
Fashion Design
Specialization in Fashion Design gives you the opportunity to take courses in intermediate and advanced apparel design, computer aided design, tailoring, production management, fashion and society, international marketing, grading and materials management. In addition, you may further focus on such subjects as contour and knitwear design, block development, theatre/historical costume, and surface (textile) design through the selection of elective courses in second, third and fourth year.
When you are a senior student in the program you will have the opportunity to work with some of Canada's most noted designers to develop your own apparel collections, which are critiqued by industry buyers and manufacturers and shown in the annual year-end fashion events. The collections may be produced individually or as part of a design team.

Year 1
Your first year at the Ryerson Fashion program will no doubt be a whirlwind. It is common to both Communication and Design students and it acts as a foundation for your next three years. Courses provide an overview of the fashion industry as well as theories and concepts that look at history, current events and challenges facing the industry in order to inform new opportunities and shape the future. Cultural and fashion events will introduce you to the world of networking with industry professionals. Guest lecturers from the industry will also be speaking at many of your classes to give insight and guidance into the working world.
Common to both options
Fall Term
FSN 101 Textiles
FSN 120 Fashion Design
FSN 121 Fundamentals of Design and Colour
FSN 122 Illustration
FSN 123 Intro to Fashion
FSN 132 History of Art
Photo by
Winter Term
FSN 220 Fashion Design II
FSN 221 Fundamentals of Design and Colour II
FSN 222 Illustration II
FSN 223 Fashion Concepts and Theory
FSN 232 History of Art
One Liberal Studies from Table A

Year 2
Second year is filled with opportunities as you begin to specialize in your specific option and develop your skills while exploring your particular interests through professionally-related and liberal electives. In your courses you will start to examine how society looks at fashion and how fashion can change a society. Taking courses in business and communication practices you will begin to design with purpose and integrate your skill sets into projects that replicate real-world situations. We encourage you to get involved in internships and fashion events this year, whether it’s through event planning or submitting your own garments to gain exposure.
Fall Term
FFD 313 Intermediate Fashion Design
FFD 314 Intermediate Illustration for Design
FSN 302 History of Costume
MKT 100 Principles of Marketing
One Liberal Studies from Table A
One Professionally-Related Elective from Table I,Table II or Table III
Hand-embroidered bustier by Eloise Ptito-Echeverria
Photo by Jennifer Laflamme
Art Direction: Eloise Ptito-Echeverria and Jennifer Laflamme
Model: Elizabeth Polanco

Year 3
Your third year focuses greatly on applying skills to the real-world. You’ll be learning to conduct research and ask the right questions in order to identify where problems lie. Furthermore, you will be using technology to generate innovative design solutions to these problems. Competitions paired with industry partners McGregor and Danier allow you to present yourself and your ideas in a professional and persuasive manner while leaving you with an advanced set of technical skills that give you a competitive edge in the industry. Fashion Communication students will enroll in either Typography and Graphic Production or Fashion Promotion (also known as Mass Exodus). Finally, to add to the excitement, the opportunity to go on an international exchange occurs in the winter term for both Communication and Design students.
Fall Term
FFD 300 Computer Aided Design
FFD 405 Grading
FFD 513 Advanced Fashion Design
FSN 707 Research Methods
One Liberal Studies from Table B
One Professionally-Related Elective from Table I,Table II or Table III
Photo provided by Brodie Peteran
Winter Term
FFD 303 Integrated Visual Communication
FFD 613 Advanced Fashion Design II
FSN 203 History of Design
One Liberal Studies from Table B
One Professionally-Related Elective from Table I,Table II or Table III

Year 4
The bitter-sweet wrap-up to your undergrad, your fourth year brings it all together with an independently-guided project. In Communication this is known as your Capstone and Design, your final collection. These projects involve research, critical thinking and envelop all your skills to produce an innovative project featured in Mass Exodus. Your courses will complement this process and the objective to make a positive change in the industry locally, nationally and internationally. You will gain a deeper knowledge of the perceptions of consumers while developing employable skills for a job in fashion and related industries.
Fall Term
FFD 40A/B Fashion Design Senior Project
FFD 400 Computer Aided Design II
FFD 403 Integrated Visual Communication II
SOC 656 Fashion and Society
One Liberal Studies from Table B
One Professionally-Related Elective from Table I, Table II or Table III
Collection by Lincole Tsui
Winter Term
FFD 40A/B Fashion Design Senior Project
FFD 802 Strategic Production Management
FSN 400 Fashion in International Markets
FSN 402 Internship
One Professionally-Related Elective from Table I, Table II or Table III