The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private, for-profit art school with branches in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Irvine, California. The college offers a certificate program in footwear design. To enroll in the program, students must already have an Associate of Arts degree in apparel manufacturing management, fashion design or apparel product development. Students must also have the ability to use the software programs Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Among the courses required for the program are applied apparel footwear design, footwear history, marketing strategies, industry practices, patterning, collection development and computer-aided drafting. The college participates in federal financial aid programs.
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
919 South Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
800-624-1200
fidm.edu
Located in the fashion district of New York City, the Fashion Institute of Technology is a public school and a member of the State University of New York college system. The school grants both an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in accessories design for would-be footwear designers. Students in the program study computer-aided drafting, patterning and construction of footwear and the Italian language to communicate with suppliers, many of whom are based in Italy. Students have the option to specialize in niches like athletic footwear or character and costume footwear. All students complete an internship prior to graduation with past placements including positions with Kenneth Cole and Liz Claiborne. The university participates in federal and state financial aid programs. New York residents receive tuition discounts.
Fashion Institute of Technology
Seventh Avenue at 27th St.
New York, NY 10001
212-217-3760
fitsuny.edu
Founded in 1965, the Miami International University of Art & Design is a private, for-profit university. The college grants an Associate of Arts degree in accessory design for prospective footwear designers, which also includes training in how to create and construct handbags, hosiery, hats jewelry and eyewear. The two-year program requires coursework in fashion trends, fashion buying, leathers and other materials, illustration for footwear design, psychology, small business management and entrepreneurship. All students must submit a portfolio for faculty review prior to graduation. The school participates in federal and state loan and grant and veteran benefit programs. Scholarships are awarded as well. The college provides job placement assistance.
Miami International University of Art & Design
1501 Biscayne Blvd.
Suite 100
Miami, FL 33132
305-428-5700
artinstitutes.edu/miami/