FIDM Magazine

New Interview: Graphic Design Student Jocelyn Goode

FIDM Graphic Design Student Jocelyn Goode, in her second year on the San Francisco campus, recently won JCPenney's national Reusable Bag Contest. The bag, featuring her signature, will be sold in JCPenney stores next spring. In our latest Style Scoop Interview, find out how this busy student stays inspired! --Kim

FIDM Footwear Design Grads Featured on Cover of 'Footwear News'

FIDM Footwear Design Program Grads Cherise Angelle and Nicole LaFave of the luxury shoe line Omelle are on the cover of Footwear News. Head to Omelle.com to view the article. (You'll need to scroll down the page to view it.) --Kim

Forbes Names FIDM Grad a "Designer on the Rise"

Forbes Magazine has named 25-year old FIDM Fashion Design Grad Sergio Guadaramma one of Ten Undiscovered Designers On the Rise. A 2003 graduate, Sergio recently showed a gorgeous Swarkovski crystal-studded, 100% cotton wedding gown at Supima's inaugural Design Contest for Emerging Talent.

His work has appeared in Women's Wear Daily, Fashion Week Daily, Vogue Knitting, and Fashion FM. --Kim

Graphic Design Student Wins JCPenney Reusable Bag Contest

FIDM Graphic Design Student Jocelyn Goode, in her second year on the San Francisco campus, is one of the three winners of JCPenney's national Reusable Bag Contest. Jocelyn's bag, featuring her signature, will be sold in JCPenney stores next spring. --Kim

Mark Griffin, Scholarship Winner, First-Year FIDM Interior Design Student and "Chairing Styles" Participant

Interior Design Month continues as we interview student Mark Griffin, winner of the Interior Design prize in the FIDM National Scholarship Competition. Though only a first-year FIDM Interior Design Student, Mark is a participant in FIDM's "Chairing Styles" Program. He also works full-time and has a family. Talk about talent and focus! --Belissa

How did you come to enroll in FIDM?
I knew I wanted a career in some form of design. I frequently visited the FIDM website and the the FIDM National Scholarship Competition caught my eye. It was just about 5 days before the deadline to submit an entry when I had the project information emailed to me. I figured I had nothing to lose by trying so I put my creative juices to work. I had the project overnighted to arrive exactly on the due date.

To my surprise, two months later I received a call from my Admissions Advisor saying the competition judges were very impressed with my work, but I could not win until I had been accepted to the school.

It was a fast-paced race to get me through the grammar and math exams, get a hold of my high school transcripts, not to mention schedule an interview with the Director of Admissions.

The race was worth it! I was awarded the scholarship and was now enrolled in FIDM.

What drew you to FIDM?
I chose to apply to FIDM based on its reputation in the industry. My first step towards a risky career change was to start with the right education. I toured the school and was impressed with what I saw. Now it was a matter of, ”What am I doing?” Can I make it in college after being out of school for 22 years? I figured if FIDM had enough confidence in my work to award me one full year's tuition then I should do the same, so I dove right in!

What do you plan to do with your FIDM Interior Design degree?
When entering FIDM, I had my mind set on working my way into Set Design.

At this point, I am exploring all that the ID industry has to offer and keeping my options open. I feel that things are falling in place and my destiny with this will find me.

What is your dream job?
My dream job would be to work on a production team for a major motion picture or television series. I have had some experience in the entertainment industry and that is where my heart lies. 

Where do you find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration for design in everything around me: In color, in pattern, in emotion. As for my inspiration to move forward or to go for my goals, I find that in my wife and kids.

Anything else you'd like to tell aspiring FIDM ID Students? It is never too late! you can go after your new dreams and reach new goals.

When looking at the very heavy work load that is involved with the FIDM Interior Design Program, don’t get overwhelmed. You can make it work.

Just look at me and all that I juggle. Even with all I have on my plate I have managed to maintain straight A’s for my first three quarters. If I can do it, then so can you!

How did you get involved in"Chairing Styles"?
I have always had an interest in furniture design.

When the opportunity came up to apply for “Chairing Styles” I jumped at it. Although I technically was too new to FIDM to be a candidate, I thought I would give the application process a shot. I was only in my second quarter and did not have all that was requested for the portfolio.

I gave them what I had and walked into the interview ready for the battle. I did my best to assure then I could face the challenge. I was so happy when I was picked!

What type of project are you working on for "Chairing Styles"?

"Chairing Styles" is a program and competition that is made up of a small collaborating group of Interior Design, Textile, and Fashion Design students. We are grouped into teams of three with one from each division. Our goal is to use the fabric designed by the Textile Student to create an inspired design for a chair and a dress.

As an ID student we go through the process of learning how to design a chair. We are then paired up
with furniture manufacturers who volunteer their time and materials to mentor us and take us through the manufacturing process.

This is an ongoing relationship that stretches through Summer and into early Spring, when the FIDM DEBUT takes place.

At the completion of this manufacturing process we are judged on our design and use of fabric. If you are the fortunate First Place Winner, you are awarded $8,000!

But we are all winners to have had this opportunity to gain the much-needed skills, not to mention how
the “Chairing Styles” Project looks on our resumes and in our portfolios.

(Mark's rendering of his "Chairing Styles" chair is above.)

Anything else you'd like to add?
I am very proud to have the opportunity to be a part of "Chairing Styles. I have great admiration and respect for my fellow students. It is a diverse group who have been nothing if not supportive of each other. I look forward to carrying my experience and these relationships with me into my future career!

Help Metrolink Victim Racheal Mofya Fight for a Bright Future

Although FIDM Student Racheal Mofya has not regained consciousness since surviving the tragic Metrolink train crash on September 12, she is fighting valiantly to stay alive--nodding her head, wiggling her toes, and squeezing family and doctors' hands.

The 27-year old exchange student comes from the impoverished African country of Zambia where her parents died and she was raised by her grandmother. Awarded a scholarship by FIDM, she is an outstanding student who has become like a daughter to her American host family.

Please join FIDM's Beauty Industry Merchandising & Marketing program in supporting Rachael and her family as she fights for the bright future she has worked so hard to obtain.

Direct donations can be made to:
Simi Valley Community Foundation/Racheal Mofya*
40 Cochran, #100, Simi Valley, CA 93065 (Tax ID#912053374)
*Racheal Mofya's name must appear with Simi Valley Community Foundation

FIDM Grad Leanne Marshall Wins 'Project Runway'!

We are thrilled to announce that FIDM Alumna Leanne Marshall won first place in this season's Project Runway! A recipient of FIDM's Designer of Tomorrow Scholarship Award, Leanne graduated from the San Francisco Campus in 2001. Though this season's competition has been fierce, Leanne showed the highest degree of professionalism, technical skill, and innate talent.

"Without a doubt it's been the most amazing experience," said Leanne. "I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Next up Leanne is set to start her new label with a little help from her Project Runway winnings, $100,000 seed money from Tresemmé! Watch this space for further details. --Kim

Kevan Hall Runway Show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, L.A.

Renowned FIDM Grad and "Designer of Tomorrow" scholarship winner Kevan Hall premiered his latest collection for Spring/Summer 2009 at the opening night of this week's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Los Angeles.

The stunning collection entitled "Stage Door" was inspired by MGM costumer Adrian who dressed silver screen movie stars like Katharine Hepburn, Norma Shearer, and Joan Crawford and features looks "that could take any screen star from Rehearsals, to Filming, to Publicity shoots." 

WWD said about the show: "Old-school Hollywood glamour is a favorite red carpet inspiration, so Kevan Hall, being no stranger to either, looked back to the style of famed MGM costumer Adrian. The result was a pre-Technicolor palette that lent itself beautifully to the designer’s structured “let’s do lunch” day dresses and signature diva gowns trimmed with crystals."

The talented designer has dressed everyone from Charlize Theron to Salma Hayek. Find out more about Kevan's career at FIDM.edu. --Kim

FIDM Footwear Design Grads Featured In L.A. Times

"L.A. is having a shoe moment," proclaimed The Los Angeles Times this weekend. The profile on L.A.'s top shoe designers featured FIDM Footwear Design Program Grads Cherise Angelle and Nicole LaFave, founders of the luxe shoe line Omelle. --Kim

FIDM Grad Is Stylist for The Starter Wife

Strictly Fabulous Style interviews FIDM Fashion Design Grad Agata Maskiewics about her job as stylist for the T.V. show The Starter Wife. Here's an excerpt:

"Fashion is almost like another character in The Starter Wife. So much of the personality of the actors comes through in the clothing they wear. Our goal is to have the audience as excited about the fashions as they are the characters. We want the people at home to feel as though they can hear the ruffle of Molly’s Zac Posen silk dress and smell the exquisite leather of her Manolos. We want them to daydream about getting into Molly’s closet and have the opportunity to dress from it everyday as she does. And yes, the closet is huge, since as a Hollywood woman, she never repeats an outfit!"

Read the rest of the interview here. --Kim