BA Degree in Fashion Design, Merchandising, and Media - Accessory Design and Technology

OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

The program is a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of the fashion industry and area-specific specializations. The study location of Florence is a stimulating backdrop for the city's historic and ongoing ties to innovation in fashion design, culture, and business. Program topics address fashion and accessory design, retail processes, communication, and marketing. Program candidates, regardless of the selected specialization, will acquire interdisciplinary perspectives and competencies from both an Italian and global fashion standpoint through a curriculum designed to address industry-related theory and practice. Coursework is supported by experiential learning methodologies that directly involve students in industry experience and the local community.
 
Program objectives:
- Acquire knowledge of design, production, and business theory and practice applicable to the fashion industry.
- Adopt interdisciplinary methods in creative and aesthetic processes.
- Develop competency for problem-solving, addressing challenges, and design future visions for fashion systems.
- Integrate the technologies and traditional craftsmanship of local contexts and territories in global environments.
- Apply critically-minded and innovative approaches to business and communication strategies in the fashion industry.
- Identify and develop areas of talent and opportunity in redefining the future of fashion from a sustainable perspective.
- Produce a body of work that culminates in a coherent vision and applicability to industry practices as developed by the student throughout the program of study.

Outcomes:
- Design competency for fashion and accessory production.
- Integrative skills for fashion business practices related to merchandising and retail
- Communcation skills applicable to fashion media content development, editorial curation, and promotion.
 
Career opportunities:
The program prepares students to enter the fashion industry related to design, communication, and merchandising/retail through roles such as the following.
Senior designer
RD and production specialists
Merchandisers
Buyer
Journalist
PR strategist
Digital editor
Communication manager or consultant

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to further pursue studies at the graduate level.