
- CLO 3D (14-day free trial period) or Style3D Studio (30-day free trial)
- Access to garment construction tools
Tuition
$2,500 (USD)