What does a fashion designer do?
- Written byCarys Thomas
- Published date 28 February 2022
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As a major UK employer, the fashion industry is growing rapidly, and talented fashion designers are in high demand.
But what does a fashion designer do? We spoke to fashion designer and UAL short course tutor, Carlyn McGuire, to find out more about the role of a fashion designer. Carlyn teaches on our Fashion Design Intensive Short Course at London College of Fashion.
In this guide, we'll explore what a fashion designer does, the skills required to succeed and how to get started in this exciting industry.
Explore our inspiring range of fashion design short courses or read more about careers in fashion in our article on how to start a career in fashion.
What is a fashion designer?
A fashion designer creates original clothing, accessories and footwear by researching industry trends, developing unique concepts and sketching fashion designs. They often work with different materials, oversee the creation of fashion prototypes and manage the creative process through to production by collaborating with various teams, manufacturers and suppliers to bring designs to life.
Fashion designers use their advanced technical skills and creativity to develop new clothing either by hand or using computer-aided design (CAD). They may use CAD to experiment with different colours and shapes using lifelike virtual models to see how a finished piece could look. Fashion designer qualifications, such as courses or degrees, can help build these creative and technical capabilities.
"Being a fashion designer is not a one size fits all career," says Carlyn, "there are many ways to be a designer and it all depends on what you want or where you want to be in the fashion industry."
Types of fashion designers
"There are so many various design directions and all offer a different experience and working life," Carlyn explains, "but ultimately a fashion designer will be responsible for creating and developing new and exciting fashion ideas and designs for whatever direction they are in; working alone or within a team of designers, creating mood boards, following trends, creating concepts for new ranges or collections, working with sample machinists, sourcing fabrics etc."
There are numerous different specialisms, and understanding these categories can help aspiring fashion designers identify the kind of work environment that best fits their skills. It is also useful to explore these directions when considering possible fashion designer jobs.
Many fashion designers work within 3 main areas:
- High street fashion: High street fashion is a commercial, trend-driven area of fashion that is primarily focused on clothing that is designed to be mass-produced. The design process is often informed by seasonal trends and fashion catwalks.
- Ready-to-wear: These professionals are required to create ready-to-wear collections, often with smaller production runs and an emphasis on material and cut. They will generally create designs according to the specific material, presentation or cut that customers request.
- Haute couture: Fashion designers who specialise in haute couture often create custom, hand-finished pieces for catwalk or exhibition.
What skills does a fashion designer need to have?
"A fashion designer needs to be innovative," Carlyn says, "fashion follows trends that we often see on the high street, however when we look at the runway or in fashion magazines, we often see fashion that is dramatic, exciting and not trend-led, and this is where the ideas and concepts of a fashion designer are evident. A fashion designer can be inspired by almost anything to create a collection."
Creative and design skills
Creativity is at the heart of every fashion designer's work. Designers combine creativity with visual and artistic sense, so they must have an eye for colour, texture, fabric and form to generate original ideas and translate them into visual ideas through sketches, illustrations or computer-aided software.
Technical and production skills
Fashion designers should have the technical knowledge and hands-on expertise required to transform ideas into garments. Garment construction techniques such as pattern cutting, sewing and draping can support creative experimentation. Understanding material and fabric types helps designers refine fit, comfort and durability during production.
Digital and technology skills
Digital tools are essential in developing strong fashion designer skills as they allow designers to translate creative ideas into technical outcomes. Modern designers often use industry-standard design and visualisation software such as CAD and 3D modelling tools, to create useful prototypes, test silhouettes and refine designs before production.
Business and professional skills
Strong business and professional skills are a key part of the overall fashion designer qualifications required in the industry. Effective communication, teamwork and time management are crucial when coordinating with suppliers, production teams and clients. Designers also need business acumen and an understanding of budgets, costs and marketing strategies to manage collections from concept to completion and navigate the commercial side of the industry.
Why choose a career in fashion design?
Fashion design blends creativity and craftsmanship with collaboration and problem-solving, making it an inspiring area of work. There are many opportunities for the aspiring fashion designer as fashion designer jobs vary widely, from designing garments and accessories to roles in trend forecasting or production management.
"Fashion design is an art form," says Carlyn, "we teach students to deconstruct and reconstruct concepts and inspiration through process and techniques to develop dynamic and original fashion design."
"It is exciting to watch the creative process develop and unfold. Nothing can be more exciting than seeing those ideas and outcomes come to life in fabric - what was once a drawing on paper! Fashion designing is only one part of the process; making it happen is amazing to see and as a tutor, nothing fills me with more pride than seeing my students follow through on their ambition and create what they designed when they were studying on my course."
Breaking into the fashion industry
The fashion design industry is competitive, so aspiring designers need to prove that they have the knowledge and experience needed. Fashion designer qualifications and a strong portfolio are key to standing out when it comes to jobs.
Work experience is vital for professional growth and can be a great way to develop a network of useful contacts within the industry as you learn how to become a fashion designer.
"Learn the skills you need to build a portfolio that will help support your ambition," says Carlyn. "If you want to design garments with concept and innovation then learn some design techniques and processes. If you want to design print then consider taking a print course. Explore different skills through short courses to investigate where your interests really are."
Passion and perseverance are essential for success as you find your path in the industry.
Reflect on your path as a fashion designer
Fashion design is a lifelong creative journey that brings together imagination, technical skill and ongoing learning. Every fashion designer follows a unique path shaped by curiosity, experimentation and commitment to their craft. Growth comes through practice and perseverance; keep exploring new ideas and developing your skills to stand out from the crowd.
Interested in exploring fashion design further?
Learn from practising fashion designers and develop your creative process through one of our fashion design short courses.
