Patch March 25, 2020 “Academy of Art University’s Master of Fashion Art Direction” Introduction to the Master of Arts in Fashion Direction program. https://patch.com/california/san-francisco/academy-artuniversitys-master-fashion-art-direction
Academy of Art University's Master of Fashion Art Direction Master of Fashion Art Direction with Academy of Art University's School of Fashion MFA Program By Angela Stevens, Neighbor Mar 25, 2020 7:36 am PT
In the world of fashion and artistry, there are moving pieces, elements of design and production that must be managed and coordinated in order to bring to life the exciting visuals and challenging artwork that consumers see. The final product, identifying and illuminating ideas and emotions with grace for the consumer, rarely gives an idea of how
much work went into it. A single decision might require several people's input, several people to execute, and several to communicate the decision. There are countless people involved from the original designer to the editor who put the final piece together. One person, however, must be able to see the massive picture from edge to edge while understanding the details: the Fashion Art Director. Most Fashion Art Directors would agree, their jobs are complicated, requiring skill and expertise. One way to achieve that skill and expertise is by studying Fashion Art Direction. Academy of Art University recognizes the importance of this role in the fashion industry, which is why it opened up an MFA program for it under the School of Fashion. Curriculum and Experience Students who attend the Academy of Art University to study in the Fashion Art Direction program and earn a Master of Arts Degree will learn to think critically and craft a visual portfolio that meets all industry standards. By the end of the program, all students are prepared to work as Fashion Art Directors, Creative Directors, and Visual Merchandisers in the broader industry of fashion and design. Students of the program, whether on campus in San Francisco, CA or attending remotely via the Academy's efficient online education platforms, will learn to become proficient in fashion styling, graphic design, visual merchandising, photo, and video production, and will be ready to handle the challenges of directing large-scale fashion projects. Over the four semesters of instruction at Academy of Art University, students will work with industry leaders and experienced Fashion Direction academics to study the history of fashion and fashion direction, the craft of production and design, graphic concepts, typography, installation, and professional practices. With a solid foundation in both theory and practice, students of the program are given a supercharged launchpad into the industry.
Craft and Theory Nestled within the Academy's School of Fashion, the MA in Fashion Art Direction offers interested students the ability to study craft, get their hands dirty and build things, while also deeply understanding the nuances and forces at work within the broader
industry of fashion and art. Teachers and instructors within the program come from a wide variety of backgrounds, so each can provide for students a unique perspective on how their interests and skills can lead to a fulfilling career. Students' classes effectively maneuver between these worlds of craft and theory to fully engage the creative potential of the cohort and push students out of their comfort zone while providing the safety of a learning environment. Translating the Experience to the Industry The program at the Academy of Art University takes the skillset needed by effective professionals in the Fashion Direction industry and provides much-needed support in developing direction with those skills. In the words of Associate Director, Flore Morton: "It's about decisions made on how you effectively sell a brand to your customers." While some might wish to enter the field with an interest in fashion or a natural sense of design, graduates of the program at Academy of Art University are given support in understanding how to make their ideas real and communicate those ideas. Graduates of the program are given a leg up to better understand the business side of the industry and the psychology of brand management and brand communication through written media, photographic media, and video media.
Teaching Style This attention to communication, to messaging, to the big picture is not an accident at the Academy. When looking at the slate of successful fashion directors at work today, one quickly realizes that these are essential skillsets for success in the industry. Household names such as Alexander Wang did not rise to the top simply because they had an eye for fashion. These paragons of the industry found the bridge between fashion, craft, image, and style, the somewhat formless feature that brings celebrities like Rihanna, Jay Z, and Gwyneth Paltrow into the fashion industry. Effective fashion directors must learn to connect the dots and make a message enticing to these cultural figures in order to communicate the same message to the rest of society. Through a
combination of coursework like fashion concepts, history of fashion, and graphic design and the real-life experience obtained at Academy of Art University, graduates are uniquely positioned to connect those dots.
Learning in an Enriching Environment The MA in Fashion Art Direction is one of many well-supported and exciting offerings from the Academy's School of Fashion. The program supports the school's broader mission to provide educational opportunities that are laser-focused to the needs of specific students no matter where in the world of fashion that student wishes to work. Degree plans are flexible and designed to offer a mix of theory and craft while exposing all graduates to real-world experiences within the industry before completion of the program. This attention to detail and dedication to the holistic student experience is found in each of the School of Fashion's programs. It would be impossible to sum up the whole of what a fashion director does in a lengthy article, let alone a single sentence. The work looks different each day, with each new subject, and each new audience. This varied work is exactly what draws excited, creative, curious individuals to study and practice in the field. For those individuals, looking to make and share and communicate but unsure where to begin, the MA in Fashion Art Direction at Academy of Art University is a natural and effective place to begin. Whether a student is making a career transition or looking for the next step in their journey through fashion and art, the program's attention to craft and theory, it's grounding in the real world of industry, and its support within the Academy of Art University make it an ideal place to grow and become the best possible fashion or art director you can be.