Career Overview
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Also Known As
- Apparel Designer
- Costume Designer
- Designer
- Fashion Designer
Alternate Job Titles
- Accessories Designer
- Apparel Accessories Specialist
- Apparel and Accessories Designer
- Apparel Designer
- Apparel Product Developer
- Apparel Technical Designer
- Athletic Shoe Designer
- Clothes Designer
- Clothing Designer
- Costume Designer
- Costumer
- Custom Furrier
- Dance Costume Designer
- Denim Designer
- Design Manager
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
- Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
- Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
- Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Design
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
- Persuasion
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Originality
- Oral Expression
- Fluency of Ideas
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Visualization
- Speech Recognition
- Visual Color Discrimination
- Near Vision
- Written Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Innovation
- Adaptability
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Self-Confidence
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk Revit
- JavaScript
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Tools & Equipment
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer drawing tablets
- Computer laser printers
- Desktop computers
- Drafting curves
- Drawing scales
- Dress forms
- Fabric pressing equipment
- Fabric shears
- Fabric steamers
- Garment templates
- Industrial fabric cutting machines
- Industrial sewing machines
- Laptop computers
- Layout T-squares
Work Environment
- Time Pressure
- Spend Time Sitting
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $35,970 |
| Median | $80,690 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $169,620 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 20,910
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $67,670
Commercial and Industrial Designers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $79,450
Craft Artists
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,480
Graphic Designers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $61,300
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $40,860
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.