The ICI Fashion Design course has been designed in consultation with the fashion industry and teaches you the skills that you need to succeed quickly and conveniently. Course units include:
Course Outline: What You Will Cover
1 Introduction
- What a Fashion Designer Does
- Benefits of a Fashion Design Career
2 Fashion and Design Process
- What is Fashion?
- Why We Buy
- The Cycle of Fashion History
- Fashion Categories
- Designers You Should Know
- How to Design a Garment:
- Define Your Idea
- Choose the Materials
- Sketch Your Design
- Determine the Size
- Pattern Making
- Make Your Samples
- Manufacture Your Garment
3 Fashion Design Skills
- Communication Skills
- Textile and Sewing Knowledge
- Sketching by Hand
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) Skills
- An Eye for Fashion
- Creativity
4 Fashion Design Careers
- Finding Your Ideal Job
- Types of Employers, Positions and Salary Packages
- Finding Jobs: Advertised Positions & Unadvertised Positions
- Your Portfolio, Resume & Cover Letter
- Interviews: How to Prepare, How to Dress, Make a Great Impression, Questions to Expect, Following Up & Discussing Salary
5 Starting Your Own Business
- Creating a Business Plan
- Your Marketing Plan
- Your Financial Plan and Projections
- Choosing a Name
- Insurance & Taxes
- Setting Up Your Workspace / Renting a Showroom
- Equipment and Supplies
- Your Fabric Supply
- Manufacturing Needs
- Design Needs
- Fulfilling Orders
- Hiring Assistants or Contractors
- Outsourcing to a Manufacturer
- Setting Your Prices
- Getting Paid
6 Marketing Your Designs
- Define Your Market
- Type of Garments
- Who Will Wear Your Designs
- Your Price Range
- Your Unique Selling Point
- Promotional Tools
- Advertising, Websites, Catalogues and Publicity
- Finding Wholesale Buyers
- Specialty Stores and Boutiques
- Department Stores and Large Retailers
- Trade Shows / Runway Shows
- Getting Into a Fashion Magazine
How Will You Benefit?
- Fast track your career in fashion design
- Learn the inside secrets of how to become a fashion design pro in months not years!
- Study an fashion design course that was designed in conjunction with the fashion design industry
- Free up valuable time, don't waste time and money travelling to classes
- Study at your own pace whenever and wherever you are
- Have access to a tutor who works in the industry you are training for
- Easy interest free payment plans from as low as £25 per week
- Exciting, diverse projects
Start reaping the benefits by enrolling today!
Career Prospects
The fashion industry offers exciting and glamorous career paths that many people only dream about.
The ICI Fashion Design Program is designed by industry professionals to assist you gain a job as a fashion designer or start your own fashion design business.
There are many fashion design career paths for you to choose from. Some designers will work for leading label fashion houses while others will be employed by mass-market manufacturers of men's, women's and children's apparel. Others start their own fashion design business, establishing a distinctive style and overseeing fashion creation.
Course Levels Explained
This course leads to the awarding of either a Diploma or Advanced Diploma depending on which level you enrol at. The different levels are achieved by the amount of course content and assessments involved within each module at the intermediate (Diploma) and advanced (Advanced Diploma) levels. You will be able to learn about what the difference is between the two levels below:
Diploma
qualifications recognises the graduates capacity for initiative and judgment across a broad range of technical and management functions. Diploma holders typically have personal responsibility and autonomy (semi-independence) in performing technical operations or organising others in the workplace.
Advanced Diploma
The graduate is able to apply a significant range of principles and techniques across various contexts and functions. Graduates can expect to be involved in significant judgments, planning, and leadership/guidance functions related to workplace products, services, operations or procedures.
Prerequisites
There are NO previous work or education requirements for entry into any course level. Students may enrol directly into the diploma or advanced diploma levels without completing lower ranked qualifications. Graduates can expect higher course levels to result in higher potential salary, positions and skill capabilities.
Course Length
The average time within which students complete studies is:
Diploma Level-24 weeks--Advanced Diploma Level-31 weeks
ICI courses allow you to study at your own pace with no assignment deadlines. This means that you determine the pace of the course and within which time period you will ultimately complete your studies in.
- Completing your course with ICI is flexible as you can fast-track and graduate in a matter of months. You complete activities and submit assignments whenever you are ready.
- The maximum time given to complete a program is three years.
Study Mode: Online Learning
This entire course is carried out via Distance Learning (also known as correspondence learning). Distance learning is ideal if you need to adapt around work, family, or other commitments. It is also extremely beneficial should you simply wish to fast track your studies (and career) and not be locked into a timetable.
Our course content and learning experience ensure that your course is relevant and interesting. Learning, tutorial assistance and assessments take place whenever and wherever you are in the country or world. It takes place at your own pace on your own terms to fit your lifestyle. As an ICI student, you'll never endure a pop quiz, spend countless hours and hundreds of dollars travelling, and never be late with an assignment or for class.
Enrolments statistics reveal that students from the following categories are currently taking advantage of the distance learning experience at ICI:
- Government, business & industry employers 32%
- High school leavers 20%
- Individuals looking to start a business or change career paths 18%
- Individuals already in the industry looking to formalise and/or update knowledge and seek a promotion 11%
- Military personal 11%
- Stay at home mothers 8%
Recognition & Accreditation
This course is recognised and accredited by the International Association of Private Career Colleges (IAPCC). The courses offered by ICI are unique as they take a very 'hands on' approach. Our courses are not designed to teach you just the 'theory' behind the industry - they are written and tutored by industry professionals and will fast-track you into a new career of your choice.
Various government departments and business's have enrolled their own staff with ICI for further training and development and is a strong indicator of acceptance and recognition by employers and industry.
The following is a partial list of companies and government departments which have enrolled or sponsored staff into ICI courses:
- Ministry of Defence
- Sports Centre, University of Kent
- Department of Tourism, Regional Development & Industry
- The Placement People
- Skill Hire
- Metcash Trading Ltd
- Navman Technologies
- The European Fund
- Employment Directions Network
- The Salvation Army
- Calvin Klein
- John Paul College
- Legal Aid Commission
- Melton Council
- Mitsubishi Corporation
- Commonwealth Bank
- HSBC
- American Express
- Clayton UTZ
- Hennikers Solicitors
- Villari Lawyers
- Prisoners Education Trust (HM Prison Service)
- Uniting Care Institute of Family Practice
- Workplace Authority
- Centacare Employment Group
- Employment Directions
- MAX Employment
- Gunnebo (Security)
- Brookfield Multiplex
- Coles Myer Ltd
Already in the Profession or Industry?
This course and qualification is a great way of consolidating existing knowledge via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), updating your industry skills and contributing towards your professional development. It is also one of the most practical steps you can take towards working towards gaining a promotion or better paid position.
Course fees can be claimed as a tax deduction as long as the course is sufficiently connected to your work activities.
What Do I Get?
All materials essential for course completion are included in the cost of the course fee. Upon enrolment, students receive:
- All required study materials and course notes
- Practical assignment projects with constructive tutor feedback
- Industry based tutor who will service all of your course and career questions and guidance needs
- Student ID card giving students access to thousands of discounts both at home and overseas! Save on transport, accommodation, communications, food, shopping, movies and more!
On successful completion of the course you will receive:
- A graduation certificate officially recognizing your successful completion of studies and qualifications as an fashion designer
- Transcripts indicating units completed
- Letter of recommendation and validation for current and future employers
- Post-nominal letters placed after your name which indicate that you hold the relevant qualification. For example: John Smith, DipFDsgn
- Job search assistance: Graduate Career Services Program ( Click to learn more ).