Fashion Designer: Career Information

A fashion designer creates clothing, including dresses, suits, pants and skirts, and accessories such as shoes, for consumers. One can specialize in clothing, accessory or jewelry design. Some designers work in all three areas. Another area of specialization is costume design for those who want to design wardrobes for television, movie and theater productions.

There were 22,700 fashion designers employed in the U.S. in 2008.

Employers require an associate degree (two years) or a bachelor's degree (four years) in fashion design. Coursework includes color, textiles, sewing and tailoring, pattern making, fashion history and computer-aided design (CAD). Students also learn about different types of clothing such as menswear or footwear.

An internship is a valuable addition to the education one receives in the classroom. Aspiring fashion designers should also have sewing and pattern-making skills, an eye for color and detail and sketching ability.

New designers often begin their careers working for those with more experience. They work as pattern makers or sketching assistants. With increased experience one can move into a supervisory position becoming, for example, a chief designer or a design department head.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics isn't very optimistic about growth in this field. They predict employment of fashion designers will grow very little, if at all, through 2018. There will be keen competition for jobs in this field.

Median annual earnings of fashion designer were $64,260 (U.S., 2009).

Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much a Fashion Designer currently earns in your city.

On a typical day a fashion designer's tasks might include:

• directing and coordinating workers who draw and cut patterns and construct samples or finished garments
• examining sample garments on and off models and then modifying their designs to achieve desired effects
• sketching rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and writing specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types and accessory requirements
• conferring with sales and management executives or with clients in order to discuss design ideas
• identifying target markets for designs by looking at factors such as age, gender and socioeconomic status
• attending fashion shows and reviewing trade magazines in order to gather information about fashion trends and consumer preferences
• selecting materials and production techniques to be used for products

A costume designer's tasks will include researching the styles and periods of clothing needed for film or theatrical productions.

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Fashion Designer, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos291.htm (visited March 15, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Fashion Designer, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/27-1022.00 (visited November 19, 2010).

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