Interested in taking a single class? Some courses (designated by a below) may be open on a space-available basis to professionals who are not seeking the certificate. See Single-Course Enrollment for details.

Autumn Course

Finding Your Personal Voice: Concept and Design

Schedule: Mondays, Oct. 5-Dec. 7, 2009, 7-10 pm; $766; 3 CEUs. Instructor: Diane Katz.

This opening course focuses on clothing design, with an emphasis on understanding contemporary fashion and the factors that enable a designer to stand out and yet be in touch. It examines how a designer creates both a personal voice and a viable line by knowledge of the market, while striving to create quality products with unique, exciting designs. In this course students will learn about the following topics:

• Contemporary fashion influences including fashion, fabric, and color trends in the American, European, and international markets.
• Fashion history and how social trends, economics, technology and political forces influence what is worn.
• The designers: Past and present, American and international. Who are they and how have they contributed to the world of fashion?
• The market: Today's fashion trends, as well as what's new, and what's coming!
• Analyzing the market, identifying your market niche, and creating a product and a plan.
• The design process: How designers work and communicate their ideas, make those ideas a reality, including the sketch, the illustration, and the details.
• Making a statement: What makes a design good, creates interest and is identifiably innovative? Cultivating creativity and newness in creating a line or collection.
• Includes presentations by local designers.

Students will create their own design concepts while organizing them into a cohesive collection.

Winter Course

Making the Design a Reality: Creating Your Line

Schedule: Mondays,Jan. 4-March 22, 2010, 7-10 p.m. (no class Monday Jan. 18 and Feb. 15), one additional meeting for a field trip will be scheduled; $766, 3 CEUs. Instructor: Sue Dickerson Smith.

This course focuses on the process of taking design from concept to reality, with an emphasis on production, pricing and distribution. It will provide the basics of supply chain management and provide a framework for understanding how it can be adapted to best support an individual design concept. Students will learn about:

• Textile, color, pattern choices, sourcing, surface design options
• The construction process, including prototypes, samples, systems for ensuring quality and fit
• Developing and implementing timelines for product development and production
• Costs and pricing decisions, financial planning and available resources
• Choices about the scale and participants in the production process: Handmade or industrial, local or global?
• Distribution: Packing, shipping, and invoicing
• The role of personal values and lifestyle in making these choices
• Includes guest presentations by local designers and other influential industry professionals

Students will create a supply chain plan to support successfully bringing their own design concepts to market.

How to sign up for single-course enrollment in this course

Spring Course

Reaching Your Audience: Marketing the Line

Schedule: Mondays, March 29-June 7, 2010, 7-10 p.m.; $766; 3 CEUs. Instructor: Juliet Sander

This course focuses on the process necessary to market your work. Your individual goals for selling your work will be considered as they relate to customer demographics, brand positioning, and industry markets. This course will help you to:

• Develop a brand identity system
• Develop and direct promotional materials and photography
• Create a marketing plan and budget
• Research industry marketing opportunities
• Manage accounts and work with buyers
• Includes guest presentations by local buyers and industry professionals

Students will create a marketing plan for their design collection.

How to sign up for single-course enrollment in this course