On September 27th, as part of the Moscow Fashion Week lectures, graduates of the HSE Art and Design School and representatives from the fashion industry met for a discussion titled, «Where does schooling end and a career begin?»
They discussed how to launch a professional career while still in school and why the line between academia and the real working world is becoming increasingly blurred today.
HARD 014 Show: Endemic Beauty by the HSE Art and Design School at Moscow Fashion Week in March 2026
The Seventh Moscow Fashion Week took place from September 26 to October 1, 2026, with the Manege Exhibition Center as its main venue. The program featured runway shows by Russian and international designers, a local brand market, a showroom, a lecture series, and the World Fashion Shorts short film festival.
HARD 014 Showcase: Endemic Beauty by the HSE Art and Design School at Moscow Fashion Week in March 2026
The HSE Art and Design School discussion, «Where Does Schooling End and a Career Begin?», took place as part of the outreach project «Open Lecture Hall.» Graduates from the «Fashion» major participated, including clothing designer Ekaterina Titova, Ultima Яндекс Market brand manager Daria Lukash, fashion vanguard Dmitry Kuznetsov, and photographer Danila Pidchenko. Together with moderator Elena Ermakovichna, they discussed what brands expect from young specialists today—how to transform an academic project into a tangible product, how to find the balance between creative expression and systematic work, and how to learn not only to create but also to promote one’s projects.
What did we discuss?
When a School Project Becomes Real Work
We discussed how a project differs from a «homework assignment, ” how to develop an idea into a finished product, and why it’s important to work on things during your studies that you can show to a client or include in your portfolio.Creativity—But to the Brief
We talked about working with clients, deadlines, and production processes—and how to maintain your own creative voice while solving a very specific task.Your Portfolio Won’t Sell Itself
How do you turn it from a folder of work into a tool for finding commissions? And how crucial are media presence, reach, and the ability to articulate your value for a creative professional?Innovation or Market Demand
What is more important: sticking to your own vision or accommodating market demand? Is it possible to experiment, be interesting, and earn a decent living all at once?Where Exactly Does School End
The first commission, the first client, the first commercial project—or has the clear line between university and career simply vanished?
The discussion, «Where Does Studying End and a Career Begin?», took place on September 27, 2026, as part of the Moscow Fashion Week lecture at the Manege Exhibition Center (Manege Square, Building 1).