Design Academy SIZE for fashion designers
Design Academy SIZE for fashion designers
VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub and Zalando are launching the fifth edition of the Design Academy. Titled SIZE, this edition focuses on the critical intersection of size, fit, and digital innovation.
100 available spots are offered for the initial phase, with the top 10 designers eventually being selected for an exclusive, high-intensity Design Sprint. The finalists will be presented at Berlin Fashion Week 2027.
Initial phase will take place online from June 2 to July 23. Designed for those who see design not just as an aesthetic endeavor, but want to dive deeper into new technologies for social and environmental change, this edition offers:
- Master CLO: Receive basic training and technical deep dives into digital grading
- Free Software Access: Gain full access to CLO software throughout the program
- Impact-Driven Design: Learn to reduce physical waste through virtual prototyping while creating fashion that respects the diversity of the human body
Next phase will take place from October 5 to November 26. Every SIZE awardee will receive a € 2,000 scholarship, plus dedicated budgets for production, materials, and travel, to support you in bringing your concept to life during the eight-week hybrid Design Sprint, partly in Berlin.
During the sprint, you will:
- Participate in hands-on workshops to sharpen your skills and expand your creative approach
- Refine your digital grading and translate your concept from digital patterns to a physical prototype
- Gain access to high-end sampling studios and knitwear facilities, turning your ideas into reality using professional production tools and techniques
- Receive individual and group coaching from experienced industry mentors
- Showcase your finished design during an internal Demo Day and at a professional exhibition during Berlin Fashion Week, providing excellent media exposure and networking opportunities
- Benefit from a professional photo and video documentation of your prototype
Application deadline is May 20, 2026.
Freelance fashion designers and designers from emerging and established brands are eligible to apply. Brands must be based in Europe, and accessory brands are excluded from participation. Pre-knowledge in CLO is a plus, but the Design Academy SIZE is open to anyone interested to learn.
More information can be found here.
