course descriptions
2d Color / 3d Design
NO PREREQUISITE
Fashion is a language of signs, a non-verbal communication. Students will learn the elements and principles of the universal design language, and how to apply them to apparel. Special emphasis will be given to the element of color, for it is the single most powerful tool a designer can employ. The world of Fashion is in constant change, but the knowledge of design basics and how to apply them will give the student invaluable insight and a versatile foundation for career in design.
This course will teach future designers the skills to form a regular habit of sketching and ideation, and create impactful concepts by using the elements and principles of design. Students will also learn how to critique fashion from a design standpoint. Through exploring unconventional materials and techniques for sculpting a garment and an accessory with non-textile materials, this course allows students to create freely while learning essential problem-solving skills that are essential to everyday design. Color palette curation, conceptual design, and color-mixing are a few of the many skills explored in this course.
Format: Online, live over Zoom.
CAD Apparel 1
Digital pattern drafting in gerber accumark
PREREQUSITES: Patternmaking 1 & 2
This course focuses on an introduction to the Gerber Garment Technology computer workstation. Practical uses of the AccuMark Silhouette and Pattern Design System (PDS) will be employed including the digital input of slopers. Pattern drafting techniques previously covered in pattern making courses will be translated to computer manipulation. The course is structured to encourage analytical thinking and creative problem solving so that a designer can become acclimated to most digital patternmaking systems used in the industry.
CAD Apparel 2
Digital Pattern Drafting in gerber accumark
PREREQUSITES: CAD Apparel l, Patternmaking 1 & 2
This advanced lab course incorporates and builds upon skills and techniques introduced in Computer Aided Design for Fashion Design: Apparel I. Projects involve more complex pattern manipulation, size grading, and marker-making. The course is structured to encourage analytical thinking and creative problem solving so that a designer can become acclimated to most digital patternmaking systems used in the industry.
cad apparel 3
Digital pattern drafting in gerber accumark 3d
PREREQUSITES: CAD Apparel l & ll, Patternmaking l & ll
Using Gerber AccuMark 3D, students will be able to:
Build realistic, 3D renderings on avatars directly from 2D pattern data.
Mark up changes directly on the avatar simulation.
Create true-to-life virtual samples.
Achieve perfect fit for your entire size range with a variety of avatars and poses.
Create mark-up lines and draw on simulations for pattern adjustments.
Experiment with different lengths, colors and fabric options before producing a physical sample.
CAD Art 1
Fashion sketching and design
PREREQUSITES: Fashion Sketching l
This lab course introduces students to Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop as they are used in fashion and textile design. These digital tools allow students to build on fundamental sketching techniques using pixels instead of paint. Topics covered include; croquis (fashion figure) development, garment anatomy (silhouette and style lines), and fabric renderings (texture, pattern, and embellishment). Students complete a set of digital presentation boards (mood boards, fashion drawings, and flats) and produce an original fabric design. This course is structured to encourage analytical thinking and creative problem-solving.
cad art 2
fashion sketching and design
PREREQUSITES: CAD Art l, Fashion Sketching l & ll
This advanced digital art classes builds on the skills taught in CAD Art 1.
clothing Construction 1
professional sewing techniques for skirts and blouses
NO PREREQUISTE
In this foundation studio course, students will complete practical projects in fabricating garments using principles and techniques of garment construction. They will be instructed in cutting, hand sewing and industrial machine stitching, combined with training in lining, pressing, detailing and finishing a skirt and blouse.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Construct a skirt from a basic pattern
Construct a blouse from a basic pattern
Produce samples of different construction techniques
Operate an industrial sewing machine
Operate an over-lock machine
Recommended companion class: Patternmaking 1: Foundations of Flat Patternmaking for Skirts and Bodices
Construction 2
Specialty sewing techniques for Pants and dresses
PREREQUSITE: Clothing Construction l, Patternmaking l & ll
This foundation studio course builds on Construction 1 -- by demonstrating techniques of garment construction, and at this level, incorporating industry techniques, as well as Couture workmanship and detail. It also will provide students with the opportunity to fabricate garments based on patterns developed in corresponding pattern making courses. Projects emphasize the skilled execution of stylized and fitted muslins, selection and preparation of fabric, cutting, matching, hand sewing and industrial machine stitching, lining, pressing, detailing and finishing.
Construction 3
stretch and knit fabric sewing techniques
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction l & ll, Patternmaking l & ll
This advanced studio course provides students with the opportunity to fabricate garments in women’s activewear, beachwear, separates and coordinates, based on patterns developed in corresponding pattern making course. It also introduces students to the methods and techniques involved in working with knits. Projects emphasize the skilled execution of stylized and fitted muslins, selection and preparation of fabric, cutting, matching, hand sewing and industrial machine stitching, lining, pressing, detailing and finishing.
Construction 4
advanced techniques for tailored garments
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction l - lll, Patternmaking l - lll
This advanced studio course provides students with the opportunity to fabricate tailored coat ensembles, based on patterns developed in corresponding pattern making course. It also introduces students to the methods and techniques specific to tailoring. Projects emphasize the use of collars, notched lapels, two-piece sleeves, pockets, under linings and coordinating undergarments such as jackets, vests, bodices, skirts, dresses and trousers.
Couture Detail
intricate hand sewing techniques
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction l
Principles and techniques in fine hand & machine decoration, trim, and self-trim. Learn finishes that give design the fine look of haute couture. Techniques include faggoting, piping, scalloping, beading, embroidery, applique, cut-out, hemstitching, buttons, frogs, fringe, lace, etc. Students design and construct an assigned basic garment using these techniques.
Fashion Sketching 1
figure drawing for womenswear
NO PREREQUISITE
This foundation studio course introduces students to the principles and techniques of presenting designs on paper; croquis (fashion figure) development, garment anatomy (silhouette and style lines), media (pencil, watercolor, and marker), and fabric renderings (texture, pattern, and embellishment). Each exercise provides students with the opportunity to create original plates for their foundation portfolio.
fashion sketching 2
figure drawing for speciality clothing
PREREQUSITES: Fashion Sketching l
These foundation studio course builds on the skills learned in Fashion Sketching 1. Students will draw fashion in a variety of industry categories; size-inclusive, maternity, menswear, childrenswear, bridal, outerwear, and accessories. Students will further their technique of presenting designs on paper; croquis (fashion figure development), garment anatomy (silhouette and style lines), media (pencil, watercolor and marker), and fabric renderings (texture, pattern and embellishment). Each exercise provides students with the opportunity to finished plates for their foundation portfolio.
French Draping 1
garment design using the dressform
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction l & ll, Patternmaking l & ll
This studio course introduces students to the Art and Skill of Draping: creating three dimensional patterns with muslin on the Dress Form, draping in the traditional French style. Students use muslin to sculpt patterns on a dress form. The resulting toile is used as the pattern, which requires the basic patternmaking skills to perfect the original drape into a usable pattern. A full compliment of skirts, dresses, bodices and sleeves are demonstrated in this course and the student will design and produce two of their own designs during this semester.
French draping 2
advanced garment design using the dressform
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction l & ll, Patternmaking l & ll, and French Draping l
This studio course builds upon skills that students learned in French Draping I. Students use muslin and knit fabrics to sculpt patterns on a dress form. Demonstrations of specific Advanced Techniques used in the development of garment production and Couture that can only be produced using three-dimensional draping techniques, including tailored garments.
History of Costume
fashion tour from antiquity to present day
NO PREREQUISITE
This foundation lecture course is a survey of the history of costume from antiquity through the present day, focusing on sources of inspiration for contemporary fashion design as well as theatrical costuming. Special attention is also paid to the fabrics, colors, styles, cultural impact, and psychology associated with garments and accessories throughout each period.
intro to costume design
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction l & ll, Patternmaking l & ll, and Fashion Sketching l
Students will learn the basics of theatrical costume design by studying the following areas: play analysis, character analysis, rendering a costume design, building costumes, and working in the theatre. The class will work together as a group (just as it is done in a costume shop) to create three finished costumes from a chosen play.
Millinery Design
NO PREREQUISITE
This specialty studio course explores sources of inspiration, design process, construction and detailed finishing of patterned, blocked or framed headwear.
Patternmaking 1
foundations of flat patternmaking for skirts and bodices
NO PREREQUISITE
This foundation studio course introduces students to the principles, techniques and practice of drafting flat patterns for women's garments. Students will learn how to create block drafts, slopers, and patterns. They will be instructed in measuring, cutting, perfecting, balancing, grading, and stylizing patterns. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have the foundation needed for basic pattern making and manipulation.
Patternmaking 2
flat pattern development for pants and dresses
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction 1, Patternmaking l
This foundation studio course takes students from where they left off in Level 1 Patternmaking and continues to build on their foundation with the Sloper development of the Sleeve, creation of the Torso/Dress foundation and finally the Pant. The assignments demonstrated will also include the grading of these slopers, as well as the stylizing of numerous sleeve designs, blouses, dresses and pants. The skill of being able to produce a 3-D garment from a 2D sketch is also taught and comprehended, as well as producing a technical pack. The student will design and produce two projects as well, a Pant Ensemble and a Dress project, rendering both in Pattern and Muslin.
Patternmaking 3
pattern development for stretch and knit fabric
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction 1, Patternmaking l & ll
This advanced studio course introduces students to the advanced principles, techniques and practice in making patterns for women's active, beachwear, women's separates and coordinates via both the flat (drafted) paper method and the form (draped) muslin method. Students develop a set of basic slopers and stylized patterns.
patternmaking 4
pattern drafting for tailored garments
PREREQUSITES: Clothing Construction 1 & 2, Patternmaking l - lll
This advanced studio course incorporates and builds upon skills and techniques associated with developing flat paper patterns to create tailored (classic and stylized) dress/coat ensembles.
Professional Development in Fashion Design
skills and strageties for careers
NO PREREQUISITE
This lecture course introduces students to the many areas of the fashion industry that a designer needs to become familiar with in order to build a fashion practice that delivers the most comprehensive interpretation of their vision. Students explore the skills, strategies, and mindsets required to manage the making and positioning of their products; cultivate creativity; research and develop cohesive concepts; build support systems; set up and operate a business; negotiate the industry, implement strategic brand and communication plans; creating user experiences, and initiate a culture of innovation.
Shoe Design
techniques in footwear construction and design
PREREQUISITE: ???
This specialty studio course introduces students to the development of various types of footwear. Students will learn about foot and shoe anatomy, the materials and processes involved in shoe design, creating patterns, sketching footwear, and footwear branding. Students will create portfolio-ready presentations that showcase hand rendered shoe designs, mood images and technical/specification sketches of their shoe designs. Students will develop advanced skills in hand sketching and rendering of footwear, students must be comfortable sketching prior to entering this class.
fundamentals of textiles
NO PREREQUISITE
This foundation studio course trains students in the identification, analysis and testing of fibers and fabrics (natural, synthetic and blends), with a focus on their uses, suitability and care in apparel. Students also learn about weaves, knits, dyeing, printing, and finishes. Projects include the design of original textiles.