Student Feature: Kylie Li
In my senior year, I had the incredible fortune of meeting Professor Soojin Kang, followed by Professor Susanna Moyer during my graduate studies. Both of them have had a profound impact on my academic and design growth, continually supporting me with generosity and encouragement that has been invaluable to my fashion journey.
Undergraduate Years
Soojin was my thesis advisor during my undergraduate studies, and I worked closely with her for an entire year. Throughout this time, I was deeply impressed by her dedication as a teacher and her respect for her students. She never imposed her ideas on me; instead, she listened to my design concepts and offered constructive feedback. Soojin emphasized the use of CLO 3D—a software for creating virtual garments—which significantly enhanced the expressiveness and diversity of my designs. Under her guidance, I completed five physical garments for my thesis and created two additional virtual pieces. This experience enriched my portfolio, making it visually and creatively more diverse.
The Power of Networking
After graduating, I stayed in contact with Professor Soojin, and with her recommendation and support, I successfully applied to the graduate program at Parsons. Her support was invaluable, not only paving the way for my further education but also strengthening my resolve to pursue my design dreams.
Parsons Graduate year
When I entered the graduate program at Parsons, I was thrilled to learn that Professor Susanna would be teaching in my program, and I immediately chose her course. Susanna’s background in both fashion design and management aligned closely with my academic journey, giving her a unique insight into balancing creativity with commercial viability. Her course offered in-depth guidance on applying these ideas practically. In her class, I not only learned specific business theories but also benefited from her extensive industry experience, applying this knowledge directly to my projects.
Susanna often shared personal work examples that brought abstract theories into real-world contexts, allowing me to understand the broader business environment of fashion from a more market-oriented perspective. Even after graduation, she continued to offer support when I faced challenges in my career, and her generosity deeply moved me.
Life Ahead
Looking back on my academic career, Soojin and Susanna have played roles that were not just that of mentors, but also as guiding lights on my path forward. Soojin helped me broaden my design perspective during my undergraduate studies, teaching me the importance of diversity in my work and the value of paying attention to detail.
Meanwhile, Susanna helped me strike a better balance between creativity and business thinking, teaching me how to merge my design ideas with market demands.
Even now, as I move beyond campus, the influence of Soojin and Susanna continues to shape my design career. Their teachings have helped me understand how to view fashion design from multiple angles, balancing creativity with market needs.
Their professional and detailed guidance has been a key part of my academic journey, and I truly believe their influence will accompany me throughout my life.
