FIDM Magazine

Pierce Jeans on FOX 11's Good Day L.A.

FIDM Grad David Hwang is president of Pierce Jeans, the denim brand featured in a recent Good Day L.A. denim makeover style segment. Watch the video here. --Kim

Apartment Therapy Blogs About FIDM's Design Studio

Popular design blog "Apartment Therapy" features a look at the interior of FIDM's Design Studio on our Los Angeles Campus. The spaces in the Design Studio were created by award-winning architect Clive Wilkinson who also designed the new FIDM San Diego Campus and the Orange County Campus. --Kim

Meet FIDM Interior Design Program Chair Dina Morgan: Part II

In a continuing celebration of FIDM's Interior Design Program, today we're posting Part II of an interview with Interior Design Department Chair Dina Morgan, who is herself a working professional Interior Designer as well as an instructor in the department.

Dina is also a Graduate of FIDM's Interior Design Program, so she knows the program from all sides.

Ever-busy and in constant demand, Dina was kind enough to make time for us to connect with her about FIDM and Interior Design.

Why FIDM for Interior Design?
We are located among the most geographically-rich design communities. The arts abound! Students have the opportunity to be immersed in the arts--specifically for their majors or to use the arts as jumping-off points for inspiration. 

Architecture and interiors play heavily in the day-to-day life of the communities in which we interface. 

Design centers are in easy proximity to each campus. The West Coast rivals the East Coast as a launching pad for hot new cutting-edge design.

We are very serious about educating our students to meet the expectations of the industry. Our goal is to provide a strong technical foundation, training students in what it means to be a Designer, not just an Interior Designer and to deal with skill sets appropriate to an Interior Designer's job description.

What makes FIDM's Interior Design Program so special?

We have the opportunity as a close-knit college to collaborate with other disciplines. Our "Chairing Styles" project is an innovative approach to having three majors "talk" to each other:

Textiles, Fashion Design, and Interior Design collaborate to produce a one-of-a-kind upholstered chair with a matching outfit out of the same fabric. Students have the opportunity to work together and
quickly realize that each discipline shares common elements.

 

 

 

What are some projects the FIDM Interior Design Students have participated in outside the classroom?

FIDM's Interior Design department has participated for the last two years in "Tables of Ten," a dining event tied into the "Avenues of Art and Design" in June. Our "Chairing Styles" students have had the opportunity to design the table top through the designs they have created for their chairs.

At FIDM, we interface within the community. The project we are working on with the Boys & Girls Club of Venice has given the Interior Design students a greater understanding of how design affects children and adults within a group environment.

What do FIDM Interior Design Students get out of participating in outside community projects?

 

Working with clients and presenting design concepts to individuals who will be functioning within the space is the type of experience most students do not get to have, but they get it here at FIDM. 

At FIDM, we try to provide situations for exposure within the classroom with mentoring by industry professionals dealing with these situations as part of their daily design practice.

 

The Roosevelt Lofts project provided a more independent opportunity for students within the Advanced Study Program in Interior Design.

FIDM's Interior Design department participates in special projects that will benefit the community. 

 

 

What are some of the other projects FIDM Interior Design Students have contributed to?

 

Within the past few years, we have completed the design and the specification of materials for the Main Reception area, ICU Waiting area, and the Emergency Room Waiting area at The San Gabriel Community Hospital.

We have completed the design and specification of the Art Room at The Boys and Girls Club of Venice, and we are starting another project with them in the upcoming Fall 2008 Quarter. We will also be working

 

with an Oncology Center in Beverly Hills.

What is FIDM's goal in having students participate in outside projects?

Our goal with these projects is to provide exposure for the student to areas of specialization, i.e. health care and community-based spaces. It also creates a working environment comparable to the experience they would encounter within the industry as a professional, but with the ability to work as a team and be mentored by an instructor.

Stay tuned for Parts III and IV of Dina's interview! --Belissa

 

 

OdileOdette Is One of Gen Art's Fresh Faces In Fashion

Fashion Design Professional Designation program graduates Nichole Kreglow and Stephanie Bodnar have been selected to show their line OdileOdette at this year's Gen Art runway show featuring collections from all the winning designers. The two met while attending classes, including History of Costume and Intermediate and Advanced Draping and Pattern Drafting, at FIDM San Francisco. Read our interview with Nichole and Stephanie at FIDM's Fashion Club Daily. --Kim

FIDM Interior Design Department's Annual "Chairing Styles" Exhibition

October is FIDM Magazine's tribute to the Interior Design Department, and one of the most exciting annual projects in the Interior Design Department is "Chairing Styles," which shares the glory with the Fashion Design and Theatre Costume Design Departments at FIDM's DEBUT Gala in early Spring.

What is FIDM's "Chairing Styles"?

FIDM's annual "Chairing Styles" Project pulls together FIDM's Interior Design Students, Fashion Design Students, and Textile Design Students who work as a team.

The Textile Design Students design the fabric for the upholstery and the clothing.

The Fashion Design Students design the outfit that matches the chair.

The Interior Design Students design a chair that incorporates the fabric designed by the Textile Design Students.

At FIDM's annual DEBUT Gala, in conjunction with the Debut Fashion Show, there is an exhibition of the year's "Chairing Styles" collaborations.--Belissa

FIDM Student Life: Courtney Little, Fashion Designer

FIDM Fashion Design Student Courtney Little created an entire collection--including accessories--for this year's "Passport to Style" event. Her hard work paid off when she was awarded the first place scholarship in the competition. In our latest FIDM Fashion Club interview, find out more about Courtney and get the scoop on what it's really like to be a FIDM Student. --Kim

FIDM Fashion Design Student on The Price Is Right

FIDM Fashion Design Student Alicia Furio was a recent contestant on T.V.'s The Price Is Right. To find out what she won, head to FIDM's Fashion Club Daily. --Kim

FIDM Grad Creates One-of-a-Kind Wedding Gowns

FIDM Fashion Design Grad Deborah La Franchi creates custom couture bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses for her clientele.

"Color is becoming a very popular thing for wedding gowns," said La Franchi. "The traditional white gown was started by Queen Victoria, but before that, gowns were actually colored. Light blue was the most popular gown because that was the color of purity."

La Franchi's most recent designs include a light pink wedding dress and an ivory gown made from Italian silk, patterned with vegetable dye.

Click here to read the rest of the article. --Kim

Just Graduated: FIDM Grad Jana Garvin Takes on Manhattan

After graduating from FIDM's Visual Communications Professional Designation Program in June, Jana Garvin headed to New York City to find her dream job. Over the next few weeks on FIDM's Fashion Club Daily, we'll chronicle Jana's job search and get regular updates on her real-life adventures. Click here for the first episode of Life After FIDM: The Jana Garvin Chronicles. --Kim

Four Year Degree in Business Management

For FIDM Grad Heidi Westgaard, continuing her education in FIDM’s Bachelor of Science degree program in Business Management was the only choice. “I looked at other universities and FIDM is so career-focused; there’s definitely more of a one-on-one environment compared to a larger university.” Read the rest of our interview with Heidi here. --Kim