Fashion Design Program

FASHION DESIGN CLASSES AT The North Coast College: CURRICULUM

Fashion Illustration and Design

You’re looking forward to real employment opportunities in the apparel industry. And the The North Coast College Fashion Design curriculum is designed to get you there. Combine an artistic foundation with technical skills and business savvy to get the skills you need for the real world.

Our hands-on program was developed from the haute couture method of design that founder Virginia Marti learned attending art and design schools in Paris and New York, and throughout her own work experience. The classes challenge and motivate students in all aspects of fashion design. Apply to begin your journey learning the following:

  • Fashion illustration
  • Pattern drafting
  • Draping
  • Haute Couture Sewing
  • Fitting
  • Computer applications

Today’s fashion designer must be able to think historically, reinterpret past ideas, and predict future trends. You will learn to express your ideas onto a sketch pad and translate them into production with the latest technology.

PREVIEW YOUR FASHION PROGRAM

Select a quarter below to glimpse the details of our courses throughout the program.

Program Outline

Year 1 Quarter 1

Credits

B119 Career Development 3
B103 Basic Color Theory 3
B128 Anatomy & Figure Drawing 3
FD121 Fashion Design I – Pattern Making – Skirts 6
Total 15

Year 1 Quarter 2

Credits

G101 English I 3
B129 Anatomy & Figure Drawing II 3
G143 Math 3
FD122 Fashion Design II – Pattern Making – Blouses 6
Total 15

Year 1 Quarter 3

Credits

G102 English II 3
FD102 Textiles 3
FD198 Fashion Illustration I 3
FD123 Fashion Design III – Pattern Making – Dresses 6
Total 15

Year 1 Quarter 4

Credits
FD141 Intro to Fashion 3
FD204 Fashion Illustration II 3
BFD127 History of Costume I 3
FD124 Fashion Design IV – Pattern Making – Sportswear 6
Total 15

Year 2 Quarter 1

Credits
G160 History of Art I 3
G221 Social Science I 3
BFD128 History of Costume II 3
FD130 Fashion Design V – Pattern Making – Tailoring 6
Total 15

Year 2 Quarter 2

Credits
G161 History of Art II 3
G222 Social Science II 3
G260 Economics 3
FD215 Portfolio Prep 3
FD201 Draping I 3
Total 15

Year 2 Quarter 3

Credits
B210 Business Law 3
FD222 Digital Portfolio/Illustrator 3
FD202 Draping II 3
Total 9

Year 2 Quarter 4

Credits
B223 Entrepreneurship 3
FD290 Internship 3
FD219 Collections 3
Total 9

 Total Credit Hours 108

 Fashion Design COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

BFD127  History of Costume I …………………………………………….. 3 credits

Prerequisite: FD141 Introduction to Fashion

Examines the modes in costume from primitive man to 1900. Emphasis is placed on the prevailing design of costumes worn and information regarding origin, dates, colors, hairstyles, shoe styles, and accessories.

BFD128  History of Costume II …………………………………………….. 3 credits

Prerequisite: FD141 Introduction to Fashion

A continuation of History of Costume I, this course traces the historical development of costuming from the 18th through the 20th century. Students will examine the artistic and cultural influences that shaped each period’s fashion. Emphasis will be placed on western costume silhouette recognition and the vocabulary of historical clothing, hairstyles, footwear and accessories.

FD102  Textiles  ………………………………………………………….. 3 credits

An in-depth examination of natural and man-made fibers, yarn characteristics and fabric construction, from the fiber stage to the finished fabric. Merchandisers and Fashion Designers will be able to apply the textile facts to the appropriate selection, use, and care of today’s fabric and textile products.

FD121  Fashion Design I; Skirt Design and Pattern Making  ………… 6 credits

Prerequisite: Instructor evaluation or X017 Developmental Sewing

Helps students develop an understanding of pattern making fundamentals and the importance of construction and fit. Procedures are shown for making the basic skirt block, as well as a variety of

skirt silhouettes.

FD122  Fashion Design II – Blouse Design and Pattern Making ……. 6 credits

Prerequisite: FD121

Expands on skills taught in FD 121 and helps students acquire an understanding of design principles. Students learn to draft basic bodice and sleeve blocks, dart manipulation, along with simple sleeve and collar theories.

FD123  Fashion Design III – Dress Design and Pattern Making  …….. 6 credits

Prerequisite: FD122 and B128

A continuation of FD 121 and FD 122, with further development of more complex sleeves and collars. The course emphasizes dress variations such as bias tiers, halter styles and princess lines.

FD124 Fashion Design IV – Sportswear Design and Pattern Making … 6 credits

Prerequisite: FD123 and B129

Combines the design fundamentals learned in previous quarters with concepts used to construct menswear, slacks, jeans, culottes, jumpsuits, and active-wear.

FD130 Fashion Design V – Tailored Garment Design and Pattern Making                   6 credits

Prerequisite: FD124 and FD198

Involves an advanced level of design where flat pattern techniques

are used to draft a variety of suits, coats, and capes. Traditional hand stitching and pressing procedures for tailored collars, lapels, pockets, and vents are also introduced.

FD141  Introduction to Fashion …………………………………………. 3 credits

An overview of the fashion industry, from the designer’s concept through the promotion of fashion to the ultimate consumer, including awareness of consumer behavior.

FD198 Fashion Illustration I ………………………………………………. 3 credits

Prerequisites: B129

Introduction to the enhancement of figure drawing by subtly altering proportions of the human form and simplifying realistic details. The course emphasizes controlled and descriptive drawing techniques to suggest garment construction , design details and fabric behavior.

FD201  Fashion Design – Draping I …………………………………….. 3 credits

Prerequisite: FD130 and FD204

Fundamentals such as fabric preparation, grain line placements, draping procedures, and trueing the pattern are covered. Techniques for draping, determined by the fabric’s structure, texture, weight, and hand, are applied to previously drafted styles.

FD202  Fashion Design – Draping II ……………………………………. 3 credits

Prerequisite: FD201

Enhancing the skills learned in Draping I, students will learn time- honored techniques from the ateliers of Paris. Fabric will be applied directly to mannequin while draping a complicated interpretive copy.

FD204  Fashion Illustration II …………………………………………… 3 credits

Prerequisite: FD198

An advanced exploration of drawing the fashion form while expanding rendering skills in different mediums to illustrate pattern and texture, with an emphasis on customer analysis and haute-couture design.

FD215  Portfolio Preparation …………………………………………… 3 credits

Prerequisite: FD130 and FD204

Involves the production and development of a portfolio for job interviews, including an expansive and inclusive development of illustration to showcase a graduate’s technical and artistic skills.

FD219  Collections ……………………………………………………….. 3 credits

Prerequisite: All Fashion Design and Pattern Making courses, FD222

Students construct a five- piece grouping of garment designs (a collection). They will flat pattern or drape their designs and fit them to their models. The design process includes developing a customer profile, specification sheets and cost sheets. The collection will be selected from one of the groupings illustrated in FD222 Digital Portfolio Preparation.

FD222 Digital Portfolio/Illustrator ………………………………… 3 credits

Prerequisite: FD215

Using the basic concepts and techniques of drawing and Illustration specific to the fashion industry using Adobe ™Illustrator™ and Photoshop™, students learn to emphasize their skills, talent and experience by compiling their work in a cohesive digital portfolio. Effective use of a digital portfolio and its relevance to the interview process and professional development is explored.

FD290 Internship…………………………………………………. 3 credits

Prerequisite: Completion of all coursework prior to 8th Quarter, unless recommended by the Director of Career Services

An industry-specific cooperative learning experience. Skills learned in the classroom will be transferred to real-world applications with additional educational content through experience. Students must maintain a regular work schedule and attend regular Internship Review sessions with Career Services. Meetings with Department Chairs or other faculty for program-specific portfolio review are also included as part of the internship process.

RECOMMENDED ENRICHMENT COURSES:

FD209 Fashion Illustration III ………………………………………………. 2 credits

Prerequisite: FD204

Teaches refinement of skills learned in FD198 and FD204. The curriculum focuses on advanced illustration skills in drawing, marker rendering, storyboard composition, customer analysis, design element boards and swatch boards It will also introduce new techniques of pastels and watercolors as fashion illustration tools.

FM214  Fashion Show Production  ………………………………………. 3 credits

Prerequisite: second-year standing

Covers all elements of fashion show preparation, including promotion, theme development, budget, choreography, schedules and rehearsals, all leading up to a fashion show as a final project.

FD365 Millinery I: Fall/Felts ……………………………………………….. 2 credits

Techniques in preparation, sewing, blocking and decorating a variety of felts.

FD366  Millinery II: Winter/Fur and Leather …………………………… 2 credits

Techniques in preparation, sewing, blocking, including materials of fur and wool felt, velour, beaver felt, and wool yarn goods.

FD367  Millinery III: Spring/Straw Silk and Soft Fabrics ……………… 2 credits

Techniques in sewing, blocking, and finishing straws; application of flowers and other in-season decorations and hat veiling.

FD368  Millinery IV: Summer/Bridal Headpieces and Turbans ………. 2 credits

Techniques in construction, blocking, covering of buckram and cape net frames. Application of beads, lace, and miscellaneous bridal trims. Techniques of bridal veiling. Draping turbans and other hats out of fine fabrics.

FD369 Millinery V: Advanced Millinery Techniques  ……………………. 2 credits

Prerequisite: FD365 – FD368

Advanced seasonal techniques applicable across the four seasons: draping, blocking, beading, working with feather application, and use of special fabrics.

General Education COURSE DESCRIPTION

B119  Career Development/Exploration ………… 3 credits
Students will learn the foundations of various industries while engaging in experience-based activities both in and out of the classroom. Required for all programs, this first-year course includes interviewing, resume preparation, networking, and strategic career planning.

B103  Basic Color Theory ……….. 3 credits
Prerequisite: Must be taken with X050 Art Fundamentals in first quarter.
The course introduces and analyzes the Four Contrasts of Color Theory—value, intensity, hue, and temperature—as the cornerstone of understanding color schemes, color interaction, color relationships,  and color’s compositional effects for purposes of design organization and design communication. Another emphasis of the course analyzes the influence of color as a marketing and branding tool due to its persuasive ability to manipulate the sensate and psychological behavior of the consumer.

B128  Anatomy & Figure Drawing I ………… 3 credits
Prerequisite: B103 Basic Color Theory and X050 Art Fundamentals or Portfolio Review
The course emphasizes the use of human skeletal anatomy as a fundamental base of knowledge to accurately and aesthetically draw the human form’s complex surface definitions, proportions, and three- dimensionality. Each class begins with an anatomical lecture of a specific skeletal region which is then integrated with drawing from a live model. The procedural methods of the course are based on Renaissance and Beaux Arts figure drawing traditions.

G101  English I ………… 3 credits
Explores nine essay styles, reviews grammar and MLA fundamentals, and improves both verbal and written communication skills.

B129  Anatomy & Figure Drawing II ………… 3 credits
Prerequisite: B128
The course builds upon the anatomical knowledge, drawing skills, and procedural methods of Anatomy and Figure Drawing I. Each class begins with an anatomical lecture of a specific muscular region and reviews the relevant, connective skeletal structure of that muscle group. The theoretical knowledge of the anatomy lecture is then incorporated into the experiential practice of drawing from a live model. The course structure emphasizes the importance of human anatomy as a necessary and efficient means to correctly draw the complex and dynamic nature of the human form.

G143  Math ………… 3 credits
Covers the fundamentals of math, including fractions, decimals, percentages, statistics, simple business and consumer math, simple geometry, and basic algebra. This course will develop the basic skills needed to excel in both business and technical studies.

G102  English II ………… 3 credits
Prerequisite: G101
Revisits key concepts from English 1 and focuses on reading and discussing short stories, poetry and song, film, and a novella.

History of Art II – G161 – 3 credits
Analyzes artistic development in architecture, sculpture, and painting from the Early Renaissance to the Post Modern era.

Photography – B144 – 3 credits
An introductory course in the applications and use of the advanced digital camera. The student will examine and study the technical workings of the DSLR digital camera and apply this knowledge to achieve a self understanding and confident direction in digital photography. Students will be working in teams on projects that will lead to successful picture taking. This team concept key will let the student work with any image in any mode and create a high level of self expertise and expression in learning the art of photography.

History of Art I – G160 – 3 credits
Analyzes artistic development in architecture, sculpture, and painting from the Prehistoric era to the Gothic period.

Social Science I – G221 – 3 credits
An introduction to the theory and practice of interpersonal communication, which focuses on learning and applying the skills needed to improve the quality of interpersonal communication and interpersonal relationships with a variety of people.

Business Law – B210 – 3 credits
An overview of the American legal system and basic laws that apply to contract sales, copyright and trademark, negotiations, product liability, and setting up a business.

Social Science II – G222 – 3 credits
Takes a psychological approach to explore classic and current trends in organizational communication and human relations in the work environment.

Economics – G260 – 3 credit

Examines the basic concepts of the economy and their applications to problems and policies. Concepts include supply and demand, market and prices, income distribution, allocation of resources, contemporary economic issues, and personal finance.

Entrepreneurship – B224 – 3 credits
An intensive business course to assist artists of all disciplines interested in developing arts-based businesses. This course covers topics that impact an entrepreneur’s daily operations including identifying and developing their personal brand, developing strategies for communicating with their target market, identifying a variety of tools for protecting their work legally, raising capital, and accounting.

FASHION DESIGN VIRTUAL TOUR

With extensive archives and experienced staff, The North Coast College’s Fashion Design program prepares students in a resourceful and educational environment. Meet the program chair and learn about the program by taking our virtual program tour.