Jobs / Design, media, and writing / 27-1022.00

Fashion Designers

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.

US jobs
21,450
Median wage
$80,960 a year
Job family
Design, media, and writing

Can agents do the work of fashion designers?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Design, media, and writing:

  • Task levelPartialOnly adjacent evidence. OSWorld-Verified includes tasks in image, slide, and document apps, and the best agent passes 90.2% of all its computer tasks. No task-level benchmark in our collection scores the quality of design or writing work.
  • Project levelNot yetOn the Remote Labor Index, which includes graphic design, video, 3D, audio, and web projects from freelance platforms, the best agent completed 15.8% of projects to a standard a client would accept. GDPval deliverables score higher (84.9% wins or ties against professionals, reported by OpenAI), but those tasks are one-shot and fully specified.

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in design, media, and writing, not always this occupation's tasks.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
  • Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
  • Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
  • Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
  • Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
  • Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
  • Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
  • Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
  • Attend fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to gather information about fashion trends and consumer preferences.
  • Purchase new or used clothing and accessory items as needed to complete designs.
  • Visit textile showrooms to keep up-to-date on the latest fabrics.
  • Adapt other designers' ideas for the mass market.
Other job titles for this occupation (46)

Apparel and Accessories Designer · Apparel Designer · Costume Designer · Designer · Fashion Design Contractor · Fashion Designer · Fashion Graphic Designer · Fashion Stylist · Handbag Designer · Product Developer · Accessories Designer · Apparel Accessories Specialist · Apparel Product Developer · Apparel Technical Designer · Athletic Shoe Designer · Clothes Designer · Clothing Designer · Costumer · Custom Furrier · Dance Costume Designer · Denim Designer · Design Manager · Dress Designer · Fashion Advisor · Fashion Consultant · Fashion Illustrator · Footwear Designer · Fur Designer · Fur Remodeler · Fur Stylist · Furrier Designer · Hat Designer · Image Consultant · Jewelry Advisor · Jewelry Designer · Product Designer · Shoe Designer · Style Advisor · Stylist · Sweater Designer · Swimwear Designer · Textile Designer · Uniform Designer · Wardrobe Consultant · Wardrobe Image Consultant · Women's Designer