Fashion Product Development (BFA)

The BFA in Fashion Product Development encompasses the process of fashion product development that requires understanding and knowledge of the consumer, market, and trends, textiles and raw materials, product concept and line development, and sourcing and manufacturing. Drawing from their design courses, students will apply a high level design aesthetic to develop products that are appropriate for a brand and their target customers. Students will learn the hand drawing and drafting skills and the technical skills needed to produce detailed and accurate technical drawings and flat patterns using industry standard computer software. BFA graduates will be capable of working in various roles in a product development team.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree
Core Classes

This program is available online and on campus

School of Fashion

FSH 100

Drawing for Fashion Core/3

Develop foundational skills in design sketching through observation and replication. You will become familiar with body proportions, basic human anatomy, and figure balance.

FSH 101

Fashion Visual Research and Design Development Core/3

Fashion design is a process. You'll build a firm foundation of skills as you develop and use visual research to create, edit, and balance a collection.

FSH 105

Fashion Business: Concepts Core/3

You will be introduced to the concepts of fashion retail and wholesale merchandising, fashion materials, producers of fashion, and various fashion markets.

FSH 109

Product Development: Design Fundamentals Core/3

Bring your product ideas to market. You will research existing brands, conduct trend research, create storyboards, and sketch flats to develop ideas for new products. Learn consumer markets, fabrication, roles within the supply chain, product development, and fashion product categories.

FSH 110

Creative Concepts for Fashion Core/3

Focus on original and creative hands-on development for collections. Color, fabrics, proportion, silhouette, customer, and wearing occasion are explored through 2D and 3D development.

FSH 120

Color Science & Fabric Technology Core/3

Color and fabric are concepts that drive creativity, novelty, and innovation. You will explore how fashion professionals apply color and design principles at all levels of the industry. You will study how textile fibers and other fabric characteristics affect garment performance.

FSH 161

Fashion Business: Digital Techniques Core/3

Use professional software to communicate visual information. Learn to work fluidly between programs to create fashion line layout, concept boards, and detailed specification for reproduction.

FSH 164

Fashion Sewing Techniques Core/3

Get the cutting and sewing skills for work in the apparel industry. You will learn both hand finishing and machine sewing techniques in wovens and create a notebook documenting your new skills.

FSH 229

Product Development: Digital Design & Sketching Core/3

Use professional digital tools to create garment technical sketches to meet industry standards. You will master the software to create, modify, store, and communicate your design ideas in precise sketches and drawings.

FSH 390

Fashion Business: Professional Practices & Portfolio Core/3

Explore careers in fashion. You will examine career options, develop personal branding and resumes, prepare for job interviews, and build digital and physical portfolios to support your transition from student to professional in the fashion industry.

Degree Requirements

Unit Requirements	Units
Core	24
Sophomore Portfolio	3
Senior Portfolio	3
Major	39
Electives	9
Liberal Arts	42
Total	120

BFA FASHION PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum grade of C- in all major coursework.
Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
4 Art Historical Awareness courses
1 Creative Communication course
1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking course
1 Historical Awareness course
1 Fundamental Math
1 Cultural Ideas & Influences course
1 Employment Communications and Practices course

After above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.

Additional Information

Liberal Arts

Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Research and Concept Development

Conduct research to advance point of view or concept
Analyze trends and market research to develop products appropriate for target markets and consumers
Identify changes, trends and opportunities in global fashion business, consumer and products

Product Development

Identify materials, sourcing, and manufacturing processes appropriate for product market (brand, consumer, and price point)
Produce accurate and detailed technical drawings and flat patterns using both traditional medium and computer software
Demonstrate proficiency in creating complete production documents utilizing design skills, technical skills and production specifications
Develop products appropriate for a variety of fashion businesses and their target consumers

Visual Presentation Skills

Create professional and organized presentations that reflect a point of view consistent with product and brand
Create industry-standard production materials

Technical Skills

Demonstrate proficiency in industry-standard product development related tools and software

Presentation Skills

Present and communicate trends, product concepts and details clearly and effectively in a professional format

Collaboration Skills

Work effectively in a team

Professional Readiness

Create a relevant and original portfolio and collateral materials which can be used to market themselves to the industry