Fashion and Interior Design

Who will be the new internationally famous designers? Could it be you? Someone will be creating their own fashion statements and creating the styles which appeal to millions of fashion conscious shoppers.

The Fashion and Interior Design Industry Sector is a multibillion-dollar enterprise offering a wide variety of careers. Don’t think just in terms of the creative art portion of the industry, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution are related areas necessary for a designer to be successful. A particularly high demand exists for preproduction jobs involving computerized pattern making and product data management. Employment in the fashion industry is expected to grow at a high pace. Interior designers will also be in demand to accommodate a growing population’s need for residential and commercial space. Technology is a significant and growing component in the design industry. Self motivation and confidence, as well as creativity are traits that lead to success in this sector.

Career Pathways

Fashion Design, Manufacturing, and Merchandising Pathway

The Fashion Design, Manufacturing, and Merchandising Pathway can lead to careers from clothing designer to professional shopper. Few careers offer the opportunities, creativity, and versatility of the fashion world. From small entrepreneur to large manufacturer, rewarding jobs in fashion exist in most communities. Students in this pathway will gain in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry, including fashion history, textiles and textile production, apparel merchandising, and garment construction.

Careers/Career Areas:

Fashion Designers
Pattern Makers
Fashion Illustrators/Photographers
Visual Merchandisers
Fashion Buyers
Sales Associates
Fashion Advisors
Seamstress/Alterations
Showroom Assistants
Stylists

Interior Design, Furnishings, and Maintenance Pathway

From corporate America to individual homeowners, professionals are in demand to help create or enhance living and working environments. Students preparation for careers in this rapidly growing field includes learning the elements of design and decorating, furniture designs from historical periods, space planning, and computer assisted design.

Careers/Career Areas:

Interior Designers
Visual Merchandisers
Design Assistants
Set Decorators
Preservationists
Facility and Space Planners
Computer Aided Design (Cad) Specialists
Photo Stylists
Ergonomic Consultants
Kitchen, Bath, Window, Lighting, Wall or Floor Covering Specialists

Programs of Study

Program of Study	Author	Career Pathway	Download this Program of Study
Fashion Design	Los Angeles Mission College	Fashion Design, Manufacturing, and Merchandising Pathway	POS - Fashion Design.doc
Interior Design	Los Angeles Mission College	Interior Design, Furnishings, and Maintenance Pathway	POS - Interior Design.doc

Labor Market Information

The information below is just a small sample of the many great employment related resources available on the State of California website www.edd.ca.gov. We encourage you to visit the website and explore the available information.

Occupation Title	Employment Levels in 2006	Projected Employment Level 2016	Projected Job Growth	Percent of Job Growth	2008 Hourly ¹Mean Wage	2008 ²Weekly Mean Wage	2008 ³Monthly Mean Wage	2008 Annual Mean Wage
Advertising Sales Agents	21,000	25,300	4,300	20.5%	$27.70	$1,108.00	$4,653.60	$55,843.20
Art Directors	16,000	18,300	2,300	14.4%	$49.62	$1,984.80	$8,336.16	$100,034.00
Commercilal & Industrial Designers	5,900	6,600	700	11.9%	$36.46	$1,458.40	$6,125.28	$73,503.40
Craft Artists			0	0.0%	$18.67	$746.80	$3,136.56	$37,638.70
Customer Service Representatives	201,200	256,800	55,600	27.6%	$17.26	$690.40	$2,899.68	$34,796.20
Cutters & Trimmers	6,200	6,100	-100	-1.6%	$10.71	$428.40	$1,799.28	$21,591.40
Fabric & Apparel Patternmakers	2,300	2,000	-300	-13.0%	$23.55	$942.00	$3,956.40	$47,476.80
Fashion Designers	4,600	5,300	700	15.2%	$36.64	$1,465.60	$6,155.52	$73,866.20
Fashion Editors	14,100	15,600	1,500	10.6%	$28.04	$1,121.60	$4,710.72	$56,528.60
Graphic Designers	36,700	41,800	5,100	13.9%	$25.99	$1,039.60	$4,366.32	$52,395.80
Interior Designers	6,900	8,200	1,300	18.8%	$28.55	$1,142.00	$4,796.40	$57,556.80
Jewlers & Precious Stone Workers	5,700	5,800	100	1.8%	$12.67	$506.80	$2,128.56	$25,542.70
Merchandise Displayers & Window Trimm	11,300	13,500	2,200	19.5%	$14.43	$577.20	$2,424.24	$29,090.90
Models			0	0.0%	$13.04	$521.60	$2,190.72	$26,288.60
Painting, Coating & Decorating Workers	2,300	2,400	100	4.3%	$11.91	$476.40	$2,000.88	$24,010.60
Photographers	13,800	15,900	2,100	15.2%	$22.69	$907.60	$3,811.92	$45,743.00
Retail Sales Supervisors	188,900	210,600	21,700	11.5%	$19.74	$789.60	$3,316.32	$39,795.80
Retail Salespersons	494,500	603,800	109,300	22.1%	$12.43	$497.20	$2,088.24	$25,058.90
Sales Representatives	152,300	179,600	27,300	17.9%	$30.80	$1,232.00	$5,174.40	$62,092.80
Set & Exhibit Designers	2,300	2,700	400	17.4%	$30.34	$1,213.60	$5,097.12	$61,165.40
Tailors, Dressmakers, & Custom Sewers	6,400	7,100	700	10.9%	$13.51	$540.40	$2,269.68	$27,236.20
Textil & Apparel Workers	1,800	1,500	-300	-16.7%	$11.12	$444.80	$1,868.16	$22,417.90
Wholesale & Retail Buyers	21,300	22,000	700	3.3%	$26.59	$1,063.60	$4,467.12	$53,605.40
Wholesale & Retail Buyers	21,300	22,000	700	3.3%	$26.59	$1,063.60	$4,467.12	$53,605.40