Family Day

CHECK-IN 

Arriving to FIT for Family Day?  Come to the check-in table to receive your schedule for the day and sign up for afternoon tours. 

CAMPUS STORES OPEN

Follett Bookstore – Breezeway, 20% discount for parents & families! Collect your coupon at check-in

Style Shop – 1st Floor, David Dubinsky Student Center

Starbucks and FIT Dining Hall – 1st Floor, David Dubinsky Student Center

FIT Museum - 227 West 27th Street

WELCOME & STUDENT PERFORMANCES

Kick off Family Day with an official FIT welcome! Families and students will be greeted by FIT President, Dr. Joyce F. Brown,  FIT Student Government Association President, Samantha Barnes, and the Department of Student Life team. The program will be emceed by Dr. Corie A. McCallum, AVP for Student Success & Dean of Students, and will feature performances by our student organizations including the Theatre Club, the FIT Dance Team, and more!

Haft Theater / Feldman Center

MOVERS & SHAKERS OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY BREAKFAST + ALUMNI PANEL

The Social Justice Center at FIT will host an informal breakfast followed by a panel composed of alumni leading the way in the creative economy. From entertainment to fashion education, panelists will share their stories of challenging the structural barriers for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to succeed in creative career paths and how they have paved the way for the next generation of professionals.

The Social Justice Center at FIT was established to encourage and support the growth of diversity in the creative industries.

LUNCH & STARBUCKS IN THE FIT DINING HALL

Enjoy a 10% Discount for lunch at the FIT Dining Hall; just show your lanyard and name tag!

Dubinsky Student Center

FACULTY LED DEMONSTRATIONS

Join the amazing FIT faculty in mock-class faculty demonstrations to see what your students are learning inside the classroom! Details about specific faculty demonstrations offered will be posted prior to Family Day. 

Digital Design Studio | Feldman, C313
Join Professor Ruobing Zhao and learn how to use Adobe Photoshop to edit photo and fashion images.

Fashion Business Management: First Year Experience | Business & Liberal Arts, B307
Join Professor Vickie Rokkos to hear about how students are taught all Microsoft Office applications - Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Illustrator - which are needed in the business world. The second section covers the evolution of fashion. In the third phase we focus on the importance of “Brand You.” We work on resume and cover letter and have our students ready to apply to a great internship.

Fashion Marketing and Digital Technology | Dubinsky, A325
Join Professor Dong Yang as this demonstration focuses on marketing in the context of the global fashion industry, this course introduces topics such as marketing mix, brand strategy and positioning, customer relationships, social media, and mobile marketing. This demonstration will showcase one of the fundamental marketing concepts in an interactive classroom learning environment.

Rendering the Fashion Figure | Feldman, C709
Professor Helen Castillo’s demonstration will highlight how through developing a fashion figure known as a “croquis” a fashion designer can design garments through illustration and render fabrics by using markers, pencils, and mixed media techniques demonstrated by hand. With a focus on proportion, fabric rendering, and design details, students are able to create design collections. A demonstration of marker rendering a fashion figure in a complete look will be instructed using multiple illustration tools and resources commonly seen in the fashion industry. 

Notched Collar Jacket Drape | Feldman C603
Join Professor Juliana Cho and how to drape a notched collar on a jacket. 

Toy Design Studio Tour with Ongoing Student Demonstrations | Dubinsky, A580
Professor Damian Mucaro will be guiding families through the Toy Design Studio while juniors work on their Plush Toy designs and seniors focus on their Hard Toy designs. You will see firsthand what our Toy Design students are working on, as well as, explore our Toy Design studio, which includes the main design studio, the model shop, our computer lab, and our play space. This is a great opportunity to experience and observe what our hardworking students do each and every day.

Monsters in Communication Studies | Dubinsky, A306
Join Professor Matthew Petrunia in this session that investigates how monsters and other mythical creatures challenge, shape, or reinforce a culture's values, norms, and social practices. Furthermore, this classroom experience examines how monster lore supports forces that maintain cultural differences, and how their presence within a culture’s mythos reflects various cultural taxonomies.

Monotype Prints Using Watercolor | Pomerantz, D206
Professor Martino will instruct participants on how to make monotype prints using watercolor. Monotype is a traditional printmaking process in which ink or paint is applied to a plate and manipulated to create an artwork, which is then transferred to paper using a printmaking press or by hand pressure. The monotype process produces rich,  translucent color, and allows experimentation with a variety of tools to explore mark making. Anyone can make a successful monotype, no experience or previous skills are needed. Materials will be provided and participants will produce unique handmade prints. 

FM330 NEED TITLE* | Dubinsky, A320
Explore how social media platforms and databases contribute to the big data conversation around consumer sentiment in the fashion apparel industry. Using a digital testing platform that integrates consumer feedback with artificial intelligence, participants will learn how retailers can leverage this data to make informed decisions about product development, marketing strategies, and pricing.

Shoemaking Demonstration | Dubinsky, A484
Join us for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the art of shoemaking! In this hands-on demonstration, we will walk you through the critical design steps on a shoe last—the essential mold used to shape shoes. Watch as we show how to design on a last, where the shoe takes its form, and see the magic of removing the finished shoe off a last. This is a unique opportunity to explore craftsmanship and creativity in action—perfect for curious minds of all ages! Don’t miss the chance to learn something new about the world of footwear.

Various Classrooms

FACULTY LED DEMONSTRATIONS

Join the amazing FIT faculty in mock-class faculty demonstrations to see what your students are learning inside the classroom! Details about specific faculty demonstrations offered will be posted prior to Family Day. 

Digital Design Studio | Feldman, C313
Join Professor Ruobing Zhao and learn how to use Adobe Photoshop to edit photo and fashion images. 

Water Repellent Textiles | Dubinsky, A683
Professor Preeti Arya will be giving a tour of the Dyeing/Finishing Lab and providing a quick demonstration of how to finish your textile with a chemical finish to enhance its performance.

Brand Management | Business & Liberal Arts, B731
Professor Kristy Fall discusses how dynamic brand management is and will provide an in-depth look at how brands capture the minds and hearts of consumers to build intense brand loyalty and long-term brand equity. 

Fashion Business Management First Year Experience | Business & Liberal Arts, B307
Join Professor Vickie Rokkos to hear about how students are taught all Microsoft Office applications - Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Illustrator - which are needed in the business world. The second section covers the evolution of fashion. In the third phase we focus on the importance of “Brand You.” We work on resume and cover letter and have our students ready to apply to a great internship.

Rendering the Fashion Figure | Feldman, C709
Professor Helen Castillo’s demonstration will highlight how through developing a fashion figure known as a “croquis” a fashion designer can design garments through illustration and render fabrics by using markers, pencils, and mixed media techniques demonstrated by hand. With a focus on proportion, fabric rendering, and design details, students are able to create design collections. A demonstration of marker rendering a fashion figure in a complete look will be instructed using multiple illustration tools and resources commonly seen in the fashion industry. 

FD217 Notched Collar Jacket Drape | Feldman, C603
Join Professor Juliana Cho and how to drape a notched collar on a jacket. 

Rhetoric, Research, and You | Dubinsky, A640
Join this session with Professor Neiha Bhandari to get a glimpse into what we do to hone your writing, communication, and presentation skills here at FIT. Together, we will discover what you already know about rhetoric and research in your day-to-day life, and how you will take those skills you have and transfer them to your academic work here at FIT.

Toy Design Studio Tour with Ongoing Student Demonstrations | Dubinsky, A580
Professor Damian Mucaro will be guiding families through the Toy Design Studio while juniors work on their Plush Toy designs and seniors focus on their Hard Toy designs. You will see firsthand what our Toy Design students are working on, as well as, explore our Toy Design studio, which includes the main design studio, the model shop, our computer lab, and our play space. This is a great opportunity to experience and observe what our hardworking students do each and every day.

Monotype Prints Using Watercolor | Pomerantz, D206
Professor Martino will instruct participants on how to make monotype prints using watercolor. Monotype is a traditional printmaking process in which ink or paint is applied to a plate and manipulated to create an artwork, which is then transferred to paper using a printmaking press or by hand pressure. The monotype process produces rich,  translucent color, and allows experimentation with a variety of tools to explore mark making. Anyone can make a successful monotype, no experience or previous skills are needed. Materials will be provided and participants will produce unique handmade prints. 

Shoemaking Demonstration | Dubinsky, A484
Join us for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the art of shoemaking! In this hands-on demonstration, we will walk you through the critical design steps on a shoe last—the essential mold used to shape shoes. Watch as we show how to design on a last, where the shoe takes its form, and see the magic of removing the finished shoe off a last. This is a unique opportunity to explore craftsmanship and creativity in action—perfect for curious minds of all ages! Don’t miss the chance to learn something new about the world of footwear.

PUT THE "I" IN FIT
A Students Point of View to Success

Success is defined differently and here at FIT we want students to feel accomplished both in and out of the classroom. Hear from three current FIT students as they share their journey of student leadership and learn more about how your student can advance their skills outside the classroom. This panel is moderated by Julia Romano, Counselor for Orientation & New Student Programs.

FACULTY LED DEMONSTRATIONS

Join the amazing FIT faculty in mock-class faculty demonstrations to see what your students are learning inside the classroom!  Details about specific faculty demonstrations offered will be posted prior to Family Day. 

Getting Your Film into Film Festivals | Pomerantz, D206
Join Professor Ethan Minsker and learn how students can successfully navigate submitting their independent films to film festivals.

Water Repellent Textiles | Dubinsky, A683
Professor Preeti Arya will be giving a tour of the Dyeing/Finishing Lab and providing a quick demonstration of how to finish your textile with a chemical finish to enhance its performance.

Fashion Business Management First Year Experience | Business & Liberal Arts, B307
Join Professor Vickie Rokkos to hear about how students are taught all Microsoft Office applications - Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Illustrator - which are needed in the business world. The second section covers the evolution of fashion. In the third phase we focus on the importance of “Brand You.” We work on resume and cover letter and have our students ready to apply to a great internship.

Rhetoric, Research, and You | Dubinsky, A640
Join this session with Professor Neiha Bhandari to get a glimpse into what we do to hone your writing, communication, and presentation skills here at FIT. Together, we will discover what you already know about rhetoric and research in your day-to-day life, and how you will take those skills you have and transfer them to your academic work here at FIT.

Toy Design Studio Tour with Ongoing Student Demonstrations | Dubinsky, A580
Professor Damian Mucaro will be guiding families through the Toy Design Studio while juniors work on their Plush Toy designs and seniors focus on their Hard Toy designs. You will see firsthand what our Toy Design students are working on, as well as, explore our Toy Design studio, which includes the main design studio, the model shop, our computer lab, and our play space. This is a great opportunity to experience and observe what our hardworking students do each and every day.

Monotype Prints Using Watercolor | Pomerantz, D206
Professor Martino will instruct participants on how to make monotype prints using watercolor. Monotype is a traditional printmaking process in which ink or paint is applied to a plate and manipulated to create an artwork, which is then transferred to paper using a printmaking press or by hand pressure. The monotype process produces rich,  translucent color, and allows experimentation with a variety of tools to explore mark making. Anyone can make a successful monotype, no experience or previous skills are needed. Materials will be provided and participants will produce unique handmade prints. 

CAMPUS TOURS

The FIT Campus Tour will be approximately 1 hour. FIT Tour Guides will lead you around campus, pointing out classrooms, campus resources, places to study, the residential buildings and more. 

FIT’s 27th STREET FAIR

Join us on 27th Street for an afternoon of fun and activities for our families!  Take a picture at the photo booth with Stitch the Tiger, FIT's very own cuddly mascot. Participate in games and fall activities and sample fall themed treats from our food trucks.  Shop at the Alumni Bazaar, featuring alumni run businesses selling their homemade, upcycled, recycled and one-of-a-kind items for sale. Stop by the Resource Fair and connect with our campus resources including but not limited to Academic Advisement, Financial Aid, Counseling Services, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Health Services, Student Life, Residential Life, and more!  

ALUMNI AUTHOR MEET & GREET

This special event offers a unique opportunity to connect with accomplished alumni authors, discover their latest works, gain insights into their creative journeys, and pick up a signed copy of their books!

HUE LIVE WRITING FASHION HISTORY: Alumni Panel

Join us for an electrifying panel discussion featuring three distinguished FIT alumni who have made their mark in the world of fashion literature! Moderated by Alex Joseph, FIT's chief storyteller, this event brings together Tonya Blazio-Licorish, co-author of Black in Fashion, a celebration of Black voices in fashion history; Nancy MacDonell, fashion journalist and author of Empresses of Seventh Avenue; and Tanya Meléndez-Escalante, senior curator at The Museum at FIT and co-author of Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today - ¡Moda Hoy! From exploring the contributions of Black creatives to uncovering the untold stories of women who shaped American fashion, our panelists will take you on a fascinating journey.

SIX ON BROADWAY

As part of Family Day's Explore New York City, we will be purchasing discounted tickets to the Broadway show SIX!  SIX is a Tony Award winning musical that will have you and your family singing and laughing through the whole show. If you wish to attend, tickets must be purchased in advance via Eventbrite.  CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets. Space is limited.