Fashion Design vs Fashion Communication

Human society is constantly shaped by fashion, including everything from a person's hairstyle to outfits, accessories, shoes, and even body language. The world of fashion has changed over time. Two fields firmly established in this vast field that play a significant role in defining trends, brands, and styles are fashion design and fashion communication.

This blog explores the meanings and differences between fashion designing and fashion communication, allowing you to determine which fits your career goals better.

What is Fashion Design?

Fashion design is the arrangement and creation of art, clothing, or fashion accessories. Hands-on work and artistic and technical ability turn an idea into something real.

Designers monitor the manufacturing process, study trends, create sketches, and choose fabrics. They aim to create aesthetically pleasing and practical clothing that appeals to customers.

What is Fashion Communication design?

Fashion communication design is a specialized area within the fashion business dedicated to visual narrative, branding, marketing, and public relations connected with fashion.

Professionals in this industry convey fashion concepts, trends, and brand identities to the target audience using several mediums, including photography, styling, digital content, advertising, and event organizing. They are vital in forming the impression and image of fashion companies since they craft exciting stories that appeal to customers and investors.

Career opportunities in Fashion Design

Fashion design is one of the world's most exciting and sought-after careers. It draws in those passionate about researching fashion trends, creating original designs, and developing new concepts in the fashion industry. Let's explore the options after doing fashion design:

• Fashion Designers: These professionals work with various materials, styles, and trends to produce new clothes, accessories, and footwear. They may launch their clothing line, work for department stores, or even for high-end fashion houses. They may also participate in fashion shows to showcase their collections and collaborate with marketers and retailers to sell their designs.
• Fashion Stylists: These professionals collaborate with clients to develop a look and feel that matches their requirements and personality. They might work with specific clients or in movies or television.
• Textile Designers: These professionals create fabric designs and patterns, focusing on detailed weaves and textures. They use computer-aided design, knits, printed textiles, and original fabric patterns. This field has a lot of potential because there is always a demand for new and unique fashion and home decor fabrics.

Career opportunities in Fashion Communication

A fashion communicator must create a unique and balanced image for their product to attract target customers among many competing companies and products. The following are some career paths within the field of fashion communication one could consider:

• Fashion Photographers: They capture appealing images of models, clothes, or accessories to help businesses promote their products. They also work as freelancers, creating portfolios for models to showcase their best features for job opportunities. In addition to taking photos, they develop ideas that capture what their clients want.
• Fashion Journalists: They write about the most recent industry trends, current events, and other topics for fashion magazines or freelancing websites. They attend most fashion events and stay updated on industry trends to create exciting content. As a fashion journalist, you should thoroughly understand fashion history, past trends, and future styles and approaches. Roles in fashion journalism include fashion bloggers, columnists, and fashion critics.

Fashion Communication vs Fashion Design: The differences

The key differences between fashion design vs fashion communication are discussed below:

• Role

A fashion designer is responsible for designing and assisting in manufacturing clothing, footwear, and accessories. They also analyze trends and choose styles, fabrics, colors, prints, and trims for a collection. Fashion designers make designer clothes or ready-to-wear garments.

On the other hand, a specialized area of fashion studies called "fashion communication" helps prospective fashion students develop communication skills and information applicable to the lifestyle and fashion industries. This kind of communication is also the basis of the entire fashion industry.

• Educational qualifications

To pursue a career in fashion design, the candidate must pass class 12 in any stream, such as science, commerce, or arts, from a recognized board. Candidates who have completed a design course at the graduate level are preferred for admission into fashion design at the postgraduate level.

To work in fashion communication, candidates must have completed their 10+2 examinations in any subject from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate grade of 50%.

• Required skill

Fashion designers must have creative taste, a sharp eye for detail, and technical mastery in pattern-making and garment production.

A fashion communicator must be a skilled writer, able to design things visually, and have experience in marketing and consumer psychology.

Which is better, Fashion designing or Fashion communication?

The question of "better," fashion design or fashion communication, is subjective and depends on your interests and goals.

Fashion design might be your calling if you excel in hands-on creativity and love breathing life into designs through fabrics and textiles. Witnessing your items worn and admired will make you feel accomplished.

If you are drawn to branding, storytelling, and interacting with the public, a career in fashion communication may be your calling. You will play a part in redefining how the world views current fashion trends.

Conclusion

Now that you know the difference between fashion designing and fashion communication, it will be easier to decide which is better for you. Both fields offer rewarding careers, challenges, and opportunities to make a significant impact in fashion.

If you want to pursue a career in the fashion industry, check out the B.Des in fashion design program offered by the ITM Institute of Design & Media. It is a four-year, full-time program that provides plenty of hands-on experience and immerses you in the exciting world of fashion design. Visit itm.edu to learn more about the courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Is a career in fashion communication worthwhile?

Graduate students in fashion communication have a wide range of professional options, including fashion journalism, PR/events, retail space design, visual merchandising, graphic design, styling, and photography.

2) Is fashion design a potential career option?

Yes, fashion design is an excellent opportunity for people who can convert their ideas into beautiful creations, from clothes and accessories to footwear and home decor. It is regarded as one of the top job opportunities in the design industry.

3) What is the salary of a fashion designer?

The salary of a Fashion Designer ranges between INR 6 LPA and INR 7.4 LPA, with an average annual salary of INR 4.3 LPA (Source).

4) What is the salary of a fashion communicator?

The average base pay of an individual associated with a career in fashion communication is INR 1 LPA (Source).