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 State of the arts
Lisa J. Kloetzli explains why California is the perfect place to study Art & Design
There is a famous expression in the real estate industry in the United States that is probably true where you live too. The expression is “Location, location, location!” It means that often the value of property - or the success of a business - is determined by where it is located. As a student, location is important to you too - especially if you want to study for a career in Art & Design. Why? Because you will want to get the best learning experience possible to do well in your career, and location makes a difference.
As a student, there are several ways you can learn, and all of them are necessary for you to reach your career goal: Some learning happens when you are in the classroom, listening to your instructor, discussing with your classmates, and working on projects either by yourself or as part of a team. Other learning occurs outside of the classroom, when you are studying on your own or with a group.
There is a third type of learning that is essential if your dream is to have a successful career in some part of the applied arts - for example, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Textile Design, Theatre Costume Design, Footwear Design, or Film & Television Costume Design. If you are interested in these careers, it's smart to study in a city or region that has a lot of resources in those areas. In other words, place yourself where the action is!
This way, it will be easier for you to get hands-on experience while you are a student. It will also help after you graduate to get practical training in your career. You will have more opportunities to meet professionals, develop your “network” and find out about job openings in companies. And by the way, when you research colleges, be sure to ask about what kind of assistance is provided to help you get started in your career.
California is a terrific place to study for a career in Art & Design. There are several reasons - significant reasons if you want give yourself an advantage in starting your career. California has the seventh largest economy in the world, more than $1.2 trillion. Of the 100 fastest-growing companies in the United States, 30 of them are in California.
California's geographic position is a big plus. It is on the “Pacific Rim,” the center of apparel manufacturing in the world. And Los Angeles, the #1 apparel manufacturing center in the United States, is the capital. Los Angeles also has the vital access to seaports and airports that is needed for the distribution of merchandise.
Los Angeles dominates the Entertainment, Retail, Manufacturing, Interior Design and Graphic Design industries. Today, Fashion is very closely connected with the Entertainment industry. Los Angeles (Hollywood) is the entertainment capital of the world, and movie stars and other celebrities are now international fashion trendsetters. The enormous number of television and movie studios, production companies, theatres, design showrooms, and apparel manufacturers means thousands of opportunities in Los Angeles for Fashion Designers, Stylists, Set Designers, Interior Designers, and Graphic/Interactive Multimedia Designers.
One of the greatest assets of the fashion industry is the design talent coming out of Los Angeles schools. And the fact of the matter is that it is easier for young designers to get attention in Los Angeles than in New York because the industry here is less structured. Los Angeles also has three times more women's fashion stores and employees than New York.
While Los Angeles is the leader, other regions of California also have strong fashion industries:
In California, you will have exposure to a vast number of career possibilities. One step you can take to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed in a career in Art & Design is to broaden your awareness of what careers exist. Within the industry, certain careers are well known and perhaps more visible. However, many more careers exist - literally hundreds - that may be lesser known but that also play a vital role in taking a project from concept to completion. Whether the project is a line of clothing, motion picture special effects, or the interior of a hotel, a whole team of talented, skilled professionals is involved in producing the end result.
To get an idea of the variety of careers available, take a look at ‘Careers in Art & Design.' Keep in mind those are just some of the choices! Do you see any careers that you'd like to look into? The more you know about each career, the better you'll be able to decide which one is for you... which one is a good match for your skills, abilities, and passion... which one will give you the chance to do what you love - and be paid for it! And isn't that what you want for your future?
California is a state where trends begin, creativity is rewarded, and careers are made. It's a feast for your mind - and for your future! So if you want to want to experience the excitement and stimulation of studying in a city that's like a “living laboratory,” where your learning opportunities are not limited to the classroom, and if you want to be in an environment that will give you the most benefits for studying and building your Art & Design career, then California is the place for you to be!
CAREERS IN ART & DESIGN
...and lots more!
IMAGE: Fashion design and sketches by FIDM Student Miho Ishioka. |
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