FX Website | Apparel Technical Design

George Brown College’s Fashion Exchange (FX) is a vibrant hub where fashion education, design, production, entrepreneurship and engagement come together under one roof in the heart of downtown Toronto. With global fashion industry facing challenges of over-consumption, exploiting labour force and environmental resources, FX was designed to share the growing impact and become a leader in sustainable fashion production. With the people and the planet in mind, it fosters a new generation of industry leaders - committed, professional, and ethical.

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FASHION EXCHANGE POST GRADUATE PROGRAMS

APPAREL TECHNICAL DESIGN

PROGRAM: Apparel Technical Design

Apparel Technical Designers are the link between design and production as they transform a sketch into a full technical package ready for manufacturing a product in quantity. This one-year Apparel Technical Design graduate certificate program prepares fashion designers with apparel technical design skills for positions in the apparel industry.

LEARN MORE

Market analysis and trend research

Design and complete a collection using computer-aided drafting technology and product lifecycle management technology

Experience the full cycle of designing and manufacturing a collection

Your Path

Semester 1

Apparel Manufacturing

Garment Fit and Pattern Adjustment

Pattern Drafting Software

Apparel Preproduction Management

Collection Technical Development

Design and Product Development Technology

Semester 2

Pattern Drafting Software 2

Product Development Process Lab

Production Management Studio

Quality and Costing

Field Education Preparation

Semester 3

Apparel Design and Finishing

Field Education Placement

What You’ll Learn

Graduates will have the skills to conduct market analysis and trend research to design and complete a collection using computer-aided drafting technology and product lifecycle management technology. Quality and costing analysis will inform design choices as the full product specification package is completed and as collection projects are manufactured in an apparel manufacturing lab facility using appropriate and efficient manufacturing techniques.

Designers with solid pattern-making, grading, textile, illustration and construction skills will advance their knowledge to manage the complexity of writing detailed technical specifications, refining garment fit and sourcing components in pre-production, to achieve production-ready samples and technical packages. Graduates will attain the expertise required to anticipate and solve manufacturing issues, be able to maximize quality and minimize cost, consider sustainable options and be more prepared to launch future collections through experiencing the full cycle of designing and manufacturing a collection.

Career Path

Technical Designers work with fashion design teams and manufacturing staff to develop and monitor technical standards and specifications for garments. This process includes finalizing production-ready patterns, solving fit issues, size grading, sourcing and build of materials list completion, construction details and sequence, setting quality standards, and communication of the technical details and changes through the entire production process.

Technical designers in smaller companies may be required to be conversant across all parts of the process, whereas in larger companies they may be specialists in one aspect.

Technical design is required for all categories of apparel production, regardless of where the product is manufactured. As companies strive to compete globally, they require Technical Designers who are able to utilize technology and manufacturing knowledge for precise, accurate, complete and timely communication of product details to ensure speed to market, quality standards and management of cost.

Opportunities Available to You

Graduates of this program may choose to pursue job opportunities such as: Technical Designer, Fit and Spec Technician, Designer, Apparel Quality Control Technician, Garment Technician, Tech Pack Coordinator, Computerized Pattern Maker/Fit Specialist, Fashion Technical Designer, Technical Coordinator and Product Development Manager.

Admission Requirements

Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design with a minimum program GPA of 2.7

Students may enter from a fashion design diploma or degree program into Apparel Technical Design Graduate Certificate program. Graduates from George Brown College F113 Fashion Techniques and Design, or other fashion design programs in colleges or universities in Ontario, Canada and International institutions will be eligible to enter. Graduates of this program may proceed to further their studies in Bachelor or Master’s level depending on previous education.

Course Exemptions

College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit georgebrown.ca/transferguide for more information.

English Proficiency

Applicants with International transcripts where English proficiency results are not supplied must test at the College level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered.

Please visit georgebrown.ca/englishproficiency for more details.