The Newark Board of Education along with The New School’s Parsons School of Design announced a collaboration between the two institutions coming to the Newark School of Fashion & Design (NSFD) in September 2021. This new partnership will leverage the Parsons education model by supplying students in grades 9-12 with a strong design foundation guided by the Parsons principles of sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity.
The Newark School of Fashion & Design will debut in September 2021, with the inaugural class of 2025. NSFD will inspire students to explore their academic and creative potential through the lens of fashion and design by leveraging the design process across the curriculum and afford students space to imagine, problem solve, and collaborate in preparation for future success. NSFD is one of four new high schools that the district has opened since 2019; Newark Vocational High School, Newark School of Global Studies, and Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology. For more information about the Newark School of Fashion & Design, please visit www.nps.k12.nj.us/fashion-design/.
In his announcement of this partnership, Superintendent León shared, “The collaboration with The New School’s Parsons School of Design is an example of the district’s broader strategy to leverage the expertise of higher education institutions to strengthen the academic rigor at district high schools.”
In close alignment with the Newark Board of Education, Parsons will lead the development and design of the syllabi for courses at Newark School of Fashion & Design, while also creating a framework for the four-year curriculum journey for all students. The curriculum will follow the Parsons pedagogy with a focus on innovation, diversity, and teaching students how to unlock the power of fashion in order to spark systemic societal change.
“Empowering diverse high school students to understand and choose from among the myriad career possibilities in fashion and other creative fields is a critical priority at Parsons as we seek to ensure that the next generation of designers truly reflects our society,” said Rachel Schreiber, Executive Dean of Parsons School of Design. “Our unique educational approach is grounded in an interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates real-world learning projects into the classroom, which allows students to explore some of the most pressing issues of our time through design.”
This Newark School of Fashion & Design partnership highlights Parsons’ commitment to broadening access to art and design education for communities who have traditionally been underrepresented in creative disciplines. As part of the program, there will be increased access and opportunity for NSFD students regarding the college application and career development process. Students will learn the portfolio development process for university applications, attend admission sessions at Parsons, and gain exposure to possible career pathways. With Parsons’ unique educational approach being grounded in a multidisciplinary curriculum that integrates real-world learning projects throughout all of its programs, it will allow students to explore some of the most pressing issues of our time through design.
Further extensions of the program include opportunities for industry collaborations at NSFD supported by Parsons School of Design, attendance for NSFD students to Parsons events on campus in New York City, and workshop opportunities for faculty and staff on topics such as “Contemporary Fashion Systems and the Impact on Society” and “Garment Construction & Prototyping Experimentation.”
Sakina Pitts, Principal of Newark School of Fashion & Design stated “This partnership is a major milestone in the quest to unlocking creativity, talent, and hidden treasures awaiting students at the Newark School of Fashion & Design.”
