Guide To Choosing A Fashion Design School
Fashion has become a huge part of the world, and it's something that everyone's interested in. Whether you're an individual wanting to learn a new skill, an industry professional looking to break into the industry, or a company trying to find talent for your new business venture, finding the perfect fashion design school can be frustrating due to lack of information.
That's why we've written this blog post — with no fluff or unnecessary filler — on how to choose and apply for your ideal fashion design school. We'll cover what you should be aware of before applying and what exactly the application materials look like so that you can make sure your chances are as good as they possibly could be.
Where to start?
The first thing that you should do is take a long and hard look at yourself and your career. Ask yourself questions like: "am I flexible?" and "what are my goals?" Your school will be a place where you meet people, make connections, get on industry mailing lists, find internship opportunities, and learn the basics of the fashion industry. You want to make sure it's an environment that fits your personality. If you're an introvert who doesn't like networking or attending social functions then New York might not be right for you, but if you thrive in an environment that feeds off of creativity then Chicago might just be your style. Having this self-awareness will allow you to make sure that you're choosing the right school for your career.
What are the differences between schools?
Not every school is going to be right for you. Some schools will cater more towards a business and marketing background while others focus on a technical foundation in fashion. If you work best with numbers and are looking to break into the fashion industry through business and marketing then New York University's Stern School of Business or Parsons' MBA program might be right for you, but if you want to focus more on the technical aspects of fashion then The Fashion Institute of Technology or Massachusetts College of Art may be your best option. Also, while attending a school you'll want to be aware of the location and its type of environment, this can make or break your college experience. Some are smaller, more intimate with a small student body while others are huge campuses with thousands of students.
When is the right time to apply?
We know that you're looking at this as soon as possible because you're reading this blog post, but trust us; this isn't the right time to start looking into schools. That's because fashion design is an art form that requires innovation and creativity and in most cases it's something you learn through experience rather than courses. Simply put, you want to take the time to explore your interests before trying to start thinking where you want to go with them.
What factors should I look for in schools?
You need to look for schools that will help you meet your goals. When we say goals, we mean long-term and short-term goals. Long-term you're thinking about what you want out of life and where fashion design fits into it, but personally we recommend that you start looking at what kind of career path works best for your personality. Short-term (this is a year or two ahead) think about what skills are most important for your career advancement or personal growth and make sure the school is going to teach you those skills.
What should I be looking for in application materials?
The application process usually consists of a portfolio, resume, and letters of recommendation. Most schools will want to see your portfolio, this is essentially a collection of your work that showcases your skills in the form of a book or folder that you can upload to the school's website. Resumes are usually optional but they still offer insight on your personal background and experiences as well as what you know about the fashion industry. Letters of recommendation are something that you really have to weigh depending on how much weight you think they should have. Some employers will say no without one whereas others need one for every other school you apply to.
What should I include in my portfolio?
There are many different kinds of portfolios out there, some are only good for showing off to your friends, while others are more professional and well laid out. Regardless of what you think is best, you need to make sure that your portfolio is professional in nature. This means keeping all materials related to fashion design in one place and not flushing them away among other things. It also means that you need to be able to describe each and every piece individually; they shouldn't be a collection of art pieces but rather an ensemble that's all tied together by your own vision.
What should I be looking for in my resume?
Your resume should contain all of your relevant experience which basically means that it should have a breakdown of what you've done over your entire career. This section can contain a bullet point list of jobs and responsibilities that you've held as well as any awards or accolades that you've won. It also helps to include additional information like where these jobs were located, their specific duties and responsibilities, and how long you worked there. Lastly, don't be afraid to write about "what if" situations because most employers are more interested in the reason why something happened rather than an excuse for why it did. Keep it concise but make sure that each experience is separated by a new line.
Letters of recommendation, what is the best way to handle these?
While this can be a scary part of the application process, it's really not anything to worry about. The best way to approach this is by contacting your previous employers and/or professors on LinkedIn or asking them through a separate email. If you do that, then you're doing yourself a favor because everyone likes getting emails; it's less likely they'll say no if they are notified personally. Another important thing to remember is that letters of recommendation should have someone who knows you well and can vouch for you personally as well as professionally. In most cases, you're looking for someone that knows you in high school or even middle school because they're the ones that noticed your potential and interest towards fashion design.
What other aspects should I look at when applying?
While there's plenty of information that you need to take into before applying, many schools offer an online test once you apply. These are a few things to keep in mind while going through these tests. First, make sure that it's not set up in such a way as to be frustrating or frustrating at all. Second, the test should be timed so make sure you time yourself and read through everything before starting. Third is to make sure they only contain relevant questions that are related to your interests and goals. Finally, make sure it's scored correctly and clearly so you know whether or not you're going to get in. Because it's possible to take these tests multiple times, don't be afraid to apply more than once as it may offer more insight into what school is best for you.
What can I do after graduation?
If you've done well in school then there shouldn't be any reason why you wouldn't get a job; however, that depends on how well you did.
Conclusion
We wish you good luck in your application process, whether you're applying on a national level or not. If you have any questions or concerns while going through this process, don't hesitate to contact us at info@thedesignpeople.com. We're happy to help!
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Photo Credit: Graphic illustration is from the article "What Happens When You Turn Up at the Apparel Designer Job Fair?" published in Fast Company by Michael Wolf on Nov 16, 2011. All other images taken from the Hinge app. © 2016 Hinge / Courtesy of iba/shutterstock.com . All rights reserved .