Fashion as Design
Offered By
Fashion as Design
The Museum of Modern Art
About this Course
4.9
403 ratings
Among all objects of design, our clothes are the most universal and intimate. Like other kinds of design, fashion thrives on productive tensions between form and function, automation and craftsmanship, standardization and customization, universality and self-expression, and pragmatism and utopian vision. It exists in the service of others, and it can have profound consequences—social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental.
Fashion as Design focuses on a selection of more than 70 garments and accessories from around the world, ranging from kente cloth to jeans to 3D-printed dresses. Through these garments, we’re going to look closely at what we wear, why we wear it, how it’s made, and what it means. You’ll hear directly from a range of designers, makers, historians, and others working with clothing every day—and, in some cases, reinventing it for the future. Studio visits, interviews, and other resources introduce the history and development of each garment and their changing uses, meanings, and impact over time.
Course Learning Objectives:
Develop critical tools to appreciate and contextualize fashion design—from everyday clothing to couture garments—through many different perspectives.
Trace the history, development, and impact of garments over time, and explore how they may be reinvented.
Investigate garments through multiple lenses including politics, identity, and economics.
Understand more about the lifecycle of clothing, from its design and production to its marketing, distribution, and consumption.
Better comprehend the choices you make about fashion with respect to the visual language of dress, individual and collective identities, and issues such as labor practices, sustainability, and body politics.
Skills you will gain
Art HistoryArtHistoryCreativity
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
1Introduction
1 video (Total 3 min), 3 readings
1 video
3 readings
Welcome to Fashion as Design10m
Who's Afraid of Fashion? by Paola Antonelli10m
Additional Readings & Resources10m
Week
2Heroes
Wearing certain garments can inspire heroic transformations, while heroes can elevate everyday clothing to iconic status. In this module, you will discover the relationship between aspiration, achievement, adulation, and attire through a wide range of heroes—and even imagine yourself as a space hero in the future.
8 videos (Total 35 min), 8 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
On Site in Los Angeles: Recreating Bruce Lee's Tracksuit7m
Curator Stephanie Kramer on Sports Jerseys2m
Guy Baldwin, International Mr. Leather 1989, on Leather Pants2m
Designer Richard Malone on the Jumpsuit2m
Designer Kerby Jean-Raymond on the Hoodie3m
Designer Kerby Jean-Raymond, Abecedarium Presentation on the Hoodie8m
On Site in London: Designing a MarsBoot with Liz Ciokajlo6m
8 readings
A Close Look at the Items: Sports Heroes10m
A Close Look at the Item: Subcultural Heroes10m
A Close Look at the Items: Military and Political Heroes10m
A Close Look at the Items: Celebrity and Pop Heroes10m
Bandana Tewari, Vogue India, on the Sari10m
Malika V. Kashyap, Border&Fall, on the Sari10m
A Close Look at the MarsBoot Prototype10m
Additional Readings & Resources10m
1 practice exercise
Heroes20m
Week
3Silhouettes
When we put on clothes, we change the shape and outline of our bodies—sometimes profoundly. The silhouettes we adopt are determined by everything from shifting trends in fashion to what looks and feels good. This week, we explore how clothes shape the body and how cultural constructions of the body shape clothes.
7 videos (Total 38 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
On Site at MoMA: Designing Mannequins with Tae Smith6m
Curator Valerie Steele, Abecedarium Presentation on the Little Black Dress10m
Fashion Historian Francesca Granata on Body Meets Dress, Dress Meets Body—and Become One1m
Linda Loppa on the Tabi Boot2m
Designer Janie Bryant on the Pencil Skirt3m
Mickey Boardman, PAPER magazine, Abecedarium Presentation on the Muumuu and Caftan7m
7 readings
A Close Look at the Items: Shape10m
A Close Look at the Items: Conform10m
A Close Look at the Items: Augment10m
Designer Norma Kamali on the Sleeping Bag Coat10m
A Close Look at the Items: Free10m
Fashion Historian Lauren Downing Peters and Co-founder of Universal Standard Alexandra Waldman on Non-Sample Size Clothing10m
Additional Readings & Resources10m
1 practice exercise
Silhouettes20m
Week
4Coutures
The French word couture means "dressmaking" or "sewing,” and often refers to one-of-a-kind, primarily handmade garments intended for a specific individual. This module approaches couture from a broader perspective, exploring the complex processes—from traditional handcrafting to the use of new technologies—that go into the making of high-end and everyday garments.
6 videos (Total 38 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz
6 videos
On Site in London: Making a Bespoke Savile Row Suit with Anderson & Sheppard, Part I9m
On Site in London: Making a Bespoke Savile Row Suit with Anderson & Sheppard, Part II12m
Designer Carlo Brandelli on the Suit2m
Designers Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg on the Kinematics Dress1m
On Site in New Jersey: Designing 3D-Printed Dresses with threeASFOUR7m
6 readings
A Close Look at the Items: Crafting10m
A Close Look at the Items: Producing10m
Jason Schott, Schott NYC, on the Biker Jacket10m
A Close Look at the Items: Growing10m
A Close Look at Design Collective threeASFOUR10m
Additional Readings & Resources10m
1 practice exercise
Coutures20m
4.9
42%
83%
Top Reviews
By AB•Apr 9th 2018
This course is excellently taught and very engaging, I have enjoyed it immensely and cant wait to do further courses produced by MOMA! Great course, I would highly recommend it :)
By MI•Apr 17th 2018
I really enjoyed this course. I love the facts and new things I have learned about garments and items that I use in my every day life but also other objects from other cultures.
Instructors
Paola Antonelli
Senior Curator, Department of Architecture & Design, and Director, Department of Research & DevelopmentDepartment of Architecture & Design
Michelle Millar Fisher
Curatorial AssistantDepartment of Architecture and Design
Stephanie Kramer
Research AssistantDepartment of Architecture & Design
Anna Burckhardt
Curatorial AssistantDepartment of Architecture & Design
About The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. With extraordinary exhibitions and the world's finest collection of modern and contemporary art, MoMA is dedicated to the conversation between the past and the present, the established and the experimental. Our mission is helping you understand, enjoy, and use the art of our time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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