Fashion designers
 design clothing and accessories. Some high-fashion designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. Other high-fashion designers cater to specialty stores or high-fashion department stores. These designers create original garments, as well as clothing that follows established fashion trends. Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs of men’s, women’s, and children’s fashions for the mass market.
Significant Facts
- Nearly one-third of designers were self-employed—almost five times the proportion for all professional and related occupations.
- Creativity is crucial in all design occupations; most designers need a bachelor’s degree, and candidates with a master’s degree hold an advantage.
- Keen competition is expected for most jobs, despite average projected employment growth, because many talented individuals are attracted to careers as designers.
Nature of the Work
 The first step in developing a new design or altering an existing one is to determine the needs of the client, the ultimate function for which the design is intended, and its appeal to customers or users. When creating a design, designers often begin by researching the desired design characteristics, such as size, shape, weight, color, materials used, cost, ease of use, fit, and safety.
Designers then prepare sketches or diagrams—by hand or with the aid of a computer—to illustrate the vision for the design. After consulting with the client, a creative director, or a product development team, designers create detailed designs, using drawings, a structural model, computer simulations, or a full-scale prototype. Many designers use computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create and better visualize the final product. Computer models allow ease and flexibility in exploring a greater number of design alternatives, thus reducing design costs and cutting the time it takes to deliver a product to market. Industrial designers use computer-aided industrial design (CAID) tools to create designs and machine-readable instructions that communicate with automated production tools.
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Job Outlook
 Success doesn't come easy- it will take a lot of hard work and a college degree. You have the greatest chance of succeeding in fashion design if you have a good eye for style. According to the BLS, fashion design employers seek people with two our four-year degrees who keep up-to-date with the latest fashion trends.
Earnings Potential
Median annual earnings for fashion designers were $51,290 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,550 and $75,970. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,280.
What Career Opportunities does Fashion Design Offer?
Wondering what kind of careers there are in Fashion Design? You have to check out our complete list of careers that you can enjoy with a degree in Fashion Design. Go now
What schools offer Fashion Design programs?
Different schools have different approaches to the Fashion Design education. If you are interested in Fashion Design, please contact the universities listed in our database for information.
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