The versatility of fashion design in product development
When fashion students graduate, the path ahead often seems straightforward, leading to roles in retail management, styling, buying, and other positions within apparel brands. However, there are alternative avenues that showcase the versatility of a fashion degree, and Audrey Roetter exemplifies the innovative possibilities beyond traditional fashion careers.
Audrey, a designer at Design Central, has been an influential part of our team’s expertise in textiles, soft-goods, non-wovens, and more. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the Columbus College of Art and Design, Audrey's early passion for art influenced her journey into the design world. While still in high school, she explored the creative atmosphere of CCAD through weekend art classes, where she was captivated by the projects and concepts presented by her peers.
Before joining Design Central, Audrey honed her skills during her five-year tenure at Abercrombie and Fitch, where she delved into materials research and development, graphic design, and soft goods prototyping. Upon discovering Design Central, Audrey found herself presented with a unique opportunity to redefine her approach to design. Despite the departure from her conventional fashion background, Audrey leveraged her expertise in fashion prototyping to seamlessly transition into an industrial designer’s approach to hands-on product development. Overall, her knowledge of patternmaking, trend awareness, and understanding of fit still play a vital role in her process.
One of Audrey’s favorite parts about working at Design Central is collaboration. She mentions that in this role, she has had more opportunities to bounce ideas back and forth with her team members and see designs come to life through the unique contributions of multiple designers.
Every day is exciting and new at a firm like Design Central, where projects encompass various themes. From previously working on jeans, sweaters, and other garments to baby and feminine care, household cleaning products, and more, working at Design Central has provided Audrey with a variety of opportunities.
At Design Central, Audrey's scope has expanded to encompass an array of projects, like non-wovens. Despite her limited experience with non-wovens, she quickly recognized their potential across multiple applications, including diapers, filtration systems, and medical supplies. The shift in focus has been both enlightening and rewarding, revealing the profound impact soft goods can have on improving quality of life.
One category that particularly inspired Audrey is her involvement in designing incontinence products. User experience research shed light on the significance of addressing such issues and underscored the transformative potential of innovative garments solutions. Motivated by the prospect of positively impacting lives, Audrey remains committed to exploring new technologies and pushing the boundaries of design.
For aspiring fashion students, Audrey's journey offers a valuable lesson in embracing versatility and seizing unconventional opportunities. She encourages them to broaden their horizons and leverage their degrees in ways they may not have previously considered.