How does fashion evolve from a sketch or idea into a final product that we find online or displayed in a store? This is the role of Fashion Design Management, which merges creativity and business savvy to bring the most potentially successful and profitable products to the ultimate consumer. Fashion Design Management focuses on the business of the fashion industry. Students should be able to assess a variety of industry sectors and influences to develop, market, and distribute fashion products. 

The Fashion Design Management Case Study is required of all first-year and transfer applicants interested in this option of the Fashion Design & Management major*. This submission will be considered along with your required application materials. Applicants who do not submit these materials will not be considered. 

Submit your Fashion Design Management Case Study via SlideRoomMailed materials will not be accepted, reviewed, or returned.

Fashion Design Management Case Study Deadline
Your Fashion Design Management Case Study must be submitted to SlideRoom by the application deadline that corresponds with your application status. Late submissions will not be considered.

*Applicants interested in the Fashion Design option must follow separate fashion design portfolio guidelines.

Required for all first-year and transfer Fashion Design Management applicants: The Fashion Design Management Case Study
The Fashion Design Management Case Study consists of the following components. Applicants must complete and submit both components. All work must be original and produced by the applicant. Submissions found to have significant similarity to work posted on the internet or from other sources will not be accepted.

  1. Written Statements and
  2. Case Study
  3. Optional: Your own creative work

Undergraduate Admissions information
The best source of information about the admissions process is the College of Human Ecology (CHE) Admissions Office

Fashion Design Management Case Study Requirements

Tell us more about yourself by responding to each question/prompt below.

  • Please describe any fashion-related work experiences (including jobs, courses, internships, and volunteer work) in which you have participated. (Maximum 150 words)
  • What does Fashion Design Management mean to you and how will this major contribute to your career goals? (Maximum 150 words)
  • Select and respond to one of the topics below (Maximum 150 words)
    • Imagine anything is possible and you could invent a new fiber or textile. For what would this fiber/textile be used? What are its functional properties? Why did you invent it?
    • What current event or societal issue do you see as having a major impact on fashion? Describe specific ways that you see the impact manifested in the fashion industry.

The Fashion Design Management Case Study allows you to present your perspective on the business side of fashion and the management of design.

Prompt: Create a new fashion brand or expand an existing brand for an underserved or niche consumer, then respond to each portion of the case study below. 

  1. Target customer. Identify the target customer for your brand. Indicate why you selected this consumer based on a critical analysis of the fashion industry. Describe how your proposed brand would meet the needs of this customer. Submit (1) page to SlideRoom. 
  2. Brand name selection. Provide the name for your new brand. Explain why you chose the brand name, how it would represent your product, and why it would appeal to your target customer. Submit (1) page to SlideRoom.
  3. Product line. Create (3) looks that would be worn by the target customer for different activities (you may provide original sketches, take photos of models wearing clothing, or use existing images from other sources, such as catalogs, magazines, or the internet). For each look, indicate how it exemplifies your brand. Submit (1) page per look (maximum 3 pages) to SlideRoom.
  4. Brand promotion. Consider how you would promote this new brand to your target customers. Explain why your promotional strategy will be effective in reaching your customers and what would make it stand out from others. Think outside the box for a unique approach. Submit (2) pages to SlideRoom.

Submit Case Study (maximum of 7 pages) to Slideroom.

Submit up to three (3) additional images of prior creative work for consideration. Submissions can include photos, videos, and blog posts, as well as garments or accessories you have made.

Submit optional creative work (maximum of 3 pages) to Slideroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fashion industry has creative and business components and we are interested in understanding how you perceive fashion around you and interpret those components.

To start your research, you may create a list of potential retailers you think would be interesting for this challenge. Visit their websites and look for “Company Information” or “About Us” information to learn more about their background and customer. You can also see if there is a store in your area and take a visit to look more closely at the merchandise and talk to store employees.

Resources for images can come from print catalogs, fair use image databases, or you may take your own photographs. Be sure to appropriately credit images and photos if you use those owned by someone else.

The written statement portion of the portfolio allows you to describe your work experience. If you have visuals (images or designs) that resulted from your work experience, you can add this as “optional creative work” in Slideroom.

Email us if you have additional questions about the design supplement.