When you think of fashion design, is your first impression the design capital of France? Actually, the United States also boasts many renowned design schools, such as Parsons and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
The Fashion Institute of Technology, where iconic designer Calvin Klein studied, is another nationally recognized design school. With events like New York Fashion Week as a backdrop, the U.S. excels in both the quantity and quality of its design institutions.
The meaning and allure of fashion lie in the fact that a fashion designer directly creates products, but indirectly shapes identity and society. As society advances, so do our methods of artistic design. Fashion design falls under the category of applied art, an art form that blends practicality with artistry.
As a comprehensive art, fashion design shares commonalities with other applied arts, yet possesses its own characteristics in content, form, and means of expression. This art demands both talent and hard work.
Our second 4W1H episode features William Tang from Parsons School of Design—he's the future schoolmate of your beloved Brooklyn Beckham. He is a remarkable presence. A good designer is rare; he has talent, works hard, and, incredibly, he's good-looking?! How is that even fair?…
Guest Introduction
William Tang, a Chinese-American designer, received a full scholarship to Parsons School of Design. He has extensive experience in fashion design and fine arts teaching. He knows the admissions preferences and processes of top design schools, and students he has mentored have received offers from Parsons, Rhode Island School of Design, School of Visual Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology, and other prestigious design schools.
In simpler terms, he's a design-loving handsome young man with a passion for food, a maniac for posting food photos on social media (nine out of ten posts are late-night food teasers). He loves shopping and appreciating all things beautiful.
Aren't you impressed by his talent? Check out his interview on WHY FD below.
Why Fashion Design:
Q: Why did you choose to apply to Parsons School of Design? And what has your student experience been like?
A: When applying, I carefully compared the strengths and weaknesses of various art schools. After discussing with my art mentor at the time, we concluded that in terms of professionalism and ranking, Parsons was one of the schools with the most promising prospects, so I decided to apply.
Once enrolled, my first impression was that the school’s architecture and location were very convenient for a college freshman new to New York. Transportation and daily necessities were all nearby, and the school dorms had a professional management system.
Now let’s talk about academic life. Before each semester, you have time and opportunity to choose the courses you want, with detailed course descriptions available online. The overall learning atmosphere on campus is generally relaxed and fun. As long as you manage your study time well, you can absorb a wealth of useful knowledge. Since it’s an art school, most teachers and students have open and optimistic mindsets. Over a semester, you’ll unknowingly make many friends who are happy to help you.
Q: What was the most interesting course for you, and could you describe what you did in class?
A: Everyone’s preferences are different, and every course can bring unexpected rewards and surprises. For me, courses leaning toward fine arts are more fun. The most interesting course was a lecture seminar about the meaning of games.
What I want to convey is that some courses you might not be enthusiastic about can turn out to be the most unexpected. Parsons has many renowned instructors who are industry leaders, and every course has popular, good professors. As long as you take the time to learn about them, you’ll find the right mentors for you.
Q: To apply for fashion design, you need to submit a portfolio. Any advice on how to put together a good one?
A: When applying for fashion design, you need to showcase your talent as much as possible; the biggest pitfall is limiting yourself. Boldly illustrate the ideas in your mind. In design, what’s needed is novel, sense-stimulating creativity.
Among dozens of works, to demonstrate that you are a designer with ideas, you can include a few fine art or three-dimensional creations in your portfolio, helping it stand out from the many ordinary submissions.
Q: In your view, what is the best fashion like? What do you think of the current fashion industry? And what are your career plans?
A: To me, the best designs fall into two categories: first, classic designs that withstand the test of time, and second, multifunctional designs that improve people’s lives. The current era emphasizes environmental consciousness; every brand is racking its brain to create eco-friendly designs. The keyword in fashion design is change, with new trends emerging every few months.
My goal is to create works of art that bring happiness and confidence to those who wear my designs.
Q: Any advice for students dreaming of entering the fashion design industry?
A: Be brave to explore your limits, strive to discover your strengths, and design fashion confidently with your unique taste. Don’t give up when faced with difficulties—inspiration and surprises may come in the very next moment.
Even if you have no foundation, give it a try. Remember, all great creations start with a blank page. Finally, I wish all students with dreams the best in getting into their dream schools!
What is Fashion Design:
Fashion design, also known as apparel design or fashion styling, is one of the most rapidly changing design industries in the world today. Unlike other design fields, fashion design operates on a seasonal cycle, constantly updating styles and trends.
The term “fashion designer” is translated from the English “Fashion Designer.” In today’s fashion landscape, designers often cross disciplines to design related products, while creators from other product categories may also enter the fashion realm. Thus, this category is broad and can include clothing, footwear, accessories, and theatrical costumes, with the title often specified as fashion and apparel designer. Common degrees: BFA, MFA
Fashion design programs in the U.S. emphasize the cultivation of comprehensive skills. Because fashion design requires both creativity and practicality, the American educational philosophy leans toward a holistic grasp and development of knowledge.
Generally, there are two main objectives for fashion design training in the U.S.:
1. Foundational ability goal: To equip students with basic skills in apparel and a sense of fashion artistry.
2. Professional ability goal: Through the study of specialized knowledge and practical experience, students become capable of working in pattern-making, marketing, planning, and other professional tasks. Annual exhibitions and graduation shows further develop students’ planning, design, and performance skills, expanding their design horizons to adapt to the fast-changing trends of a diverse society.
Since fashion design encompasses a wide range of areas—from fabrics to styles, from production to sales, from design to tailoring, and both everyday wear and stage costumes—the curriculum is typically comprehensive, and the workload can be demanding.
Curriculum
Design
Design Illustration
Apparel Design
History of Dress
Accessories Design
Fashion Illustration
Model Drawing
Shoe Design
Knitting
Electronic Retailing
Historical Theatrical Costume
Patternmaking
Fashion Art and History
Textiles
Merchandising and Manufacturing
Which School to Choose:
Design School Rankings:
#1 New School—Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
帕森斯设计学院，纽约市，纽约州
#2 Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY
纽约时装学院，纽约市，纽约州
#3 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
罗德岛设计学院, 帕维敦斯市, 罗德岛州
#4 Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
萨凡那艺术设计学院，萨凡那，佐治亚州
#5 Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
奥蒂斯艺术设计学院，洛杉矶市，加利福尼亚州
#6 Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
弗吉尼亚联邦大学, 里士满, 弗吉尼亚州
#7 California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
加州艺术学院，旧金山市，加利福尼亚州
#8 Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
旧金山艺术大学，旧金山市，加利福尼亚州
#9 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
普瑞特设计学院，布鲁克林，纽约州
#10 Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
哥伦布艺术设计学院，哥伦布市，俄亥俄州
#11 Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
麻州艺术与设计学院，波士顿市，马萨诸塞州
#12 Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
亚利桑那州立大学，坦佩市，亚利桑那州
#13 The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL
弗特劳德达尔艺术学院，劳德代尔堡，佛罗里达州
#14 California State University-Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
加州大学长滩分校，长滩，加利福尼亚州
#15 The Art Institute of Portland, Portland, OR
波特兰艺术学院，波特兰市，俄勒冈州
Where to Go After Graduation?
Many people think that pursuing art is a hard, impoverished path. Every year, countless students with design dreams flock to New York, yet after four years, many find their situations less than ideal. In reality, art and career are not incompatible. Staying dedicated to your own work does not have to conflict with your future professional development.
This kind of persistence is crucial for a designer. Having a craftsman’s spirit and infusing that spirit into your work—such sincerity and dedication can be truly moving.
The famous designer Marc Jacobs, born on April 9, 1963, in New York City, is an American fashion designer and a Parsons graduate.
His brands Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs, along with his designs, are highly esteemed in the fashion world. As a result, he was invited by top brands like LV and Chanel to serve as creative director. After 16 years at LV, Marc Jacobs left to focus on his eponymous brand, which has now gradually entered the ranks of international luxury labels and gained widespread acclaim from the fashion community.
Legends aside, many might think such geniuses and trailblazers are one-in-a-million lucky ones, not the destiny of every fashion design graduate. So, what are the usual destinations for most fashion design graduates?
In fact, fashion design graduates have a wide range of options. By occupation, most become fashion designers, fashion illustrators, freelance designers, fashion merchants, or quality control specialists in clothing production. In terms of work environment, some join famous designers’ studios as assistants, starting their fashion careers as seamstresses or junior designers. Others head to Hollywood, working as art directors or stylists on film sets.
Your path is yours to choose, but as long as you strive, no matter how your life turns out, you can proudly say: I deserve it.
How to Apply?
Academic Background
This refers to the requirements U.S. schools have for applicants’ undergraduate major and coursework. Generally, fashion design programs do not require applicants to have majored in it during undergrad; rather, they hope applicants possess the fundamental ability to study and delve deep into this field, including artistic skills and relevant experience in fashion design. Applicants from art, natural sciences, and other related fields are also welcomed.
GPA
For an undergraduate applicant, GPA is a relatively important factor, as it reflects a student’s academic ability and performance over a four-year period. A strong GPA can significantly boost an applicant’s chances of admission. Typically, U.S. university fashion programs do not set a minimum GPA requirement. However, based on our past application experience, an applicant’s GPA of 80% or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is a baseline, and to be competitive for top schools, a higher GPA—around 3.5—is needed.
TOEFL
For study abroad, there are generally two standardized tests: GRE and TOEFL. However, for art majors like fashion design, schools typically do not require GRE scores. As for TOEFL, it reflects an international student’s English proficiency and is necessary. This is also a very important indicator. Most U.S. universities have a minimum TOEFL requirement of 80. But schools like Parsons require a TOEFL score of 92.
Application Essays
During the application process, you need to submit a set of documents, typically including a personal statement (PS), a résumé, and three letters of recommendation. In your PS, you should use it to express your creative style, explain why you want to study fashion design, and demonstrate your creativity, intelligence, self-awareness, determination, and imagination. There is no fixed format or length, but it should convey your long-term goals and artistic aspirations to the admissions committee.
In your résumé, list relevant experiences, achievements, and awards so that the school has a general understanding of your background. The three recommendation letters should each, from the recommender’s unique perspective, highlight your outstanding qualities.
Portfolio
For fashion design, the single most important element in the application process is the portfolio. As Parsons: The New School for Design puts it, “A strong portfolio and a solid foundation in the arts are most important.” The portfolio is what schools use to assess your aesthetic sense, artistic touch, and creative ability. It can include design sketches, finished garments, or any work that reflects your aesthetic and creative power. An interesting, inventive, and unique portfolio is often the key to gaining admission to top schools. In many cases, a stellar portfolio can even compensate for weaknesses in other areas such as GPA or TOEFL scores.
Two tips regarding the portfolio:
First, if you have drawing skills, painting more oil works is a plus. The portfolio requirements are the same regardless of your major. Fashion students don’t need to already know how to make clothes, graphic design students don’t need to master Photoshop, and architecture students don’t need to build models. Just produce enough fine art pieces—if they’re good, you’re safe.
Second, for those without drawing foundations, look beyond drawing technique. Admissions officers value your creativity most. They don’t just want to see the final work; process sketching is required or at least a bonus. If your thinking and creativity are unique—whether you channel a Picasso-like style or present a blank page—as long as you can explain a distinct, elevated concept, admissions officers will see you as one-of-a-kind. Creativity is paramount in a portfolio.
