The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco Adds Two New Fashion Degree Programs, Names New Fashion Director

The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco has announced an expansion of its Fashion department through the hiring of a new fashion director and the addition of two new fashion degree programs in Fashion Marketing (A.S.) and Fashion Marketing & Management (B.S.).

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2004 -- The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco today announced an expansion of its Fashion department through the hiring of a new fashion director and the addition of two new fashion degree programs.

The school has hired Barbara Beccio as its new Academic Director of Fashion starting this July, in time for its Summer class start on July 12. The school also has launched new Fashion Marketing (Associate of Science) and Fashion Marketing & Management (Bachelor of Science) programs to provide further opportunities for students to study in this field. The school will continue to offer its programs in Fashion Design at both the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Associate of Science degree levels.

Beccio will oversee fashion program curriculum development, faculty recruitment and coordination of the schools Program Advisory Committee from the local design industry. She has nearly 20 years of experience in fashion education and in the fashion and theatre industries. Beccio holds an MFA from New York University in Costume and Lighting Design for Theatre and a B.S. in Design and Resource Management -- Fashion Design from the University of Connecticut.

Beccio has created costumes for over 70 productions in theatre, opera and dance for institutions such as the Juilliard School, Emelin Theatre and Princeton University. With extensive training in all aspects of the craft, she designed, draped, patterned and constructed costumes for a wide range of productions, including Sondheim's Into the Woods" (Skylight Opera Theatre, 1993) and Molieres Misanthrope" (York Theatre Company, 1991). Her work has won many awards, including the Seidman Award for Excellence in Design. In the world beyond the theatre, Beccio has been an assistant stylist for numerous television commercials, as well as an assistant costume designer for the PBS series "Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?" Beccio also is an award-winning doll designer who brings her inventive and inquisitive spirit to her classes and workshops in costuming, doll-making, mask-making and sculpture.

Beccio has taught at institutions including The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco, College of Marin, City College of San Francisco, Bay Area Discovery Museum and San Francisco Public Library. She also has exhibited in numerous art exhibitions throughout the Bay Area and designed costumes for the San Francisco Arts Education Project.

Barbara brings a unique blend of fashion design, costuming, teaching and leadership skills that make her qualified for this position," said Caren Meghreblian, Ph.D., Dean of Academic Affairs at The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco. Our fashion department has nearly doubled in size over the last year, so we are excited to have Barbara expand her role here."

The school offers Fashion Design degree programs at the associate of science and bachelor of fine arts levels. Students are introduced to basic skills of construction in sewing, tailoring, flat pattern drafting and draping to provide a solid foundation in the fundamentals of apparel engineering. Design courses emphasize the principles and aspects of good design, and the drawing and illustration techniques essential for design communication. Further training increases students conceptual experiences, enabling them to take an idea from the planning stage through the construction process to the finished garment. Students study computer-aided design and hone their creative problem-solving skills through a variety of design challenges. The faculty teaches hands-on skills using traditional tools as well as industrial equipment similar to that found in the fashion design field. The professional skills and technical knowledge help students prepare for entry-level positions in the industry, such as a junior designer, pattern grader, or as an assistant in the design or production departments.

The new Associate of Science in Fashion Marketing program teaches students how to use textiles, color, and design to create visual merchandising campaigns. Business courses teach students how to develop, analyze, and implement effective sales strategies. They learn how to use computers for cost analysis, inventory control, and other store operations, and are instructed in the basics of merchandise economics, leadership skills, manufacturing and store planning. Many students in this program will combine what they learn in the classroom with hands-on experience through part-time jobs and internships. Students also learn marketing promotion, buying techniques and retail management. Graduates will be prepared to pursue entry-level positions in retail or wholesale sales and management, or as consultants and stylists for clothing wholesalers and manufacturers.

The new Bachelor of Science in Fashion Marketing & Management program is rich in theory and practice. The focus on theory at the beginning of the program provides a foundation for the hands-on application of design concepts. Students will develop abilities in various aspects of the fashion design and marketing process. They will study principles of marketing, advertising, merchandising and management, leaning how the profession interfaces with others. Upon graduation, students are prepared for entry-level positions in the industry such as management trainee, assistant manager, visual merchandiser, manufacturer's representative and assistant merchandise buyer. After gaining professional experience, graduates may qualify for more advanced positions in management and merchandise buying.

The schools faculty, many of whom are working professionals, provide students with real-world examples from the profession. In addition, the school works with Program Advisory Committees for each of its programs to provide further input from the industry.

The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco offers internship opportunities with local companies, guest speakers, a student fashion club, and other opportunities for students to get involved in their field. The school also hosts special events such as its annual student fashion show in the fall each year.

The school is one of two Bay Area fashion schools participating in the first-ever San Francisco Fashion Week ( http://www.fashionweek-sf.com )this August. Fashion students will participate in a runway show at 1 p.m. on Aug. 28 at The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco as part of the Fashion Week event.

For more information about the schools fashion programs, visit http://www.aicasf.aii.edu or call (888) 493-3261 or (415) 865-0198. The school is currently accepting applications for entry into its Fall (Oct. 4, 2004) class start.

ABOUT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA -- SAN FRANCISCO

The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco, located at 1170 Market Street (at 8th) in San Franciscos Civic Center, attracts a diverse mix of students from throughout the Bay Area and the world. The school offers career-focused degree programs in Advertising, Graphic Design, Media Arts & Animation, Game Art & Design, Visual & Game Programming, Multimedia & Web Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Marketing & Management, and Interior Design. For more information, visit http://www.aicasf.aii.edu or call (415) 865-0198.

The Art Institute of California -- San Francisco is one of The Art Institutes (http://www.artinstitutes.edu), with 31 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The Art Institutes also operate the following schools in California: The Art Institute of California -- Los Angeles, The Art Institute of California -- Orange County, The Art Institute of California -- San Diego and California Design College in Los Angeles. The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation is among the largest providers of private post-secondary education in North America, based on student enrollment and revenue. Student enrollment exceeded 58,000 as of fall 2003. EDMC has 66 primary campus locations in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. EDMC's education institutions offer a broad range of academic programs concentrated in the media arts, design, fashion, culinary arts, behavioral sciences, health sciences, education, information technology and business fields, culminating in the award of associate's through doctoral degrees. EDMC has provided career-oriented education for over 40 years, and its education institutions have more than 150,000 alumni.

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