Fashion Design Diploma

Intake: January, July and October each year
Program Length: 18 months

Program Description

Fashion design is a rewarding, fast-paced and highly creative career where good designers find they are in high demand. The industry seeks creative people who combine a love of fashion and style with practical training and hands-on experience. Highly skilled and adaptive fashion design graduates are well positioned for many exciting career opportunities.

The Fashion Design Diploma at the Academy of Design is a hands-on, intensive program that blends creative and technical skills training to prepare graduates for work in the field. Specific courses explore just about every area of fashion, including pattern drafting, colour theory, elements of design, textiles, draping, knitwear and business fundamentals. Students learn on industry-standard computer applications and machines and work on a wide variety of creative design projects.

The program’s curriculum is up-to-date and relevant, keeping pace with the constantly evolving nature of the industry. Class sizes are kept small so that students can benefit from individual attention and learn in an intimate and collaborative environment. Students also benefit from the support and mentorship of faculty who are successful working professionals in the industry and bring experience and invaluable insight to the program.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the Fashion Design diploma program, graduates will be able to:

• Speak knowledgeably about fashion history and contemporary fashion
• Display a full understanding of colour theory, textiles, fashion terminology and trends
• Illustrate the fashion figure in proportion, demonstrate accurate technical garment illustration and create a unique and individual style
• Operate an industrial sewing machine and serger
• Create cut and sew knitwear
• Prepare a drape that translates correctly into a final garment
• Understand the fundamentals of pattern drafting and grading (tailored skirt and pant, blouses and shirts, dresses, suits and jackets) and create finished stylized patterns that meet industry standards
• Create digital fashion designs using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and draft patterns using the Gerber computer assisted design system
• Design a complete original collection for one season, present a collection and anticipate trends and incorporate them in their work
• Understand the importance of global sourcing and offshore production in today’s marketplace
• Review a line from a merchandising perspective with industry critiques
• Understand the business aspects of the industry, including administration and marketing a line to buyers and retail
• Understand the diversity of occupations and businesses within the fashion industry and execute a personal career strategy
• Display a job-ready portfolio of work, including a capstone project – a collection that has been assessed by an industry panel