October 1, 1996

Monarch Design Systems and Parsons School of Design Form Educational Alliance

Glendale, NY - Monarch Design Systems and Parsons School of Design have formed a comprehensive partnership to offer classes and continuing education for fabric and fashion CAD/CAM. The curriculum will include classes on usage of popular "off-the-shelf" software, such as Adobe Photoshop©, as well as on the powerful Pointcarre textile software. As part of this venture, Parsons has acquired twenty-four (24) copies of the Design Studio/Pointcarre software, which will be utilized in three Macintosh-equipped labs.

"Parsons School of Design and Monarch Design Systems are commited to educating the fashion and textile designers of today - and tomorrow," said Charles Olton, Dean of Parsons. "At Parsons, we're committed to including new technology in our design programs, and we're delighted that Monarch will help us obtain this goal." David Matsil, Managing Director for Monarch, adds, "It is gratifying that a premiere design institution like Parsons shares our vision."

The courses include:

  • Advanced Project: an experimental course in knit and apparel design. A notable critic from the industry will participate in the course. Monarch and Parsons are in the process of securing sponsors for the knit curriculum.
  • Pointcarre Textile Software: commencing with sophomore class, January, 1997.
  • Professional Design Studies: continuing courses at Parsons' uptown location for advanced technical woven and knit development. Monarch School at Parsons: Continuing education classes on using popular "off-the-shelf" software, including Adobe Photoshop© and Illustrator© and Fractal Painter©, for textile design.


Monarch will formally present the Pointcarre software to the Digital/Textile faculty of Parsons on October 16th, from 6 - 8:00pm. The presentation will be held in the Advanced Labs on the 10th floor of the 2 West 13th St. location. The press is invited to attend.

Founded in 1896, Parsons School of Design, a division of the New School for Social Research, offers programs Fashion Design, Illustration, Fine Arts, and Design Marketing, among many others. In addition to two campuses in Manhattan, Parsons has a four-year campus in Paris and affiliates in Japan, Korea, the Dominican Republic and Malaysia. Notable alumni of the school include designers Donna Karan and Isaac Mizrahi.