4 answers
Lila
Student
Raleigh, North Carolina
1
Question
Asked
3294 views
What are some jobs for high schoolers to do that want to go into design/fashion design?
I am a Junior in high school currently. I was wondering what jobs or internships will allow me to have a good background for design colleges. Also, I currently stich and mend mothers for people for some cash, what other activities should I do to be able to get a good background for college for fashion design or also just design in general.
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4 answers
Tanaka Ndoro
13
Answers
Updated
Tanaka’s Answer
Design and Fashion Jobs for High Schoolers
Hie Lila, here are some job ideas for high schoolers interested in design and fashion:
Fashion-Related Jobs
1. Retail Sales Associate: Work in clothing stores, learn about fashion trends, and interact with customers.
2. Fashion Stylist Assistant: Assist professional stylists with photo shoots, fashion shows, or client consultations.
3. Fashion Blogger or Influencer: Create content around fashion, share your style, and build an online presence.
4. Garment District or Fabric Store Assistant: Work with fabrics, learn about textiles, and gain insight into the fashion industry.
Design-Related Jobs
1. Graphic Design Intern: Assist graphic designers with projects, learn design software, and develop your skills.
2. Photography Assistant: Assist photographers with photo shoots, learn about lighting, composition, and editing.
3. Digital Artist or Illustrator: Create digital art, illustrations, or graphics for clients or personal projects.
4. Interior Design Assistant: Assist interior designers with projects, learn about design principles, and gain experience with design software.
Online Opportunities
1. Freelance Graphic Design: Offer graphic design services to clients, create portfolios, and build your reputation.
2. Sell Art or Designs Online: Utilize platforms like Etsy, Redbubble, or Society6 to sell your art, designs, or products.
3. Create a YouTube Channel or Podcast: Share your passion for design and fashion, build an audience, and monetize your content.
Summer Programs or Internships
1. Fashion Design Summer Camps: Participate in hands-on fashion design programs, learn from industry professionals, and build your portfolio.
2. Design Internships: Apply for internships with design firms, fashion brands, or studios to gain experience and build your network.
Benefits
1. Gain experience: Build your portfolio, resume, and skills.
2. Network: Meet industry professionals, make connections, and learn about opportunities.
3. Develop your passion: Explore your interests, learn from experiences, and refine your craft.
Next Steps
1. Research opportunities: Look for job openings, internships, or summer programs that align with your interests.
2. Build your skills: Develop your design, fashion, or technical skills through online courses, workshops, or self-study.
3. Create a portfolio: Showcase your work, projects, or designs to demonstrate your talents and passion.
By exploring these opportunities, you'll gain valuable experience, build your network, and develop your skills in design and fashion.
Hie Lila, here are some job ideas for high schoolers interested in design and fashion:
Fashion-Related Jobs
1. Retail Sales Associate: Work in clothing stores, learn about fashion trends, and interact with customers.
2. Fashion Stylist Assistant: Assist professional stylists with photo shoots, fashion shows, or client consultations.
3. Fashion Blogger or Influencer: Create content around fashion, share your style, and build an online presence.
4. Garment District or Fabric Store Assistant: Work with fabrics, learn about textiles, and gain insight into the fashion industry.
Design-Related Jobs
1. Graphic Design Intern: Assist graphic designers with projects, learn design software, and develop your skills.
2. Photography Assistant: Assist photographers with photo shoots, learn about lighting, composition, and editing.
3. Digital Artist or Illustrator: Create digital art, illustrations, or graphics for clients or personal projects.
4. Interior Design Assistant: Assist interior designers with projects, learn about design principles, and gain experience with design software.
Online Opportunities
1. Freelance Graphic Design: Offer graphic design services to clients, create portfolios, and build your reputation.
2. Sell Art or Designs Online: Utilize platforms like Etsy, Redbubble, or Society6 to sell your art, designs, or products.
3. Create a YouTube Channel or Podcast: Share your passion for design and fashion, build an audience, and monetize your content.
Summer Programs or Internships
1. Fashion Design Summer Camps: Participate in hands-on fashion design programs, learn from industry professionals, and build your portfolio.
2. Design Internships: Apply for internships with design firms, fashion brands, or studios to gain experience and build your network.
Benefits
1. Gain experience: Build your portfolio, resume, and skills.
2. Network: Meet industry professionals, make connections, and learn about opportunities.
3. Develop your passion: Explore your interests, learn from experiences, and refine your craft.
Next Steps
1. Research opportunities: Look for job openings, internships, or summer programs that align with your interests.
2. Build your skills: Develop your design, fashion, or technical skills through online courses, workshops, or self-study.
3. Create a portfolio: Showcase your work, projects, or designs to demonstrate your talents and passion.
By exploring these opportunities, you'll gain valuable experience, build your network, and develop your skills in design and fashion.
Thank you so much, Tanaka!
Lila
Phill Pezo
Industrial Design
103
Answers
Nutley, New Jersey
Updated
Phill’s Answer
Hey Lila,
It is great to hear you are interested in joining the design and fashion industry and have been starting to show entrepreneurial practices. If you already have a specific fashion topic of style, start familiarizing yourself with different brands within that niche. Find smaller brands, solo designers, or student designers as well, and message them and see if they have any opportunities. Share your curiosity and ambition, and be willing to help and learn. This can create the potential to find something you like, or to take a step closer to something that is for you.
Large fashion brands can tend to be exclusive. Nothing is impossible, but think small as well. Find small fashion firms or solo designers that you find interesting. Reach out to them with why you are interested. Seeking knowledge from a student can be beneficial, as well as many are practicing new and different techniques within design innovation. Any kind of design internship or mentorship would be a great experience.
Most importantly, keep making. Find something you would like to make and work up your skills to that. Start small and progress with a goal; the hardest part can be starting, but the more you practice, the more you will gain. This will be good to gain as early as possible for any creative field, specifically if you can see yourself continuing your entrepreneurialship in the future. Doing so will also show future schools and job opportunities that you are invested in more than just a job, but a passion as well. You will be able to start to form a portfolio or progression of your work.
Keep it up!
It is great to hear you are interested in joining the design and fashion industry and have been starting to show entrepreneurial practices. If you already have a specific fashion topic of style, start familiarizing yourself with different brands within that niche. Find smaller brands, solo designers, or student designers as well, and message them and see if they have any opportunities. Share your curiosity and ambition, and be willing to help and learn. This can create the potential to find something you like, or to take a step closer to something that is for you.
Large fashion brands can tend to be exclusive. Nothing is impossible, but think small as well. Find small fashion firms or solo designers that you find interesting. Reach out to them with why you are interested. Seeking knowledge from a student can be beneficial, as well as many are practicing new and different techniques within design innovation. Any kind of design internship or mentorship would be a great experience.
Most importantly, keep making. Find something you would like to make and work up your skills to that. Start small and progress with a goal; the hardest part can be starting, but the more you practice, the more you will gain. This will be good to gain as early as possible for any creative field, specifically if you can see yourself continuing your entrepreneurialship in the future. Doing so will also show future schools and job opportunities that you are invested in more than just a job, but a passion as well. You will be able to start to form a portfolio or progression of your work.
Keep it up!
Thank you so much!
Lila
Emma Rarick
Art Educator | Textile Artist
5
Answers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Updated
Emma’s Answer
Hi Lila,
Textile artists create amazing patterns and graphics that bring clothing and fashion products to life. If you're thinking about a career in textile art or design, why not start by building your own freelance illustration business? That's what I did before joining Kohl's as a textile artist, and it boosted my confidence and helped me learn new skills. You can have fun making patterns, or "repeat tiles," using traditional or digital tools like Photoshop or Procreate. Consider setting up an online shop on platforms like Redbubble, Etsy, or your own site using Weebly or Squarespace. You can print and ship your designs yourself through Vistaprint or let Canva handle the printing and shipping for you. This way, you can earn passive income by selling your art online (passive income is repetitive money you make by just creating an artwork 1x and printing copies of it). Plus, if you're interested, you can also sell your work in person to gain even more experience and confidence. Dream big! You've got this!
Textile artists create amazing patterns and graphics that bring clothing and fashion products to life. If you're thinking about a career in textile art or design, why not start by building your own freelance illustration business? That's what I did before joining Kohl's as a textile artist, and it boosted my confidence and helped me learn new skills. You can have fun making patterns, or "repeat tiles," using traditional or digital tools like Photoshop or Procreate. Consider setting up an online shop on platforms like Redbubble, Etsy, or your own site using Weebly or Squarespace. You can print and ship your designs yourself through Vistaprint or let Canva handle the printing and shipping for you. This way, you can earn passive income by selling your art online (passive income is repetitive money you make by just creating an artwork 1x and printing copies of it). Plus, if you're interested, you can also sell your work in person to gain even more experience and confidence. Dream big! You've got this!
Thank you so much for the advice.
Lila
Aravind C
39
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Aravind’s Answer
1. Retail Fashion Jobs (Entry-Level)
Roles: Work as a sales or stock associate at stores like Zara, H&M, or Forever 21.
Action: Apply online or visit stores to inquire about openings.
Benefit: Learn customer preferences, visual merchandising, fabric types, and seasonal trends.
2. Internships with Local Designers or Boutiques
Action: Email or message on social media to ask if they need interns or studio assistants.
Benefit: Gain hands-on experience in styling, designing, assisting in fittings, or sewing.
3. Freelance or Commission-Based Design
Platforms: Create custom t-shirt graphics, digital portraits, or logos on Instagram or Etsy.
Action: Promote your work on social media and engage with potential clients.
Benefit: Develop skills in client communication, marketing, digital design, and pricing.
4. Thrift Flipping or Upcycling
Action: Buy thrift clothes, alter or embellish them, and sell on Depop, Poshmark, or at local markets.
Benefit: Improve sewing, styling, creativity, and learn entrepreneurship.
5. Summer Programs & Pre-College Courses
Examples:
- FIT High School Summer Live
- Parsons Teen Courses
- SCAD Rising Star
Action: Enroll in courses to build your design skills and portfolio.
Benefit: Receive formal design education and enhance your portfolio.
6. Fashion Blogging or Social Media Content Creation
Action: Start a blog, TikTok, or Instagram for styling tips, thrift hauls, or outfit inspiration.
Benefit: Build your personal brand, content strategy, and trend analysis skills.
7. Yearbook, Drama Club, or School Fashion Show
Roles: Be a costume designer, set designer, creative director, or layout designer.
Action: Join these school activities to apply design thinking and collaborate.
Benefit: Enhance visual communication and teamwork skills.
8. Assistant for a Photographer or Creative Team
Action: Help with styling, setting up shoots, or editing.
Benefit: Learn about fashion from a visual and editorial perspective.
9. Craft & Sewing Store Assistant
Places: Work at JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels, or local craft boutiques.
Action: Apply in-store or online for positions.
Benefit: Get familiar with textiles, patterns, and DIY materials.
10. Volunteer at Arts/Fashion Events
Where: Participate in community art fairs, local fashion shows, or student showcases.
Action: Offer your help at these events to gain experience.
Benefit: Network and learn about event production.
Roles: Work as a sales or stock associate at stores like Zara, H&M, or Forever 21.
Action: Apply online or visit stores to inquire about openings.
Benefit: Learn customer preferences, visual merchandising, fabric types, and seasonal trends.
2. Internships with Local Designers or Boutiques
Action: Email or message on social media to ask if they need interns or studio assistants.
Benefit: Gain hands-on experience in styling, designing, assisting in fittings, or sewing.
3. Freelance or Commission-Based Design
Platforms: Create custom t-shirt graphics, digital portraits, or logos on Instagram or Etsy.
Action: Promote your work on social media and engage with potential clients.
Benefit: Develop skills in client communication, marketing, digital design, and pricing.
4. Thrift Flipping or Upcycling
Action: Buy thrift clothes, alter or embellish them, and sell on Depop, Poshmark, or at local markets.
Benefit: Improve sewing, styling, creativity, and learn entrepreneurship.
5. Summer Programs & Pre-College Courses
Examples:
- FIT High School Summer Live
- Parsons Teen Courses
- SCAD Rising Star
Action: Enroll in courses to build your design skills and portfolio.
Benefit: Receive formal design education and enhance your portfolio.
6. Fashion Blogging or Social Media Content Creation
Action: Start a blog, TikTok, or Instagram for styling tips, thrift hauls, or outfit inspiration.
Benefit: Build your personal brand, content strategy, and trend analysis skills.
7. Yearbook, Drama Club, or School Fashion Show
Roles: Be a costume designer, set designer, creative director, or layout designer.
Action: Join these school activities to apply design thinking and collaborate.
Benefit: Enhance visual communication and teamwork skills.
8. Assistant for a Photographer or Creative Team
Action: Help with styling, setting up shoots, or editing.
Benefit: Learn about fashion from a visual and editorial perspective.
9. Craft & Sewing Store Assistant
Places: Work at JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels, or local craft boutiques.
Action: Apply in-store or online for positions.
Benefit: Get familiar with textiles, patterns, and DIY materials.
10. Volunteer at Arts/Fashion Events
Where: Participate in community art fairs, local fashion shows, or student showcases.
Action: Offer your help at these events to gain experience.
Benefit: Network and learn about event production.
This was super helpful, thank you!
Lila