Becoming a fashion designer: education, skills and steps to breaking into the industry
- Written byJamison Kent
- Published date 29 October 2026
Share story
Key takeaways
- There are many different routes to becoming a professional fashion designer.
- Education and experience provide opportunities to learn necessary knowledge and skills.
- Fashion design includes many different disciplines.
- UAL offers world-renowned fashion design education.
Many dream of seeing their clothing designs on a runway or in a magazine, but it is important to note that the field of fashion design is as competitive as it is creative.
Like many creative professions, the career of a fashion designer is both rewarding and challenging. Learn more about what a fashion designer does.
Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion are renowned for producing famous fashion designer alumni, including Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, JW Anderson, Sarah Burton and Maximilian Davis.
How to get into fashion design
Many people ask how to become a fashion designer, and this article covers the qualifications, skills, and practical steps to enter the coveted industry.
Decide how you want to learn
When pursuing a fashion design career, one of the first decisions you will have to make is what educational route you want to take. There are a variety of education entry points that will provide the critical skills and information to prepare you for your professional journey.
Some of the most popular creative education options are a university degree, diploma or a short course. Short courses build skills without a full degree commitment. Apprenticeships (levels 2 to 5) are an affordable alternative entry route alongside institutional education. The British Fashion Council is a wonderful source to learn more about apprenticeship pathways.
UAL Short Courses are a practical and flexible way to improve qualifications and skills. For those looking to learn the basics or improve their skills, the Fashion Portfolio, Introduction to Fashion Design and The Complete Fashion Design short courses are great options. UAL also has many under 18s fashion design short courses for young designers to explore their creativity and get a jump start on the craft.
Develop the fashion designer skills employers look for
Education can help you learn practical and creative fashion design skills. Developing and understanding your own aesthetic taste is the first step. Any design begins with design research, which typically includes sketching and mood-boarding. Sketching and mood-boarding are creative skills that help you develop a design and prepare for production.
After a design has been developed, technical skills and knowledge help the design come to life. Skills such as garment construction and pattern cutting are necessary to turn the design from an idea into something tangible. There is design software and computer-aided design tools, such as CLO3D, that allow fashion designers to test out design and production plans without using fabric. UAL offers a variety of courses on the different design technologies available, like the Digital Embroidery short course or Creative CLO3D for Absolute Beginners online short course. Experience working with these tools is a wonderful way to improve your CV and skill set.
Over time, designers determine what type of garments and products they want to specialise in and further narrow their skills towards that discipline. Your individual interests can speak through your clothing. If you are passionate about sustainability, then you can incorporate this into your designs. Similarly, if you are interested in gender and sexuality, you can experiment with gender roles and non-gendered clothing.
Distinct types of design such as womenswear, sportswear, and footwear have different technical skill requirements. UAL offers speciality courses such as the 3D Fashion Design for Swimwear and Lingerie, Bodywear and Activewear, Bioinspired and Footwear design short courses at UAL.
Get industry experience
Like many creative fields, the fashion design industry is very competitive. Work experience and internships can help you break into the industry and make you more hireable to potential future employers.
Assisting designers or small labels, internships, and work placements are a practical way to gain and strengthen skills. They provide you with an understanding of what a fashion design career can look like on a day-to-day basis.
Networking is a wonderful way to build an industry presence. University and work placements are great places to meet collaborators and other designers who can share their knowledge with you. Tutors may also be able to connect you with alumni or professional acquaintances who can offer valuable career advice.
Fashion design courses that can help you get there
UAL runs year-round fashion design short courses suitable for different ages and experience levels. Short courses are a fantastic option for exploring a new creative interest or profession.
- New to fashion design and looking to gain foundational skills? The Introduction to Fashion Design short course is available online and on campus.
- If you are a young creative looking to explore fashion design, the Fashion Design Basics LCF for 11 to 15 Year Olds short course may be perfect for you.
- The Fashion Folio short course is a great course for those seeking to improve their professional portfolio for university applications or employment opportunities. Read our story about students who went on from Fashion Folio to study at Central Saint Martins.
- For those wanting to expand their specialised skill set, Hand-sewing for Couture and Bespoke Fashion and Bag Design short courses provide unique skills for more specific disciplines.
Take your next step into fashion design
The UK fashion and textile industry contributes £62bn to the UK economy (Source: UKFT). You never know where your creativity can lead you, especially with a little guidance. UAL has educated some of the top fashion designers in the world. A short course is a practical route into understanding the fashion design craft and industry, explore all the fashion design short course options available.
Not sure which course to join? Our customer service team are here to help you find the right course for you. Get in touch via our enquiry form to discuss options.
