What Do Fashion Designers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Fashion Designers design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends. They also direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.

Other tasks include:

• Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
• Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
• Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
• Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
• Attend fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to gather information about fashion trends and consumer preferences.
• Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.

We asked Fashion Designers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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58% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 26% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Fashion Designers examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects. They design custom clothing and accessories for individuals, retailers, or theatrical, television, or film productions.

A typical day for a Fashion Designer will also include:

• Read scripts and consult directors and other production staff to develop design concepts and plan productions.
• Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
• Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
• Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
• Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.

We asked some Fashion Designers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	40% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	31% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	32% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	29% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Fashion Designers also visit textile showrooms to keep up-to-date on the latest fabrics. They may also read scripts and consult directors and other production staff to develop design concepts and plan productions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Fashion Designers Determine prices for styles. They might also Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.

In addition, they Develop a group of products or accessories, and market them through venues such as boutiques or mail-order catalogs.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Research the styles and periods of clothing needed for film or theatrical productions.

To some Fashion Designers, it is also their responsibility to Adapt other designers’ ideas for the mass market.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Fashion Designer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/arts-and-design/fashion-designers.htm

http://www.cfda.com/

http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/