According to Baruc Corazón, avid designer and academic director of the Bachelor in Fashion Design, “Fashion forms the foundation of the creativity pyramid. As it pertains to our own bodies, it is also the sector most sensitive to social and cultural changes.” The role that fashion plays in our everyday lives is undeniable and as one of the world’s largest industries, we must learn how to adapt it to our rapidly transforming world.
The Bachelor in Fashion Design guides students on an innovative approach to fashion design and provides a “robust and coherent education that paves the way for a new way of thinking, feeling and doing things,” says Baruc. We spoke to the academic director to hear about the future of fashion, his vision for the program and how he’s going to train the designers of tomorrow’s runways.
The Ambiguity of “Fashion Design”
Baruc Corazón has dedicated his academic and professional career to design. After his studies in Nice, France and London, UK, he chose to study business and law in Madrid, Spain to gain a holistic understanding of the fashion industry. In addition to his studies, he’s lived in numerous fashion capitals of the world including Paris, Milan and New York. Nobody has an understanding of fashion quite like Baruc Corazón.
As the Academic Director of the Bachelor in Fashion Design, Baruc is bringing a fresh perspective to the design studio and classroom. He begins by explaining that the term “fashion design” is remarkably broad but, in its purest form should be understood as the design of trends. While typically the term refers to clothing, Baruc highlights that the fashion industry is increasingly ambiguous and is beginning to encompass numerous sectors beyond the runway. For example, within IE School of Architecture & Design, the study of fashion incorporates product design, strategic design and brand design in order to understand all facets of the industry.
Under Baruc’s leadership of the program, students will gain a 360º view of the fashion world. He says that all his students have “a superpower that makes them unique: their creativity. They will be trained to harness their creativity across the entire spectrum of fashion, without boundaries.”
Everything I propose for the bachelor’s program isn’t just theoretical knowledge in my mind; it’s knowledge etched in my heart and manifested through my hands.
Baruc Corazón, Academic Director of the Bachelor in Fashion Design
The Designers of the Future
The Bachelor in Fashion Design has one focus: purpose-forward fashion. Baruc explains that fashion will “become a catalyst for evolution and transformation, not only in terms of business models but also for technology, societal habits and customs.” With this in mind, it is vital that the fashion industry commits to a set of practices, protocols and certifications that validate its presence in an increasingly conscientious market. The Bachelor in Fashion Design prepares students for exactly that—they’ll gain a comprehensive and coherent understanding of the industry, coupled with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle any fashion industry project.
As a conscious designer and creator, Baruc’s experience in the fashion industry is multi-faceted. He has been actively engaged in a wide array of fashion initiatives, spanning from large corporate projects to niche endeavors, from clothing to accessories, from fashion collections to stage designs, from product development to visual merchandising. Now he will be bringing his experiences in the fashion industry into the classroom to inspire and encourage his students to create.
Designing Purpose-Forward Fashion
During the program, students will focus on creating and refining their own unique approach to design. Professors will encourage the creative identity of each student while training them in all aspects of the fashion industry, including hands-on skills for creators, brands and markets.
Students can opt to specialize in a particular area of fashion design to deepen their expertise. Available specializations include jewelry, textiles, accessories, scenic design, spaces and events, home textiles and decoration. They will also gain access to a range of internships and work opportunities to complement their education.
The Bachelor in Fashion Design will immerse students in IE University’s distinct fashion culture, where the significance of purpose is emphasized from day one. Every project that students take on will be informed by a bigger purpose, which will be elevated through their design.
Already looking further into the future, Baruc sees the Bachelor in Fashion Design becoming a benchmark for creating a fresh fashion culture, “with students paving the way for a new paradigm by infusing creativity and mindfulness into a range of fashion domains.” We are looking forward to seeing what designs our students come up with using the power of creativity and purpose.