This research paper mainly covers six major areas which include fashion designer, makeup artist, film director, film producer, costume designer and production designer. Under each section, the paper pays close attention to the role, job description, career path, formal qualification and the hierarchy of each position.
Fashion designer/ design house
A fashion designer is a person is who comes up with different styles of clothing. Some fashion designers may decide to concentrate their efforts in one special area like children wear, school uniform wear, mens wear, foot wear, sports wear among others. Other fashion designers may deal in more than one area of item designing. Due to the improved technology, a design can be ready for sale within a few weeks (Nilgin, 2006, p. 200-206)
The scope of fashion design entails high speed production, ready to wear and haute couture. High speed production involves production of garments in large quantities; this is an area that is commercial and heavily driven by media. , business trends and seasonal patterns are factors that highly influence this area. Ready to wear garments are normally produced in small quantities, by designers who are well established.
The in fashion design are varied from one designer to the other because the specific tasks depend on the working environment the designer is located in. However, the main duties include:
Visualizing or creating an idea and then designing a or computerized machines.
Staying up dated of new fashion trends that are coming in the market and the new varieties of colours, shapes and fabrics.
Developing and planning ranges
Working hand in hand with the team members like fore casters and buyers to come up with new products that meet the customers needs.
Working in corporation with the production, sales and buying departments to make sure that the products suit the consumer, price and market points.
Looking for, choosing, and purchasing fabrics. He or she shapes and makes a new product
Learning current market designs for massive production
Making sample garment patterns and overseeing the coming up of the same
Production supervision
Undertaking supplier and consumer negotiations
Being in charge of promotions, budget and other activities of the business especially when working as a designer who is self employed
There is no single universal career path for a fashion designer. Every designer goes through a unique path depending on where he or she is located. A designer may move from being an assistant designer to becoming an associate designer. From an associate designer, one may become a fashion director. One important thing to note is that each new level comes with higher responsibilities, higher pay and even higher challenges. Each position is unique in it self (Yongyan, 2009, p. 70-73)
For one to become a fashion designer, formal training in fashion design is required. This could be a certificate, diploma or degree in fashion desighs. For self employed designers, a combination of this degree with business related courses like marketing is important. Fashion designers should also possess a strong esthetic taste, communication skills, ability to solve problems, computer skills among other relevant skills.
The role of fashion design reports to the design director or its equivalent in the organization. The role can be based in a big manufacturing firm, a tailoring shop, an out side space or even the house of the designer.
Fashion designers watch the market for upcoming trends and social media is one important promotion tool in the market. All other junior staffs in the same department like tailors report to the fashion designer of the organization.
The fashion designers have to keep on monitoring the trends on the market in order to keep up to date. The fashion designer should be creative enough just to observe the new makes in the market and effectively come up with such.
References
Yongyan, L. 2009. Journal: A study on the application of elements of ethnic Dress in . , vol. 5. Issue 2. Web.
Nilgin, Y.2006. Journal: dialog on the outside, looking in: the iconography of the outsider in the contemporary fashion. The journal of cloth and culture, vol 4. Issue 2. Web.
Makeup artist
A makeup artist is an artist who works on the human body in the modeling industry by applying prosthetics and makeup. These are normally meant for productions in the industry of modeling. Such productions include: Theaters, fashion, film, television, magazine to name but a few. The basic job description of a makeup artist is applying different forms of prosthetics and makeup on the human body.
There are many kinds of media that a makeup artist uses in his or her work and these include: makeup, paint, prosthetics, hair, molds and casts. These things are used by the makeup artist to enhance the appearance and beauty of a human body. This creates a new effect that is fantasy based (Bernice, p. 13-16)
Professional training is required in makeup artistry. This involves going to college where one learns the makeup techniques and upon successful completion, he or she may be awarded a degree, diploma or certificate. There are short courses that are meant for makeup alone but a full aesthetics, cosmetology or beauty can be awarded a license of operating in the given field (Conway, 2004, p. 4-11)
Makeup work can be carried out in retail makeup stores, salons and spas, on specific event venues like weddings and award shows, makeup counter found in large stores, photography studios, run away fashion shows, live dramatic event like theater, magazine photo shoots, television and film sets or even it can be done freelance.
While beginning in this career, you can start by working in a spa, salon or even a store for the sole purpose of gaining some experience. One needs to nurture his or her technique in the real world first before growing a good portfolio. Once the techniques are natured, he or she can begin specializing into specific areas.
The position of the makeup artist normally reports to the project producer but this may vary depending on the nature of the production and the specific organization. Any staffs working under the makeup artist report to him or her direct.
The role of the make up artist can be done in a saloon, make up shop or even on freelance basis of going to the venue of the weekend. Many make up artists keep up to with the market by watching programmes and attending other events that exposes them to more skills.