After finishing Modern Art & Ideas, I took Fashion as Design expecting something light and maybe a little glamorous. Instead, it made me think harder about the clothes I wear than I ever had before. This course, created by the Museum of Modern Art, isn’t about trends or runways. It’s about what our clothes say about us, where they come from, and how design connects to culture, politics, and daily life.
Each unit focuses on a theme like how clothing shapes the body, how couture works, what modesty means across different societies, and how sustainability fits into design. The videos are beautiful to watch, and the range of examples is wild. One moment you’re seeing how denim became a global uniform, and the next you’re hearing from artisans who hand-dye fabric using centuries-old techniques. There’s also a segment on the hoodie that explores how one item of clothing can symbolize safety for some people and threat for others. That was the moment I realized the course wasn’t just about design; it was about empathy (a running theme for this blog!).
The instructor, Paola Antonelli, has a calm, curious presence that makes the whole thing feel personal. She asks questions that linger long after the video ends: why do we choose what we wear? What stories do our clothes tell about us? By the second week, I found myself paying more attention to the texture of a sweater, or to the history hidden in a pair of sneakers.
If I had to name one weakness, it’s that the course sometimes feels too short for how rich the material is. (Despite being over twice as long as the aforementioned MoMA Coursera course!) You finish a module wanting to keep going, to dig deeper into one idea. But maybe that’s part of its strength too: it opens your eyes just enough that you can’t stop noticing what’s been in front of you all along.
The part that stayed with me most was about sustainability. Learning how the life cycle of a single garment can involve hundreds of hands and tons of water changed how I look at everything in my closet. It isn’t about guilt; it’s about awareness. Every choice—every fabric, every purchase—has a story behind it.
If Modern Art & Ideas taught me to look at art more closely, Fashion as Design taught me to look at myself. The course doesn’t ask you to memorize designers or movements; it asks you to think about how creativity lives in the most ordinary part of your life: getting dressed.
Verdict:
Take it if you’ve ever stood in front of your closet wondering why you wear what you wear. It’s thoughtful, beautifully made, and surprisingly moving. You won’t end up making clothes, but you might start rethinking the ones you already have.
Allegra on Art & Architecture 