How to become a Fashion Designer
Plans, designs and develops clothing, accessories, footwear or other items of personal apparel, considering the form and construction of clothing, historical styles and contexts, contemporary and cultural trends, colour, fabric and decoration, and the techniques and processes available for manufacture.
Main tasks
- Liaises with clients to confirm design concepts and costs
- Prepares sketches, plans and samples of designs to present to clients
- Selects fabrics, colours and materials for designs
- Collaborates with patternmakers and sample makers
- Presents designs to clients, conducts fittings, and adjusts designs as necessary
Ways in
- University: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
- TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles (MST60122); Certificate III in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles (MST31022); Certificate IV in Apparel and Fashion (MST40222); Certificate IV in Design (CUA40720); Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles (MST50122)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- About 14,600 people work in this job group now, and about 17,700 are projected by 2035. (+20.9%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a Fashion Designer?
Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Advanced Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles; Certificate III in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles.
Is a Fashion Designer a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 14,600 to about 17,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Fashion Designer?
Not always. 50% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Advanced Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles; Certificate III in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles.
Will AI change the work of a Fashion Designer?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04