This class will develop students' awareness of fashion, revealing its influence on design and understanding its central position in world culture. New design ideas invariably show up first in fashion: trends in color, shape, textures and materials as well as symbolic references to societal issues are often seen first on the catwalks of Paris, Milan, New York, London and Tokyo and then developed in other design arenas. Much of the visual progression of fashion design is underpinned by the continuous evolution of technology. The development of new materials and manufacturing methods, along with purely visual design aspects, form a continual flow of ideas from fashion to other design areas.
Students will meet and discuss their ideas and projects with fashion and textile designers and will visit important design locations.