Fashion Design and Merchandising

Curriculum Guide

View and download a copy of the Fashion Design and Merchandising

Apparel Design: Curriculum Guide; Sample 4-Year Plan of Work (PDF)
Fashion Merchandising: Curriculum Guide; Sample 4-Year Plan of Work (PDF)

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Spotlight

Fashion Design and Merchandising Organization (FDMO)

FDMO is a student group with several annual activities. Find out about the group's latest events.

Dorothea June Grossbart Historic Costume Collection

This digital collection is the result of collaboration between the University Libraries and the Fashion Design and Merchandising area of the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts. Visit the Dorothea June Grossbart Historic Costume Collection.

Faculty

Rayneld Johnson: (Ph.D., Wayne State University) Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design and Merchandising; Research Interests: Art to wear; fiber arts; learning theory and the creative process; historic costume, history of apparel industries.
Susan Widawski: (M.A., Wayne State University) Lecturer in Fashion Design and Merchandising; Research Interests: Couture construction techniques. Social, psychological and cultural aspect of dress. Artwear.

Program description

What is this program?

This program provides a professional concentration in the fields of apparel design and fashion merchandising. The apparel design curriculum enables students interested in creative aspects of clothing to develop competencies for a career in apparel design, including computer-aided design field. The Fashion Merchandising option develops understanding and practical skills related to the buying and selling of fashion merchandise. Possible career options include positions in management, merchandising, fashion promotion and sales, visual presentation and other areas related to the field.

What will I study?

To provide an interdisciplinary training that combines skills in the fine arts with technical training in apparel design and fashion merchandising fields.
To train in the aesthetic, behavioral, historic, and marketing aspects of apparel design and fashion merchandising.
To develop the skills of personal presentation and professional conduct appropriate to the field.
To train in the aesthetic and business-world contexts of fashion.

What makes this program unique?

Facilities / Equipment: Fashion Design Lab; Textile Performance Testing Lab; Hands-on Access to an Extensive Digital and Physical Costume Collection
Sewing Machines; Classroom
Techniques: Study of Fibers; Study of Fabrics; Merchandising; Textile Testing; Class/individual critiques

What does the program prepare me for?

Types of Positions: Apparel Designer; Accessory Designer; Costume Designer; Fashion Designer; Fabric Designer; Display Coordinator; Fashion Stylist; Personal Shopper; Window Designer; Retail Manager; Textile Performance - Car Industry; Consumer Behavior; Buyer; Contemporary Business Technology