Imagine if you will senior year of high school, the topic of discussion amongst all grads “What will I do after graduation?” For many it’s a post secondary education, for others it’s finding a job. I was personally gearing towards getting a job and moving on with the rest of my life. I had no particular passion for the academics, and didn’t have the motivation to waste money on courses I had no interest in. However, I did enjoy the arts immensely, but still there wasn’t enough ambition to continue into college.
There was one obsession though that my family was well aware of: sewing. I was glued to my sewing machine whenever I had the chance. It was probably the sole reason for my depleting grades. Yet even though I had found something I loved, it never occurred to me that I could continue to hone my skills in post secondary school, that is, until I received a phone call from an Art Institute representative. I completely forgot that they had visited my school during an open house and I had signed up to receive more info. I found the phone call very informative and enlightening. It opened up a world of possibilities than I could never have possibly imagined.
The next two years of my life consisted of pure enjoyable insanity.
Tuition and Related Costs
Take note that AI is classified as a private school, and will most likely be the most expensive school compared to many in Vancouver. My tuition costs for the two-year program totaled over forty thousand dollars, forty-four grand to be precise. Unfortunately for you, it won’t be any cheaper now. The sad truth is that the tuition often increases quarterly, and costs even more for perspective students arriving from outside BC.
Now this is just an assumption, but it was as if the school accepted anyone that could provide the tuition to the program.
I can recall having a conversation with students from various quarters on the subject (i.e first quarter student, second quarter student, etc.) Depending on when students started, the tuition would be drastically different. For one of the students, tuition was eighteen thousand and for another it was close to triple that. This is one of AI’s downfalls: the price tag. My classmates and I started harboring feelings of resentment towards the school as the program progressed. There was definitely the feeling of being used for tuition. Now this is just an assumption, but it was as if the school accepted anyone that could provide the tuition to the program.
The facilities available to fashion students are limited. The equipment is outdated but operational. Although, the school has received new machines and is working on getting more.
Sadly the classrooms were meant for small class sizes, so there’s limited room when there are a lot of students. AI has probably addressed this issue with the construction of a new building. Tuition fees will probably rise noticeably in 2010 because of it. The new residence will hold almost all of the Art Institute students, uniting all programs under one roof.
Many of the supplies are provided but there will be many more that students will need to buy for themselves. Textbooks are rarely ever used, and I have never opened many of my “required” textbooks. Often, teachers will just provide photocopies. There is one book that is essential though and that’s for pattern making. Pattern making books will prove to be the most important items used in any of the fashion classes. They’re viewed as an essential to all fashion students.
AI Environment
The school has two floors reserved specifically for AI students in a downtown building on Georgia street in Vancouver. This is one of three campuses that are available to AI students. Fashion students are normally found at the Georgia street campus. There are many classrooms, two fashion labs, and four computer labs. There is also one room that holds one solitary computer primarily used for Gerber pattern making. This single room and computer is meant for fashion students. If another student from a different program is on the computer, feel free to notify them that it is for the use of fashion students. The atmosphere is always full of creativity and students are encouraged to push their limits.
Program Overview
The Art Institute of Vancouver (AIV) offers a number of different programs to perspective students depending on your focus and/or skills. There are two programs available for students focusing their studies on Fashion design: Fashion Design and Merchandising and Foundation of design (FDMFD) and Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM). The two programs are relatively similar; the differences being that FDMFD is three months longer and has five more classes. FDM requires that students provide a portfolio upon admission to the school, where as FDMFD allows students to create a portfolio during that first semester.
FDMFD runs for two years, all year round, meaning classes continue throughout the summer. Each semester is referred to as a quarter. Each quarter is approximately two and a half months in length. After each quarter students receive two-three weeks of break. This is a continuous cycle that repeats until graduation. For those that find the fast-paced program too strenuous and mentally draining, there is an option to prolong the program by taking a quarter off.
The Foundation quarter is offered to all AI students regardless of program.
I chose FDMFD over FDM. The advantage to taking this program over FDM is that students are taught skills that will be used in their respective programs. The Foundation quarter is offered to all AI students regardless of program. This gives students the chance to network with students from different media. Networking benefits everyone in the long run and this is a good place to start. It also gives students the opportunity to prepare a portfolio within the school environment, and allows students that didn’t have a portfolio beforehand to start one. Although this program is costly in comparison to FDM, I’m glad I was in this program because I received a sneak preview of what to expect in my actual class room environment. When I did start FDM, I noticed that I had a computer advantage over most of the other students that arrived the next quarter, as most did not learn Photoshop or any of the other programs that were required.
For full time students, each quarter will consist of five classes. Each class is four hours long. Class room hours run from 8am-12pm, 1pm-5pm, and 6pm-10pm. unfortunately schedules are dependent on teacher availability, and it is possible to have a day of classes running from 8am-10pm. I have experienced this and it’s very tiring, but it leaves the rest of the week free to focus on homework.
A tip for those who prefer to have small classes, do not enroll in the program for September.
Crash Course
Class sizes are generally small and lessons are taught in a manner that upgrades student’s skills over time. Everything taught by teachers is hands on. A tip for those who prefer to have small classes, do not enroll in the program for September. This is when it’s always the busiest. Many high school graduates will take the summer off to enjoy, and then enroll around this time frame. It is wiser to enroll in the spring or even summer. This way, class sizes are sure to be small, and students will have more one on one time with teachers in the class room environment.
Each course has high expectations and will test your endurance, so keep up with homework. There will always be at least four hours of homework in every class. If teachers decide to be kind, they may also give students the final project that will account for a large portion of their overall mark.
Classes generally consist of honing skills in sewing, illustrations, computer programs, marketing, visual merchandising, and much more. One course I would applaud the school on is its Gerber Computer pattern making class. This is an intense computer class that will dominate the second year of the program. It is a very beneficial class, seeing as it focuses on pattern making, and is related to mass production of a line.
The People at AI
The staff you will encounter are knowledgeable and helpful. Teachers have years of experience in the industry, and some are involved personally, maintaining their own fashion businesses. They are always willing to help students with advice, and may be able to assist you in meeting the right people, depending on what your aim is after graduation.
There are specific counselors dedicated to helping each program. The fashion counselor will have a number of resources that will help students obtain a job. Most often though, the information they provide comes from research on the internet. So sadly, students should depend primarily on themselves to obtain outside ambitions such as an internship. This is not to say that counselors don’t have any leads that may aid students, they should be the first to turn to. Just don’t rely solely on your counselor for help.
Graduation
Before anyone walks on the stage to receive their diploma, each student must successfully create a portfolio and attend a portfolio showing. The portfolio should consist of all the work created throughout the program. Work created outside the program can also be included as well. Do not throw any projects as they’ll eventually be used for your portfolio.
The trend has been consistently the same for fashion students. Industry reps almost never show up.
The show gives students the opportunity to display all their work to family and friends, but it is mainly meant to allow graduates to meet perspective employers that attend. Counselors will say that they have invited many perspective employers to attend the show, but the trend has been consistently the same for fashion students. Industry reps almost never show up. The morning portion of the day is reserved for industry invites only, and than public viewing occurs during the evening. The whole morning is basically a waste of time. My portfolio show amounted to zero employers attending, unless you count the people asking to find the graphic students. Otherwise the show is pointless for attracting industry reps. On the other hand, friends and family are always a welcoming sight after a dull day.
Fashion show
The graduation fashion show takes place once a year and includes all fashion students from throughout the year. The fashion show has always generated interest with both press and industry attending as guests. The AI fashion show also starts off BC Fashion week. Unfortunately fashion students are not guaranteed a spot in the show. To qualify, students must make a specific number of “looks” ie. five complete outfits. Each garment is graded on creativity and construction, and must pass a minimum of eighty-five percent to showcase in the fashion show. Students do not have any creative direction either as they have no say in the music or theme choice. The show only occurs once a year, so there are always a large number of students wanting to present their work, which usually makes the show run long. Our grad show had thirty-two designers and ran for over two hours!
Just note though that Fashion students have the lowest success
rate of employment of all programs.
Life After School
At the moment, I’m currently working retail in a Calgary mall. Not the ideal job I was dreaming of. I was also involved in assisting a designer with her collection for Alberta fashion week, but decided to pull myself out. This is normally the life of a fashion student after graduation. I know from both experience and conversations with many other alumni. This is not always the case though, some graduates do continue onto better things, such as the owners of Eden Fashion Boutique. Just note though that Fashion students have the lowest success rate of employment of all programs. This is because graduates choose to create their own businesses or continue on with unrelated work. Now that I’m an alumni of AI, looking back, I realize that AI is analogous to an impulsive purchase. The price tag fools consumers into thinking that it’s the highest quality of its kind, when really, the same quality can be found for far less in better places.
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading ...
Candice
jessica
christine
Fashion Girl
I know exactly what you mean because I was there. I graduated in the same class as the girl that owns Eden boutique. She was able to open her own store because her family could afford it. Not all of us are able to do that. I still resent that school for all the stress it put me through and it was all worthless. Right now, I am back in school getting a better education without the heavy price tag. AI; the worst and most expensive thing I ever did to my parents.