Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Fashion Product Development

Learn to create and develop products that are appropriate for a brand and their target customer. You will analyze current trends, create technical drawings using both hand drawings and industry standard software, identify and source materials, and plan for production of seasonal collections.

The Fashion Product Development degree is ideal for those seeking a career as a product developer, technical designer, product manager, production manager, supply chain manager, director of production, director of product development, and more.

What We Teach

• Product Design Process

You will learn to develop style specifications for new fashion products, source raw materials, and estimate product costs for a target market. You will conduct trend research and present analysis for merchandising plans. Gain the skills needed to use the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) to understand the many parts involved in controlling a garment from concept to materials sourcing to finished product.

• Product Line Development

Learn to develop a fashion collection. Use trend analysis and business plans to adapt products appropriate for the target customer. Students will learn to work through the process of line editing. Reviewing each style as a team evaluating cost, cost and appropriateness for the customer.

• Fabrication, Sourcing, & Production

You will refine your skills of line development and technical packages utilizing web-based PLM software. You will also focus the processes and procedures of fashion product sourcing, cost estimating techniques, methods for evaluating product constructions, and advanced knowledge of fashion manufacturing.

• Trend Forecasting

Explore the world of trend forecasting. Learn to develop the skills necessary to identify and analyze trends. Students will analyze the evolution of products and interpret the context of products to analyze and predict trends.

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.

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Unit Requirements

Degree Requirements

BFA Fashion Product Development Degree Requirements

• Minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
• Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
• 1 Written Communication: Composition
• 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
• 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
• 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
• 2 Art Historical Awareness: Surveys
• 1 Historical Awareness
• 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
• 1 Employment Communications & Practices
• 1 Fundamental Math

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

Additional Information

• Liberal Arts

About Academy of Art University

Academy of Art University aims to defy the ordinary and create the extraordinary. We offer over 120+ degree programs in art and design, and 29 degrees that intersect with the world of innovative technology qualifying for STEM OPT. Through our career-centered curriculum, award-winning faculty, and real-world projects, we prepare our talented students for exciting and rewarding creative careers.