University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Design, manufacture of apparel items, and merchandising are integral parts of the fashion industry. There are two tracks in the University of Cincinnati Fashion Design Program:
- Design track
- Product development track
Contemporary Fashion Designers are expected to express their ideas through the use of color, fabric and form. Apart from beauty and excellence in design a fashion designer of today is required to produce a marketable product.
Fashion Track
The special Fashion Design track includes six quarters (1-1/2 years) of cooperative work experience over a five-year program, and leads to a professional bachelor of science in design degree. Students spend their first year building a foundation in studies concentrating on rudiments related to optical and tactile sensations that intensify perception, and focusing on formal and fundamental concepts of two-and three-dimensional organization. Inquiry, analysis, comparison, evaluation and language figure prominently in the foundation studies, which focus largely on the improvement of process skills. Fashion design students focus studies on gaining an introduction to the various tools, methods and materials, which include development of technical abilities. Perpetual linear experience through a delicately orchestrated analytical sequence of interlocking components is provided by the chronological order of courses. The program for those involved in fashion design instills creativity in addition to technical skills. The students learn to sketch, design, plan and create a garment at a quality level.
Both the beauty and the functionality of the design are given due importance at the course. Understanding economic, sociological and psychological influences of fashion is provided in a broad liberal arts background in the fashion design track program. A degree in fashion design includes basic art and design courses, fashion design instruction, and classes in making patterns, draping, and custom tailoring. Students are able to investigate other areas of interests through their electives.
The product development aspect of fashion design helps students work with manufacturers and retailers to define and develop the kinds of apparel people really want to buy. With regard to styling, assortment, timing and pricing, fashion design-product development is the planning, development and presentation of fashion-directed product lines for identified target markets. The two tracks are identical for the first two years, and the core courses for both tracks overlap for the final three years.
The track has many core courses merged together to allow for a complete study of the following topics:
- Aesthetics of apparel and image
- Consumer-buying
- Target marketing
- Textiles and clothing in the global economy
- Historical perspective
- Theoretical perspectives
- Application of theory to contemporary problems
- Managerial responsibilities
For obtaining a professional bachelor of science in design degree, a five year program is provided.This program, the Fashion design-product development track includes six quarters (1-1/2 years) of cooperative work experience. The first year is spent studying at foundation level including basics related to optical and tactile ambiance intensifying perception, and focusing on concepts of two- and three-dimensional organization, both formal and fundamental.
Students focus on the components of the process, which are inquiry, analysis, comparison, evaluation, and language. These classes present an introduction to tools, methods and materials, including the development of technical ability.
Ordering the courses chronologically through a carefully planned sequence of joining components provides a continual linear experience.
