Qualifications

• Clothing designers must be born with a strong aesthetic sense that can balance color, proportion, balance and pattern into a pleasing design. The ability to communicate is essential for obtaining information from customers and for dispensing instructions on how to produce creations. Familiarity with computers and design software is helpful, though sketching skill is still important in fashion design. Knowledge of sewing and making patterns is also useful. Even if designers do not perform these tasks, they must be able to understand them to impart instructions on how to make the clothes.
  
  

Schooling

• Most employers typically require a bachelor’s degree in fashion design, though many designers also take business, marketing and fashion merchandising courses, especially if they want to run their own fashion houses. Two-year degrees concentrating on essential skills are also available. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design has accredited about 300 postsecondary institutions for art and design as of 2010. Many programs do not accept students unless they have basic art and design courses under their belts. Applicants must also often have to submit a portfolio of projects and sketches that show ability.
  
  

Courses

• The Academy of Couture Art in Los Angeles reveals some of the courses that go into an undergraduate degree for fashion design. Required general study courses include biology, economics, literature, sociology, English and psychology. Design-specific courses include industrial digital fashion studio, fashion accessories, grand fashion show portfolio, manufacturing, trends and provisions, corset design, international textiles and apparel, and textile engineering. To pass the course of study, students need a minimum grade-point average of 2.0, which is equivalent to a C.
  
  

Opportunities

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for fashion designers to increase by only 1 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is far slower than average. Those who can design stylish clothing that is affordable will be able to meet the needs of middle-income consumers. Competition is expected to be keen since many more talented individuals are attracted to the industry than there are available jobs. The best opportunities will be in firms that specialize in mass-market clothing, such as apparel wholesalers. The fewest opportunities will be in high-end department stores and specialty boutiques, as demand for high-end fashion declines.