You want to be a fashion designer. Not just sketching ideas in a notebook, but creating clothes with purpose, stories and staying power. The kind of work that feels as good to make as it does to wear.

That’s the energy behind Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion) – a hands-on fashion design degree where creativity meets technology. You won’t be watching from the sidelines. Within weeks, you’ll be sketching, cutting and bringing your first garments to life.

In the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Fashion) you’ll: 

  • explore every stage of the fashion process 
  • build garments from concept to creation 
  • learn sustainable and digital design approaches 
  • develop technical skills in sewing, patternmaking and fabrication 
  • create portfolio-ready work from day one.
     

By the time you graduate, you’ll know how to turn ideas into tangible, sustainable design outcomes.

What’s driving fashion forward 

The fashion industry is shifting. Designers everywhere are exploring new ways to create, blending craft with conscience and imagination with responsibility.

Key forces shaping the fashion industry include: 

  • circular fashion and upcycling 
  • sustainable textiles and ethical production 
  • digital fashion, 3D printing and smart textiles 
  • wearable technology and software-driven design.
     

The next generation of designers is fluent in both style and tech – blending artistry with innovation to create what’s next.

A fashion student carefully fits a top onto a mannequin in a bright design studio.

Fashion facilities to fuel your creative evolution

In the ProtoLab and fashion studio, 3D printers hum beside sewing machines, laser cutters glow next to rolls of fabric. It’s a space designed for experimentation, where progress matters more than perfection.

You’ll work with programs like CLO3D, StyleCAD and Rhino, testing designs in both digital and physical form while building a portfolio that shows your creative evolution.

A mannequin from the Kylie and Dannii Day student project with Boroondara Council.

Your runway to a real-world career

Through Work Integrated Learning, you’ll collaborate with brands, cultural events and design studios, gaining hands-on experience that extends far beyond the classroom.

Swinburne has always been where creativity and technology meet – and that spirit is redefining fashion itself.

So bring your ideas, your curiosity and your nerve. Thread that needle, open a new file and start shaping what’s next. The future of fashion design is being made right now, and your name’s already on the label. 

What's next in fashion design?

Fashion design is becoming more connected, conscious and custom than ever. From wearable technology to sustainable textiles and digital couture, the next wave of designers is turning innovation into everyday style. At Swinburne, you’ll learn these shifts hands-on through labs, briefs, and studio-based projects that turn trends into real skills.

Innovations include: 

  • temperature-responsive dyes 
  • AI-enhanced design 
  • fabrics that charge devices 
  • textiles that sense movement.
     

At Swinburne, you’ll work with these ideas early in the ProtoLAB, using 3D printing, laser cutting and digital fabrication to prototype wearable tech and accessories. 
 
Through wearable-technology briefs and interactive textiles projects, you’ll experiment from sketch to prototype, stitching innovation directly into your design practice. 

A fashion student works on a digital garment design on a laptop inside a fashion studio.

You’ll explore circular design through: 

  • sustainable textiles labs 
  • ethical material selection 
  • lifecycle-led collection briefs 
  • regeneration-focused design tasks.
     

Circular fashion, upcycling and zero-waste design are reshaping the industry. In collection development units, you’ll design for longevity, adaptability and circulation — creating garments that do more than make a statement; they stay in circulation.³ ⁴

If digital fashion is your thing, the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at Swinburne supports it through: 

  • fashion communication assessments 
  • digital prototyping workshops 
  • on-screen + in-studio presentation tasks 
  • digital fabrication tools and software.
     

Designers are experimenting in pixels before touching fabric, merging sustainability while expanding creative possibilities. When your outfit exists both online and off, fashion becomes a new kind of interface.⁵

You’ll explore inclusive design through: 

  • adjustable-fit patternmaking 
  • sensory-considerate material selection 
  • fashion communication briefs 
  • construction tasks for different bodies, genders and mobility needs.
     

Think gender-fluid cuts, wheelchair-friendly tailoring, and fabrics chosen for both comfort and intent. It’s less about fitting in and more about being seen, felt and fully expressed. 
 

You’ll explore personalisation through: 

  • patternmaking labs 
  • body-aware garment construction 
  • styling + fashion communication briefs 
  • virtual prototyping and digital fittings.
     

From AI styling assistants to body-scanning technologies, tech is making fashion deeply personal. Designers are merging craft with digital precision, creating garments that respond to shape, identity and movement. 

In the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) degree, you’ll receive collection development briefs and studio-based projects help you pair slow techniques with digital fabrication. 

You’ll bring this hybrid approach to life through: 

  • patternmaking in studio 
  • laser-cut precision 
  • 3D-printed detailing 
  • end-to-end collection development.
     

Traditional technique meets new-school innovation, proving that progress and tradition can share a studio, and that slow fashion might be the smartest innovation of all.⁸

5 steps to become a fashion designer

If you want to become a fashion designer, start with curiosity. Let your ideas lead you, and back yourself to make them real. At Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion), you’ll turn sparks of inspiration into pieces with purpose, grit and a portfolio that shows you’re ready for what’s next.

Step 1. Choose your qualification

Bachelor degree

Fashion doesn’t sit still — and neither will you.

Within six weeks, you’ll be designing and constructing garments, learning by doing, not watching. Every project takes you from concept to creation, giving you a real taste of how fashion moves from spark to sample.

Think less runway, more workshop energy. 

In Swinburne’s ProtoLab and fashion studio:

  • laser cutters hum next to sewing machines 
  • 3D printers sit beside rolls of recycled fabric 
  • ideas get stitched, printed and tailored into something truly wearable.


You’ll explore wearable tech, novel textiles and 3D-knitted fabrics, bringing imagination into working prototypes.

In units like:

And that’s only one specialty. Each stage of the degree opens up new tools, techniques and design directions. Plus, you’ll learn from experienced educators who are knowledgeable and passionate. Their teaching is practical, collaborative and powered by genuine creative curiosity. 

Bachelor of Design (Fashion)

Pathway options

The Diploma of Design (UniLink) is an alternative pathway into a bachelor degree,  
including the Bachelor of Design (Fashion). It’s designed for those who want a more supported start to their design studies, with smaller classes, extra one-on-one guidance and access to the same facilities as degree students.

Successful completion guarantees entry into second year, giving you a strong foundation in creative thinking, digital skills and design principles before you level up to your bachelor course.

Diploma of Design (UniLink)

Step 2. Tailor your specialisation

The Bachelor of Design (Fashion) is built around three core components: 

  • wearable technology 
  • sustainability
  • novel textiles.
     

Sustainability isn’t a one-off project here — it’s embedded in every stage of the design process, from concept to commercial viability, with a focus on reuse, recycling and real-world impact. 
 
You’ll develop this directly in the Sustainable Fashion Design Studio (DDD20040), a 12.5 credit point major unit.

In your first year, you’ll build the foundations through:

Both are 12.5 credit point core units, and both turn curiosity into tangible design thinking.

By third year, you’ll build industry momentum through:

These units shape how you launch your work, communicate your vision and lead in fashion beyond the studio.

And from there, you can accessorise with ambition. 

A range of electives lets you curate your studies to match your vision. Whether you’re drawn to:

  • management and marketing (to launch your own label) 
  • industrial design (to deepen your understanding of form and construction) 
  • or other specialist areas across the design school and university.

Step 3. Build your portfolio

By the time you graduate, you won’t just have ideas, you’ll have proof. Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion) is about creating work that lives off the page and on the body. 

You’ll design, prototype and produce tangible garments from your first semester, learning by doing and refining your craft with every stitch, render and rework.

Every project is a portfolio piece in progress. You’ll manage the full design process from concept to creation, building a body of work that shows not just what you’ve made, but how you think.

Your portfolio will capture it all creative concepts, design development, technical details and final outcomes — ready to impress collaborators, brands and future employers. 

Step 4. Gain experience and network

 In fashion, learning happens on the floor — through trial, error and the craft of making. Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion) reflects that reality, combining hands-on creation with technical understanding to prepare you for real industry work.

How Fashion Design at Swinburne builds your skills, piece by piece: 

  • hands-on from week one
  • garment design and construction within six weeks
  • practical components in every unit
  • work Integrated Learning across the degree
  • industry briefs each semester
  • small studio classes for focused making
  • sustainability embedded throughout
  • access to ProtoLab: 3D printing, laser cutting, digital fabrication
  • early experience with CLO3D, StyleCAD, Rhino and wearable tech
  • cross-disciplinary electives across design
  • portfolio created from real industry-connected projects

With Work Integrated Learning embedded throughout, you’ll gain genuine experience long before graduation. Each project includes an industry brief, giving you direct insight into the expectations, timelines and creative approaches used across the sector.

This includes opportunities such as developing concept-driven collections for Melbourne’s Rising Festival, designing sports garments for the Woolmark x Alpinestars competition, and participating in research and development projects with established brands.  
 
You may also contribute to community events like Kylie and Dannii Day (2025), researching, sketching and constructing garments showcased across Boroondara shopfronts — and put the needle on work seen by the public.

Throughout the course, you’ll build your network naturally, connecting with educators, guest speakers, peers and industry partners who can help turn your experience into future opportunities.

By graduation, you’ll have the technical skills, creative development and industry connections to step confidently into a studio environment or begin building your own label or practice.

A fashion student measuring fabric at a sewing workstation.

Step 5. Apply for jobs or launch your label

When you graduate, you won’t just leave with a degree — you’ll have a portfolio, experience and a network that speak for themselves. Whether your next move is joining an established label, freelancing across projects or launching your own brand, you’ll be ready to step into the industry with both creativity and credibility.

Explore fashion design courses

The future of fashion just sent you a DM — and it’s wearing innovation

Browse courses

Quick facts about fashion design

87% of Australians will pay more for sustainable fashion

Fashion tech investment expected to double by 2030

Generative AI could add up to USD 275 billion value

Median hourly pay: $40 for fashion, industrial and jewellery designers

What skills do fashion designers need? 

Strategic skills:

  • Trend analysis: Spot and predict trends.

  • Branding: Build a strong identity.

  • Marketing: Promote designs effectively.

  • Business acumen: Budget, plan, manage production. 

Creative skills:

  • Individuality: Create a unique style.

  • Storytelling: Express ideas through design.

  • Visual design: Craft striking, cohesive looks.

  • Design creation: Concept, make, and showcase. 

Soft skills:

  • Adaptability: Adjust to changing trends.

  • Communication: Share ideas with clarity.

  • Networking: Connect with industry peers.

  • Resilience: Turn setbacks into strength. 

Study fashion design at Swinburne

At Swinburne, our Fashion Design programs are built to support your growth—whether you’re an experienced fashion professional or just beginning your journey.

Courses and study pathways

Duration:

3 years full-time (or part-time equivalent).

Entry requirements:

You don’t need an ATAR to apply for Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion)

You’ll need one of the following:

  • successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent (interstate or international Year 12).

  • completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification — Certificate IV (completed), diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree or degree
     

Course prerequisite:

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL), or equivalent.

You’ll submit a short portfolio and a 250-word response that highlights your creative style and how you bring ideas to life.

With no prior fashion experience required. You don’t need to know how to sew, drape or draft patterns. This course is designed to meet you where you are and help you develop those skills along the way.

  • Bachelor of Design (Fashion)
Duration:

8 months full-time (or part-time equivalent).

If you’re not quite ready to jump straight into a degree, the Diploma of Design (UniLink) is the ideal place to start. It’s a short, supportive pathway that helps you build creative skills, confidence and a solid design foundation before moving into the Bachelor of Design (Fashion).

Entry requirements:

You’ll need one of the following:

  • successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent (interstate or international Year 12), with entry guaranteed for ATARs over 40.

  • completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification such as a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree or degree.
     

Course prerequisites:

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: satisfactory completion in one of Art Creative Practice, Product Design and Technology, Media, Creative and Digital Media (VCE VET), Art Making and Exhibiting, or Visual Communication Design.

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in English, or at least 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL).
     

Finishing the Diploma of Design (UniLink) can open the door to degree-level study, with a direct pathway into the second year of the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) for eligible students. It’s a flexible, confidence-building step into the creative industries — and a chance to develop your style before you take it to the next level.

  • 8 months full-time

    Diploma of Design (UniLink)

What to include in your fashion design course portfolio 

Think of your portfolio as your creative handshake, a way to reflect your curiosity and creative spark. 

Your portfolio doesn’t need to demonstrate an expertise in fashion; it just needs to show us how you think. Alongside your finished creative work, feel free to include a few details or multiple angles of a piece so we can appreciate the craft up close. 

We also love seeing your process: sketches, drafts, mood boards or notes that show how an idea evolves from spark to something finished.

For each piece, add a short description (around 50 words) explaining your intention or process, plus a title and date. 

Your portfolio (up to 10 pages) can include

  • finished creative work: Include at least five completed pieces and yes, these can show details or multiple angles of the same design
  • process documentation: Sketches, drafts, mood boards or other visuals showing how your ideas developed
  • creative work descriptions: For each piece, add a short (around 50 words) note about your intention or process, plus a title and date

You can include work from areas like

  • fashion and textiles: design, illustration, sewing, pattern making
  • spatial and 3D design: interiors, architecture, product or set design
  • media: photography, film, animation, social media or motion graphics
  • art: drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics
  • graphic design: branding, packaging, publishing, UX and communication design

Why study fashion design at Swinburne?

Frequently asked questions

Fashion designers create clothing, apparel and accessories that blend creativity with purpose. They explore trends, sketch concepts, design garments and bring them to life through pattern-making, sewing and styling.  
 
At Swinburne, you’ll develop both classic and contemporary skills — from fabric design and merchandising to digital and virtual fashion. You’ll learn how to create sustainable, forward-thinking designs that shape what people wear and how they express themselves.

If you’re still in high school, subjects like Art, Media, Visual Communication Design, Product Design and Technology, or Creative and Digital Media are a great start. From there, Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion) takes you deeper, combining creativity, garment construction, sustainability and digital fashion technology to prepare you for the industry.  
 
You’ll explore everything from wearable technology and novel fabrics to fashion marketing and merchandising, all while using advanced facilities like the ProtoLab.  

Or, begin with the Diploma of Design (UniLink) — a flexible design pathway that can lead straight into the Bachelor of Design (Fashion).

You don’t need a formal qualification to work in fashion, but professional training gives you a major edge. Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion) offers access to state-of-the-art studio, the ProtoLab, and digital tools like CLO3D, StyleCAD and Rhino, helping you design at an industry level. 

You’ll gain practical experience, build technical confidence and learn how technology is transforming the way garments are made. In a field where creativity meets innovation, the right qualification can help your ideas and your career stand out. 

You don’t need an ATAR to apply for Swinburne’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion)

Entry is based on your portfolio (10 pages of creative work) and a 250-word written response describing what you’re passionate about in design and how it connects to your fashion career goals. You can include examples from school, work or creative projects that show your curiosity and commitment.  

Check the course pages for full entry requirements or chat with our Future Student Advisors for personalised advice.

 No, you don’t need an ATAR to start studying construction management at Swinburne. There are multiple entry pathways, including the  Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) and the Associate Degree in Engineering (Civil), which can both lead into the Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours).

For those applying directly to the bachelor’s degree, the 2026 guaranteed entry ATAR is 70, although applicants with different backgrounds and experiences are also considered.

You’ll start creating in your first year, working on fashion design projects that blend creativity, sustainability and technology. Expect to use 3D printing, digital fashion tools and novel fabrics to design pieces that balance concept with construction.

Projects introduce you to emerging technologies such as: 

  • wearable technology 
  • AI-driven tools 
  • virtual reality 
  • augmented reality
     

Each one shows how new technologies transform the way garments are imagined and made.

Every project is hands-on, giving you experience across the full design process — from idea to outfit. 

At Swinburne, every undergraduate student gets the chance to take part in Work Integrated Learning with real projects, placements and partnerships that build genuine industry experience. In the Bachelor of Design (Fashion), every unit includes a hands-on, industry-linked brief, so you’ll learn how the fashion world really works. You’ll graduate with practical skills, professional connections and a portfolio that speaks for itself.

 
  1. Techoble – The latest trends in wearable tech
  2. Clothes Color Guide – Color-changing fabrics: How smart textiles work
  3. The Sydney Morning Herald – From creative couture to dopamine dressing: Australia’s growing upcycling movement
  4. Sustainability Victoria – Circular design at scale: A guide for fashion designers and industry
  5. Agentur Loop – Beyond the hype: Is digital fashion still the industry’s next big thing?
  6. June Adaptive – Top trends in adaptive fashion for 2025
  7. Styles Rant – Unleashing individuality: The rise of personalised fashion trends
  8. Stateless – The artisanal approach: Handcrafted excellence in 2024 fashion
  9. Australian Fashion Council — 2022 Industry Modelling Report
  10. McKinsey & Company — State of Fashion Technology Report, 2022
  11. Fortune Business Insights — AI in Fashion Market
  12. Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation and Industry Profiles
  13. Swinburne University Rankings & Ratings
  14. Industry-Connected Learning Experiences
  15. Swinburne ProtoLab
  16.  The Future of Fashion — Swinburne Launches Tech-Focused Course

Explore fashion design courses

Download the course guide and start framing your future.

Download a guide now