Students will develop a working knowledge of additive and subtractive color systems, color mixing, and approaches to color harmony as well as an understanding of practical issues such as color matching, correction, and forecasting. A variety of media and sources are introduced through weekly exercises. This course investigates the principles, properties and interactions of color as well as the cultural and psychological implications of color across disciplines.
Examples of historical and professional art and design are presented so that students may recognize their influence on contemporary design and to relate their own design efforts to a larger cultural context. Emphasis is placed on developing creative design concepts, gaining practical problem-solving skills, and communicating project solutions visually and verbally. Studio exercises using various media explore concepts of balance, harmony, repetition, rhythm, scale, and time in two, three, and four-dimensional organizations. Formal visual properties of line, shape, form, pattern, value, texture, and sequence are studied in their relationship to content and compositional organizing systems. This course introduces students to the elements and principles of design and to the processes of design thinking. Notable fashion designers represented include Bonnie Cashin, Andre Courreges, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Mariano Fortuny, James Galanos, Jean Paul Gaultier, Rudi Gernreich, Issey Miyake, Norman Norell, Yves Saint Laurent, Arnold Scaasi, Elsa Schiaparelli and Yohji Yamamoto. Indeed, Hollywood designers have long been associated with Woodbury: Howard Greer was instrumental in creating the first professional costume design training program offered by Woodbury in 1931, and William Travilla, famous for his Marilyn Monroe designs, was a Woodbury graduate. The collection boasts film costumes from such luminaries as Edith Head and Adrian. It is one thing to view an image of a Paris couture gown, it is an entirely different experience to personally look at its construction details! As any professor or student will tell you, nothing quite compares with being able to examine an object first-hand. Examples chosen vary and can include eighteenth century textiles, footwear, couture beading samples and knitwear. They can choose objects based on construction techniques, designer attribution or by chronology.
Fashion Design students have access to the Fashion Study Collection.