Clothing, fashion and accessories designers plan, direct and undertake the creation of designs for new clothing and related fashion accessories.
Liaises with client to determine the purpose, cost, technical specification and potential uses/users of clothing or related fashion accessory undertakes research to determine market trends, production requirements, availability of resources and formulates design concepts prepares sketches, designs, patterns or prototypes for textiles, clothing, footwear, jewellery, fashion accessories submits design to management, sales department or client for approval, communicates design rationale and makes any necessary alterations specifies materials, production method and finish for aesthetic or functional effect oversees production of sample and/or finished product or produces one-off products for fashion shows observes and manages intellectual property issues
Entrants have usually completed a foundation course, BTEC/SQA award, degree and/or postgraduate qualification. Vocational qualifications in Fashion Design and Design are available at Level 2 and 3, as are apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3.