a couple of you had questions about the art institute schools.
i have a little feedback for you.
about a year or two ago i was of the opinion that the Art Institutes are nothing but a business, lots of promises, not the best art/design education.
I have had to adjust my opinion after seeing some of the work by its students, and also the work of its graduates who are now employed or self-employed.
I have seen some amazingly creative work with specialized techniques on garments and accessories. I have also seen some poorly constructed, overly simple concept pieces, as well.
What I think at this point, is not only should you choose a school based on the curriculum, but also on what types of students the school attracts...because not only will you learn from the school's particular slant, but you will also be heavily influenced and challenged by the students who surround you.
The Art Institute students seem to be more on the practical side of apparel design. These are the people more interested in the "wearable", "sellable" aesthetic. These students are also really exposed to the merchandising, styling side as well as the commercial needs...more so than Parsons.
Parsons students can be practical, but there is this strong conceptual design influence. These are the more artistic students, of what I've seen.
F.I.T fashion design students are quite trained in construction techniques - not so much on design as a statement or strong concept. These are the people who are somewhere in between Art Institutes and Parsons, in terms of design...and really very specialised for construction (and marketing/merchandising of course FIT is tops).
As far as accessories design, Parsons doesnt have a program. FIT does, and the Art Institutes also does, and I've got to say it is really strong. I am starting to think that accessory design at the Art Institutes is near the top.
My attitude has changed about all of these schools based on the actual work I've seen - not just reputations.