FASHION DESIGN

Website: www.ufv.ca/fashion/

UCFV offers a two-year full-time Fashion Design diploma program for those seeking a career in the fashion industry.

The program is designed to develop and refine your skills and talent, covering all basic elements necessary to carry a marketable design from the original idea to the finished garment. Creativity and technical skills are stressed.

The curriculum accommodates a strong textile component and allows the opportunity for part-time studies for those wishing to interrupt their learning experiences or acquire additional knowledge in specific areas.

Careers in fashion

The fashion industry involves a wide variety of exciting and diversified career opportunities in the areas of design, production, and sales.

The program prepares students for entry-level positions in the following areas:

• Ready-to-wear manufacturing
• Couture design and construction
• Theatre costume design
• Textile design and production
• Fashion coordination
• Marketing and sales.

Entrance requirements

1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent or 19 years or older before the first day of classes.

2. You must attend a personal interview with the program faculty, at which time your strengths and weaknesses are assessed. The personal interview will consider:

a. Level of creativity: a portfolio of work containing examples of a selection from the following, depending on your personal interests:

• Art work — painting, sketches, drawings, prints, photography, etc.
• Craft work — embroidery, weaving, fabric arts, knitting, macramé, beadwork, etc.
• 3-D designs — photographs of 3-D pieces of pottery, sculpture, models, etc.
• Mechanical drafts — of buildings, industrial designs, garment patterns, etc.

 b. Technical skills: minimum of four different garments (e.g., blouse, dress, graduation gown, skirt, pants, suit, etc.) which you have made yourself.

c. Communication skills: immediately prior to the interview, you will be required to write a brief paragraph on a selected topic.

d. Math skills: a short math test involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and decimals will be administered at the same time.

Note: Calculators are allowed.

Note: Basic computer skills are required.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following point system:

A minimum score of 70% qualifies you for acceptance into the program.

How to apply

1. Submit the application fee along with your UCFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You can also print an application form from our website at www.ufv.ca/ar, or you can apply directly through the internet at www.pas.bc.ca. See the Admissions chart for a complete list of application dates and general admission information.

Additional documents required for a complete application:

• proof of B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent if not 19 years of age or older

2. In April you will be informed of the date of an orientation session which you should make every effort to attend, as the personal interview appointments are set up at this time. If it is absolutely impossible for you to attend, please contact the program head to book an appointment. During your appointment, which is approximately 30 minutes long, you are asked to present your portfolio and a minimum of four different garments that you have sewn. Letters of reference from teachers, employers, and club leaders would assist in assessing points and should accompany the portfolio.

3. Upon admission to the program you will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required when you register (see the Fees and Other Costs section). This money will be applied to the tuition fees and is not refundable. Final payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of classes.

If this program is full, or you are waiting to find out about your admission to the program, you will be given an opportunity to register as a general student.
It is not necessary to submit a separate application form. If you meet the entrance requirements and a space becomes available later, you will be contacted.

4. For students under 19 years of age, admission is conditional upon B.C. secondary school graduation. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in August.

Fees and additional costs

Fees stated are in effect for 2003/04 and are subject to change for 2004/05.

Tuition fees for most full-time students are about $1,700 per semester (based on enrolment in five courses or 15 credits). See the Fees and Other Costs section for more information.

In addition to the tuition fees, it is estimated that the following costs will apply to the full-time student.

Fashion Design — First year approximate cost

Fashion Design — Second year

plus additional costs for elective courses.

Equipment and supplies

A list of equipment and supplies will be distributed at first class. Most are available from the UCFV bookstore.

Supply fees cover the cost of pre-packaged kits which contain the basic needs for each course and are available from the instructor. They range between $25 and $50, depending on the course. Not all courses have a supply fee.

Location

Abbotsford campus.

Workload

Twenty hours per week of classroom time is scheduled in the first year of the program and 12–14 hours in the second, with additional time up to 24 hours depending on the electives or options selected.

Students are expected to take advantage of the lab free time to a minimum of 15 hours per week to keep up with the workload.

Expectations

Deadlines are strictly adhered to as success in the industry relies heavily on the meeting of deadlines and delivery dates.

Regular attendance is mandatory. Penalties for late arrivals and absenteeism without reason might include a reduction of the final grade.

Students should not fall behind. Fifteen weeks per semester does not allow time to catch up. Also the design, drafting, and construction courses are so closely linked that a class missed in one area could set you back in the other two.

Students will benefit greatly from participating in extracurricular activities such as fashion shows and open houses, and are encouraged to do so. Time schedules and duties will be announced well in advance.

Transfer students and advanced standing

Applicants applying for transfer credits from another institution or advanced standing will be considered on an individual basis. Make an appointment to see the program head.

Re-application

Any student who has previously applied to the UCFV Fashion Design program but who did not register and wishes to re-apply for admission will follow the same procedures as a new applicant.

Graduation requirements

The Fashion Design diploma will be awarded to students who have successfully completed all required courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C), plus electives/ options to give a minimum total of 63–67 credits.

A minimum C- grade or the instructor’s permission is required in all courses that are listed as a prerequisite for advancement into the next level.

Program outline

First Year: common courses

Semester I

Semester II

Second Year: common courses

Semester III

Semester IV

* Courses not requiring acceptance into the program may be taken individually.

In the second year, students may choose to specialize in one of the following options:

• General Fashion Design
• Textile Design
• Marketing.

Fashion Design diploma options

General option

Students who choose the general option are prepared for a career in manufacturing with the emphasis on the technical aspect of the industry.

Textiles option

Students enrolled in this option will learn how to design and create original fabrics suitable for use in the garment industry. Machine knitting, weaving and surface design are all included.

Marketing option

For students who wish to pursue a career in apparel sales and marketing. Students need all of the following courses:

* Prerequisite: BUS 120

Note: The combined business/marketing option is no longer available except for students currently following this study tract.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see Course descriptions section.

Faculty

Gayle Ramsden, BHEc (Manitoba), MEd (SFU), Program Head

Maureen Bilodeau, Trained at Singer and Brother Co. of Canada

Margaret Blackburn, Dip. Apparel Design (FVC), Cert. Couture Design (BC Trade School)

Vicki Bolan, Dip. Apparel Design (FVC)

Rene Evans, BBA, Dip. Apparel Design (UCFV)

Bev Fanzega, Dip. Fashion Design (PH College of Fashion Design & Merch)

Anne Hadziev, Dip. Apparel Design (UCFV)

Judy Hurley, NDD ATD (Cardiff College of Art, University of Wales)

Laurel Seitz, Dip. Fashion Design (Kwantlen)

Staff

Margaret Brackett, Departmental Assistant

Advisory committee

Cosimo Agostino, Kwantlen University College

Mary Bentley, BScEd (Missouri), Textile Artist — Weaver

Jocelyn Choy, Instructor and Retail consultant

Heleen DeBoer, Weaver/designer

Blair Ducey, Mumblipegg Designs

Ed Gesang, Edge Studios

Lauraline Grosenick, Cadterns

Angela Morrow, Uncommon Thredz Clothing

Antun Trojan, Design consultant

Gabriele Vanderstarren, Gabriele K

Yvonne Wakabayashi, BEd, MEd (UBC),Textile artist

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