FIDM Magazine

Style Scoop Interview: Jimin Park Weatherly, Textile Designer at Quiksilver

Textile Designer Jimin Park Weatherly absolutely loves her job at the popular surf, skate, and sport brand Quiksilver. Find out what inspires Jimin and get a look at this FIDM Grad's typical workday, which includes shopping for ideas and sketching with watercolors. (Who wouldn't love this?!) Read the interview!

Fashion Knitwear Design and Textile Design Student Work Exhibition

Industry leaders and potential employers were invited to attend a portfolio review and exhibition featuring work by FIDM's Fashion Knitwear Design Students and Textile Design Students, including student blogger Adelle Burda (pictured below), who just began her second year in the program. Check out Adelle's student blog here.

Fashion Knitwear Couture
 

Textile Design

Adelle Burda

Fashion Knitwear Design by Adelle Burda

Fashion Knitwear Couture by Adelle Burda

FIDM Alumna Koi Suwannagate Launches Knits at Anthropologie This Fall

Alumna Koi Suwannagate, who sells at Barneys, Nordstrom, and boutiques, will be designing a collection of knits that will launch this fall at Anthropologie according to the L.A. Times. While we don't know what the pieces will look like yet, we can only assume that they will be affordable, accessible, and beautiful.

Learn about Knitwear Design, Fashion Designing, and Fashion Merchandising at FIDM.

CHAIRING STYLES Exhibition Preview

FIDM's annual Chairing Styles exhibition is a unique collaboration between Textile Design, Fashion Design, and Interior Design Students. Here is a sneak preview of this year's collection, which will premiere at the DEBUT Runway Show this weekend. The matching fashion and furniture will then be on display in the FIDM Museum & Galleries. 

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!

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

"Chairing Styles" On Display at the Pacific Design Center

You won't want to miss the fantastic "Chairing Styles" exhibition featuring work by FIDM Textile Design, Fashion Design, and Interior Design Students. In the annual project, unveiled every year at our Debut Fashion Show and Gala, 30 students from the three disciplines collaborate to create fabric, ten outfits, and ten matching chairs. Find out more about the exhibition which runs March 6 through May 6 at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. --Kim

FIDM Grad Gets Barbie "All Dolled Up"

As Mattel'€™s Senior Manager for Product Design, FIDM Textile Design Grad Kim Culmone "looks to the streets and runways of New York City and Paris for inspiration" as she creates ensembles for her tiny but important client, Barbie. In an interview with AOL, Kim reveals how FIDM's Career Development Center helped her land this incredible opportunity. Find out more about her typical work day and get the details on her fabulous job. --Kim 

Knits: A Haute Trend That's Here to Stay

Recognize a pattern here? If you're intrigued, visit the FIDM Museum Promenade this fall to see our annual Textile Design exhibition featuring examples of Knitwear and Surface Design work by FIDM Textile Design Students. Plus: Get a sneak preview of the Textile Designs used in the upcoming "Chairing Styles" exhibition, a collaboration among Fashion Design, Interior Design, and Textile Design students. The Museum Promenade is located on the third floor of our flagship campus in downtown Los Angeles. --Kim

Images: Missoni and Chloe, Fall 2007 Ready to Wear Collections