Fashion Media

Certificate of Achievement:

This certificate is designed to give the students the specific knowledge needed for entering the workforce in the area of fashion social media.  Examples of jobs in this area include running social media sites for retailers, creating fashion blogs,and setting up web based fashion businesses. 

During the 2016-17 academic year, the Fashion Department awarded 12 certificates and degrees and 7 were awarded in 2017-18. The department anticipates that the number of certificates will increase based on this new certificate option.

The Fashion Media Certificate of Achievement is being created in response to the evolving field of fashion which is gravitating to web/tech based sales and promotion. The goal of this interdisciplinary program of study is to enable students to create technically and aesthetically successful blog pages, social media sites, and web based sales sites that meet the needs of their fashion industry focused clients or employers.

Since this is an interdisciplinary Certificate of Achievement,the Program Student Learning Outcomes from Fashion, Applied Art and Design,Photography, and Business are all relevant and listed below:

Fashion Industries Department: Program Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of fashion design and merchandising
• Creativity: Create elements of fashion merchandising and design that reflect creative expression
• Design Principles: Critique elements and principles of design in Fashion design and merchandising.
• Teamwork: Develop skills in teamwork through group projects.
• Technology: Use computer skills to work with fashion industry software.

Applied Arts&Design Department: Program Student Outcomes

• Generate design solutions integrating concept, content and form, and produce a workflow consisting of the many phases of the design process.
• Critique and communicate elements and principles of design as applied to contemporary and historical design.
• Create designs for various delivery methods such as print, web and multimedia, utilizing the appropriate formats required.
• Prove a command of industry standard software applications in preparation for the job market in the fields of design, illustration and/or multimedia.
• Develop a portfolio of work that illustrates the styles, medium and subject area interest of the student.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the key principles of copyright, fair use, public domain and the use of appropriated images and content in design projects.

Photography Department: Program Student Learning Outcomes

• Analyze the major historical and contemporary trends and influences within the medium of photography.
• Critique photographs orally and in writing for content, composition, craftsmanship, and originality with terminology commonly used in art and photography.
• Create photographs demonstrating good exposure control under a wide variety of lighting situations, including both natural and studio lighting.
• Utilize the darkroom or computer to produce final images that have appropriate contrast, density and color as well as incorporate the elements of design, design principles and com positional conventions.
• Distinguish between the key principles of copyright laws and understand industry business practices, and other legal and ethical considerations.
• Develop a portfolio of images that illustrates the student photographer’s style, skill within the medium and subject area interests.

Business Department:Program Student Outcomes

• Communication: Communicate effectively in written and oral forms.
• Business Problems: Analyze and critically evaluate information to solve a variety of business problems.
• Technology and Information Competency: Evaluate and use appropriate technology in the changing business environment.
• Business Knowledge: Display competency in the functional area of business related to the student's certificate or degree.
• Citizenship: Analyze ethical and social issues and make business decisions that reflect professional responsibility.

The Fashion Media Certificate proposal has its origins in the annual Fashion Industries Advisory Meetings. The members stressed the changes in industry which are focusing more on wed based sales,social media input, and the importance of fashion blogging.  At the same time, the Department was observing changes in the industry and having students asking for ways to get skills related to starting their own fashion businesses on sites like Etsy and creating their own blogs to get their point of view out to the public as it related to styling and fashion trends.

As the Fashion Program was exploring the idea of a Fashion Media certificate, we were presented the opportunity to partner with the Applied Art and Design and Photo Departments for a grant from Strong Workforce. The Fashion Media Certificate was then created with help from both departments. Two Business classes were also included to cover the topics of digital marketing and owning a small business. During the Strong workforce presentation, the Business Department representatives gave their support of having their courses included. Before completing the proposal, I contacted Denise Bushnell who was at the Strong Workforce meeting to make sure that the Business Department was still on board. She then directed me to the chair of Marketing, Tom Reed. I emailed asking if he had any input, but I did not hear back. 

Certificate of Achievement: Fashion Media