One of the biggest perks that come with attending a top university is your ability to access the best resources. As SCAD students we have every software, database, and connection needed to thrive in our respective majors and in our professional careers. Most of these resources are usually very expensive and unattainable for students, but the tuition that is being paid allows you to have every resource you need at your fingertips. I constantly try to make an earnest effort to explore all the different resources available and see which fits me the best.
WGSN is a trend-forecasting company that releases reports on what is upcoming for the world of fashion. “WGSN enables marketers to see the complete picture of current and future consumer issues” (WGSN.com). This database is used by different fashion companies to make decisions about what they should produce next in order to stay ahead of the trends. This database also creates reports for every fashion week summarizing the biggest trends. This tool can be very beneficial for students studying fashion design, so they can create designs that will be on-trend when released. It is also a great tool to get familiarized with for all fashion students because most companies use WGSN. You can access this database by going to the library website and then the database tab.
Guests and Gusto is an initiative that was started during the pandemic to give students access to brilliant minds in the industry. They invite the most famous, respected and learned industry leaders to talk to students about their careers and work. I have listed talks by the costume director of Mad Men, the photographer of the British Royals, and the editor of GQ, just to name a few. SCAD emails out the weekly list of talks that you can easily register for and watch live, or watch the recording later. I have learned so much about the industry and behind-the-scenes insights from the multiple talks that I have attended.
Sewing techs
Most of us fashion students do not come to college with a deep understanding of sewing, especially those in the fashion marketing and management major. The sewing techs are so incredibly helpful and just waiting to help all the students. They teach you the proper procedure on how to use the machines and will work closely with you on your garment. Students can get one-on-one attention from professional seamstresses and can learn new techniques from them. They are located on the 4th floor of building C in Atlanta.
Business of Fashion is a subscription-based online magazine that is always at the forefront of fashion news. It is the best website to visit in order to stay up-to-date on current fashion events and trends. Their articles are always very well written, easy to understand, and good to use for research. “The Business of Fashion is recognized around the world for its authoritative, analytical point of view on the $2.5 trillion global fashion industry. Our mission is clear: build fashion’s global membership community to open, inform and connect the industry” (Carmen Busquets). You can access this membership by going to the library website and finding Business of Fashion under the database tab.
Career Advisement
A very underrated resource that I do not hear about often is your career advisor. Every SCAD student is assigned a career advisor and you can find out who that is on your “My Info” tab on MySCAD. I always send my advisor my resumes and cover letters to be edited before I submit them to any job. They help me tailor my resume and cover letter for each specific job, and are always quick to respond with valuable insight. This is also the same person who edits your resume every time you upload it to the SCAD job portal. I advise you to create a relationship with them and get their assistance when applying for any job.
The SCAD Fash Museum has to be one of my favorite things about being a SCAD student. Every couple of months, SCAD hosts a fashion and a photography/film exhibit where they transform the space to fit the theme of the exhibition. Their last exhibit was for the costume of Ruth Carter, who won the Academy Award for Best Costume for her work in Marvel’s “Black Panther.” It was so incredible to see all the Black Panther costumes up close and appreciate the craftsmanship that went into each piece. Past exhibits include Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, the costume from the Handmaid’s Tale and so many more. It is free for all SCAD students, and I highly recommend visiting. The students and faculty put so much work into the exhibit and it is always a treat to visit.
SCAD boasts that they are the “university for creative careers,” and they are really not wrong. They have majors and classes for every creative career and they have the best faculty for each of those majors. However, tight schedules and time constraints often don’t allow us to explore all the different classes that SCAD offers. So if you have ever wanted to try a new skill or learn about something that is outside your major, attend one of the many workshops hosted by SCAD faculty each week. They are all about one hour long and are occur on Fridays. Due to COVID, there are many virtual options and all you have to do is register. I urge you to explore all the wonderful things that are being taught at this school.
The list truly goes on when it comes to all the resources that are available at SCAD. We also have SCAD Pro, SCADamp, Animation Fest, ATV Fest and our Open Studio. At SCAD, we are getting industry-level experiences and opportunities for “free” and we should all make more of an effort to take part. I have always heard that “college is what you make of it,” and that could not be more true at SCAD. You can stitch to your major classes and never do anything else, or you can take part in these experiences that strengthen your foundation, build your confidence, grow your network, and allow you to explore art in ways you previously didn’t.