Inside Fashion Design

What Is Fashion in the 21st Century?

Learn about fashion’s connection to top issues of our time — sustainability, cross-cultural collaboration, diversity, identity, heritage preservation, and craftsmanship.

Use research to spark ideas. 

Discover research methods that will help you develop a design direction by identifying your audience, market, and opportunity.

Learn techniques for communicating your ideas. 

Practice drawing methods and collage creation. Work with mood boards and videos. Learn how to use different materials and textiles to illustrate your concepts.

Discover how to choose the best fabrics for your designs. 

Do you use natural or synthetic fabrics or a combination of the two? How can you make environmentally friendly choices? Is there a particular fabric that fits your concept better than others? Find out how to decide.

Bring your design to life through construction.

Learn the craft — pattern cutting, draping, sewing, assembly — that goes into the physical creation of a garment. Gain familiarity with the Paris atelier (design studio) approach to fashion.

Design your own signature collection.

Develop a design concept for a ten-piece collection (garments and/or accessories) through drawing and illustration. Consider proportion, colors, editing, and silhouette, using a systematic design process.

Prepare for a future in a fashion-related field. 

Topics covered in this course offer a foundation for a career path in a field such as art direction; print, technical, graphic, or textile design; development and research; fashion design; product development; styling; pattern making; fabric coordination; or consulting.

Test your knowledge.

Develop your collection through research and choice of design details such as colors and materials, and use your creativity to present your collection through storytelling or video.

See a Paris designer create a garment, from idea to finished product.

Throughout this course, you’ll witness Paris designer Eros Antoniadis bringing a garment to life step by step, from research and inspiration to sketches, fabric choices to final reveal. You’ll learn about his thought process and design decisions, a truly behind-the-scenes experience.

• Gain an understanding of the thinking behind today’s hottest trends.
• Discover your style and design a collection with drawings and illustrations. 
• Learn about the process designers use to bring ideas to life.
• Find out what inspires your design thinking through research.
• Experiment with techniques for constructing garments. 
• Get input on your ideas from university mentors.
• Learn asynchronously. Lectures are delivered as videos, so you can tune in whenever your schedule allows — giving you ultimate flexibility.
• Receive a certificate of completion from Parsons Paris.

The course culminates with a special “Designer’s Challenge” project incorporating a written manifesto that captures your personal approach to style; a short video explaining your process, thinking, and research; and illustrations of your signature collection. You’ll receive feedback on your work from your mentors.  

Through online group sessions, you’ll receive guidance from a Parsons mentor to deepen your learning experience: encouragement and direction on all assignments, inspiration and motivation to help you succeed, and ideation help on your final “Designer’s Challenge” project. 

The program will be offered in two- and four-week sessions. All program options contain the same educational content. 

Program cost: $1,195 

Apply now.