Experience Design at UTS

I chose to study a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at UTS because it offered some of the most hands on practical courses for creatives and the innovative Industry focused program really stood out to me.

I was even lucky enough to convert my internship into employment after graduating. Visual communication is so much more than just designing.

UTS lets you explore every creative aspect, from branding and typography to interactive media and experiential design.

My tutors and peers really changed my perspective on where a creative career could go.

That shift in thinking is what led me to explore beyond visual design and eventually sparked my interest in marketing. My experiences opened up a whole realm of possibilities for creativity, and I honestly wouldn't be where I am today without them.

Movement has always inspired me, I've always been creative and I had a dream to build a career.

I'd actually love something that would let me live after pulling that.

Before I started my Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles at UTS, I didn't even know how to sew.

The first year was a huge lining curve, but learning those core design foundations was so rewarding and looking back, I can see how those early skills shaped everything I'm doing now.

From day one, the lecturers and tutors were like mentors. They didn't just teach us technical skills like pattern making and construction, they taught us how to look at design differently.

To reimagine my friends and the people I met here made a huge difference too.

We supported each other through late nights in the studio and encouraged each other to keep going.

They helped me grow as a designer.

UTS really listens.

When my class showed a strong interest in knitting, they responded by getting us more knitting machines.

We also have access to tools like WGSN and Clothes 3D as a part of our learning industry.

Partners came in to show us how they use this technology, and it just clicked.

UTS is preparing us for what's next.

I've started interning at an Australian fashion label and walking into that studio I felt ready.

I'm still figuring out if I want to start my own label or work in house, but whatever I choose I know I can do it.

How to become a…. 
Fashion Designer 
With Associate Professor Timo Rissanen 
 
Duration 4min 41sec 
 
00:00:00:00 - 00:00:25:04 
 
Hello, I'm Associate Professor Timo Rissanen. A fashion and textiles expert with 25 years experience working in the fashion industry. Have you ever wondered what it takes to work in fashion? Today I'll be answering your questions. Let's get started. What is fashion design? Fashion design is the creative process of doing concept research, and then using that research to develop ideas for new garments with a target audience in mind. 
 
00:00:25:06 - 00:00:43:11 
 
And you know, you will sketch out those ideas or in other ways communicate those ideas that so that they can be physically realised into actual garments. That basically is what fashion design is. What do I need to study to become a fashion designer? The Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles at UTS is an excellent entry into fashion design. 
 
00:00:43:11 - 00:01:09:00 
 
It does prepare you for a career as a fashion designer. And I will attest to it because I am a graduate of that program from about 25 years ago. What different roles are there in fashion design? In addition to working as a fashion designer with a fashion design degree you can go into many different roles. For example, you could work as a production manager, as a textile designer, as a merchandise planner, a fashion buyer, and so forth. 
 
00:01:09:02 - 00:01:32:15 
 
And there are many, many different roles that a fashion design degree can prepare you for. What does a fashion designer do in their day to day work? Concept research is really critical for fashion designers work that really unleashes the creative process. So that might include doing research online, going to museums and seeing art, going to performances, seeing music, seeing theater and so forth. 
 
00:01:32:17 - 00:01:58:00 
 
Something to really sort of unlock your own creative thinking, your own creative process, and then coming back to the studio to start translating those ideas into ideas for new garments. Working with the pattern maker. Working with the draper. Or maybe doing those things yourself to translate the research that you've done into three dimensional garment ideas, and working with a fit model to make sure that the garments fit. 
 
00:01:58:05 - 00:02:24:20 
 
And then eventually also working with the production manager to make sure that the garments that you have designed are being manufactured in correct ways for for your target audience. That's a very short snapshot of what a fashion designer does. What skills are important for a fashion designer to have? Now it does help to have the kind of technical skills like pattern making, draping and and sewing in addition to those. 
 
00:02:24:21 - 00:02:46:17 
 
However, I do think that a curiosity, an open mind about the world, an open mind about, our relationship to clothing is really, really important as well. And it helps to talk to people about their experience of clothing and being a bit of a a social scientist, if you will, and understanding the context in which in which the clothes that you design are being worn. 
 
00:02:46:23 - 00:03:05:13 
 
What kind of lives do people who live with the clothes that you design? And that's a skill you will develop over time. But absolutely kind of the creative skills of, of from sketching through to draping and pattern making as well as garment construction. Are all really helpful as well. What challenges do fashion designers face in their work? 
 
00:03:05:17 - 00:03:24:14 
 
Now the industry is very competitive, and, I think that's where it really helps to understand what kind of a designer are you, what are your strengths? What are the things that set you apart from others, and how can you amplify those in your work? I think that is a really key skill, and it's also something that I do as an educator. 
 
00:03:24:14 - 00:03:47:10 
 
I really help my students figure out what is it that they are really good at, what are their strengths, and then we really help them promote themselves in that way as they leave the university and enter the workforce. What do you love most about being a fashion designer and researcher? In short, I love fashion. Fashion is this amazing thing that helps us express ourselves. 
 
00:03:47:12 - 00:04:08:01 
 
And, that magic will never wear out for me. And both as a designer and as a researcher, it is something that's always in the background for me. That question of like, what is it about clothes that makes us feel in a particular way? Clothes can literally transform the way we feel in an instant. That will never get old for me. 
 
00:04:08:05 - 00:04:30:18 
 
What's your top tip or best piece of advice for someone who wants to work in fashion? I do think that it comes down to curiosity. Keeping an open mind about your own relationship to fashion, because that can help you see the way that other people relate to fashion, the way that other people experience fashion. And that, to me is absolutely critical for working in fashion. 
 
00:04:30:21 - 00:04:41:10 
 
That's all the questions for today. If this got you interested, check out the UTS website and search fashion to learn more about working in this field.