FIDM Magazine

An Inside Look at FIDM’s Career Connections 2008

FIDM's 16th Annual Career Connections, an event which brings together successful FIDM Alumni with current FIDM Students for networking and knowledge-sharing, took place last week on the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Orange County campuses. Over 140 FIDM Graduates participated, along with over 1,000 FIDM Students.

Each year some of FIDM's most illustrious Alumni return to the college to share their experience in the industry with current students. From left, Nick Verreos (Project Runway Season 2 Finalist and FIDM Instructor), Raymundo Baltazar (Project Runway Season 2 Finalist and successful Stylist), red carpet designer Kevan Hall, and current Project Runway Finalist Kelli Martin all spent the morning talking to students on the Los Angeles campus.

Here’s what some of the participants had to say about FIDM & Career Connections:

"What I loved about FIDM is that every one of my instructors was in the Beauty Industry. FIDM supports you not only in your education but afterwards, in your career," said Viri Flores, Assistant Manager at a major beauty emporium.

Raymundo Baltazar, who has worked with Ed Hardy, Justin Timberlake's William Rast clothing, and Antiq Denim, had a lot to say, and the crowd around his table was three people thick. "If you don't know fit and you don't know patterns, you're not a designer! Specialize in something and know the basics."

Raymundo continued, "FIDM is one of the best-known fashion colleges in the world. They have the best connections. It's very expensive, but what you get in return is priceless!"

"FIDM gave me a really great start," said Assistant Costume Designer Suzy Magnin, "and a lot of contacts. I got my first job, on Gilmore Girls, through my connections at FIDM." Since then she's worked on Cold Case, CSI, and So You Think You Can Dance, among others.

Emmy Award winning Costumer for Six Feet Under, Jill Ohanneson, told us, "Whenever I need an intern or a Production Assistant, I call FIDM!"

Reactions from the students were just as positive. "Inspirational!" "Very well organized, very well worth it!" and "Inspired me to do more than what is expected," were some of the attendees' remarks afterwards.

So went FIDM's 16th such successful event. Students walked away with not only valuable information on the realities of the industries they hope to enter, but in some cases they gleaned contacts for internships and jobs, with the Alumni benefiting from the event as well.

For more on Career Connections, visit FIDM.edu.

Head to Nick Verreos’s blog for his take on the event.

Interior Design Students Work on Roosevelt Lofts Project, Part 2

Read on for Part 2 of our interview with Jessica Comingore and Julianna Duarte, the FIDM Interior Design Advanced Study Program Students who are  designing two of the luxury units in the Roosevelt Lofts in Downtown Los Angeles. To read Part 1 of the interview, click here. Watch this spot for more info and pix  as this fantastic design project progresses! --Kim

FIDM Magazine: What work have you done so far on the project?
Julianna: So far for the loft space we have created proposal plans that were presented our design and layout were approved. We've started to budget out all expenses such as furniture, accessories, labor, installation, etc. Next, we will start the purchasing of all products...

FIDM: Why did you decide to apply for the third year program?
Julianna: I just graduated the FIDM in San Francisco with my AA in Interior Design and I looked into what the third year program had to offer and fell in love with the options. I had to come down and continue following my dreams in Product Design, Store Planning, and Set Design.
Jessica:  With the opportunity of doing the third year, I was able to delve into more specific aspects of interior design that had peaked my interest during the two years of more general study. With options like decorative arts and product design (two areas I want to pursue further), I felt it was the ideal step for me as far as continued education. Likewise, I felt my two years at FIDM had opened more doors and provided more opportunities than I thought possible, and moving forward with a third year could only continue to do so.

FIDM: Are you currently interning/working anywhere else or are you working exclusively on this project?
Julianna: I am currently interning for a designer, Erinn Valencich from Omniarte.
Jessica: I work part time as an assistant designer for a residential design and construction firm in Burbank (MV Design Group).

Yolanda Jackson Awarded Kennedy Center Internship

FIDM Graduate Yolanda Jackson has accepted one of 22 prestigious fall 2007 internships with the world-renowned John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. A 2007 cum laude graduate of FIDM’s Merchandise Product Development Program, Yolanda will gain hands-on experience interning in major gifts development, which secures annual gifts of $25,000 and greater. Her responsibilities will include working with donor stewardship, including preparing materials for donor correspondence and assisting in special event planning. --Kim

FIDM Students Intern at Trendy L.A. Boutique

Students in our Visual Communications Program learn the art of retail display through internships with Lisa Kline Stores, a favorite of Hollywood celebs and stylists! 

“Retail display windows are works of art designed to tell a story and capture the interest of the customer,” explains Visual Designer Nancy Kline, who also shows interns how to find and make props, budget for displays, and work with store personnel. Find out more about this exciting collaboration here. --Kim

FIDM Students Live the Fashionable Life

Students in our Visual Communications Program learn the art of retail display through internships with Lisa Kline Stores, a favorite of Hollywood celebs and stylists. Read all about it here.

The Cosmopolitan Student Alliance is a new networking club created by and for FIDM's international students. Meet the founders and find out how they made it happen!

Have the urge to study in Paris, Milan, or New York? Find out more about our fabulous Study Tours.