School Of Art at Washington University in St. Louis - Fashion Design Washington University offers a broad spectrum of experiences to prepare you for the real world of fashion design. The highly structured fashion design program is taught in three-hour studio segments, three days a week. The curriculum focuses on specific problems in apparel design, whose solutions demand in-depth investigation of textiles, and skill in pattern making and draping techniques, fashion illustration, and presentation. Each aspect of the problem is covered by one or more of the faculty in individual conferences or in class. This process is repeated in other projects throughout your four semesters, so that your learning experience is multiplied and cumulative.
Projects progress from the simple to the complex.
In your third year, you might begin by designing a simple wrap skirt. By the end of your fourth semester, you will be designing and presenting coordinated collections. You'll learn about industry standards and procedures, and historical and current fashion trends.