Fashion designer

As a fashion designer, you could:

• identify trends in fabrics, colours, prints and shapes
•  develop new concepts and mood boards (a collection of items to capture a mood, like photos, fabric pieces or colour samples)
•  create sketches and designs by hand or with computer-aided design (CAD) software
•  work with product development teams to manage quality and costs
•  supervise design assistants and patternmakers when making up product samples
•  present ranges to production managers, merchandisers and customers

• design skills and knowledge
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course

With experience you could become a:

• senior designer
•  head of a fashion department
•  creative director

You might specialise in particular collections, for example childrenswear or sportswear, or move into other parts of the fashion business like marketing or buying.

You could develop business skills and go freelance, or start your own fashion company.

You may wish to pass on your skills and knowledge to students by teaching fashion design at college or university.