Course Overview
The Fashion Design Creative Process course is an summer program for High School students. It is a two-week noncredit program that aims to provide insight into the multi-faceted world of fashion and sustainable design. The emphasis is on how fashion design evolves, where are ideas generated, how a designer creates a collection and the workings of the fashion industry as well as in depth experience in the area of upcycle design.
Students will study the origins of the fashion industry from the glamour of Parisian haute couture to the designers such as marc Jacobs and Jason Wu currently working on 7th avenue in New York City. London, Milan and Tokyo will also be explored along with Paris and New York through fashion shows, projects and an exciting final presentation that will feature student designs! The emphasis will be threefold, fashion collection development, the basics of fashion illustration, sustainable fashion, and portfolio development. Working closely with the professors each day the fashion students will be sketching ideas and generating a final capsule collection. The course will culminate in an exhibition at the Nancy Cantor Warehouse on the final day to showcase the student’s original designs.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
- Understanding of the Fashion Industry; the levels and locations of fashion centers
- Understanding of how fashion design happens, target customer, inspiration, collection development
- Understanding the importance and creativity of upcycle and sustainable design
- Learn basic skills in fashion sketching and designing
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: SCN 055
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior status – or a 2026 high school graduate.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
Cost:
- Residential: $4,995
- Commuter: $4,024
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session I: Sunday, July 5 – Friday, July 17, 2026 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Noncredit |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Course Requirements
Required Textbook
- Fashionpedia; The Visual Dictionary of Fashion Design by Fashionpedia, 2016.
Instructions on how to order the textbook can be found here.
Required Supplies
- Students should budget for purchasing a supply kit. Additional details coming soon!
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
9 a.m. to Noon: Mornings will be spent being introduced to key concepts of fashion and accessory design through lecture, demonstration and discussion
Noon to 1 p.m.: Lunch break
1 – 4 p.m.: Afternoons will be spent in the fashion design studios in the School of Design working on exercises and design projects that explore key concepts discussed in the morning sessions. Students will be immersed in fashion design much like our undergraduate students are and should expect to spend all studio hours working on projects with our TA
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College virtual activities to meet and connect with other students across the world. Check out our Virtual Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Jeffrey Mayer, Co-Director
School of Design, Professor Fashion Design
Professor Jeffrey Mayer is the Program Coordinator for the Fashion Design program, Curator of the Syracuse University Sue Ann Genet Costume Collection and author of ‘Vintage Details; a Fashion Sourcebook’ which features vintage garments from the collection, and co-author of ‘500 Patterns’ which showcases 500 historic and vintage textile prints.
His teaching within the program varies from hands-on design in the area of Construction, Flat Pattern, Draping and Illustration to Textiles and the History of Fashion.
Jeffrey holds an advanced degree from University of Connecticut and along with co-designer Todd Conover designed high-end evening wear under the label Conover Mayer from 1994-2006 which sold at such retailers as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Lily Jiang, Co-Director
School of Design, Assistant Professor Fashion Design
Lily Jiang, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of fashion design in the School of Design. She is also a fashion design scholar, educator and award-winning creative whose work bridges wearable art, emotional durability and sustainable design innovation. Her research explores how technology, customization systems and user-driven design can transform fashion into deeply personal and enduring experiences.
Jiang is an active member of the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) and the Costume Society of America (CSA). She has received numerous international awards for her designs and research, including recognition from ITAA and the SFTI International Fashion Exhibition in South Korea. She is also a U.S. patent holder for a fit-adjustable nursing bra—an innovation that drew statewide media attention when she and her collaborator were featured on Iowa’s KCCI 8 News (CBS).
Her creative scholarship has been exhibited in 16 national and international juried exhibitions, and her research has been presented globally. She is especially passionate about mentoring emerging designers; her students’ works have also been accepted into international design exhibitions under her guidance.