Standen joins SCAD
“Dirk Standen is a highly regarded fashion writer, editor, and industry mover,” says dean Michael Fink, SCAD school of fashion. “He has incredible connections throughout the fashion industry and will be an advocate for our students as they embark on their careers.”
Standen will begin teaching at SCAD in fall 2021 as professor of fashion marketing and management. Prior to joining SCAD, Standen served for a decade as editor-in-chief of Style.com, growing the media portal into the leading global destination for fashion news and runway reporting. As Burberry chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci said: “Dirk created the gold standard for fashion journalism in the digital age with his work on Style.com.”
At Condé Nast, Standen became founding editor of creative agency 23 Stories, where he had his first encounter with SCAD. “I was working on a creative campaign for Cadillac, highlighting 25 innovative leaders, and Paula Wallace was an honoree,” Standen says.
That profile piqued Standen’s interest in the university and he began hearing “SCAD” everywhere he went. “Nicholas Dine [professor, industrial design], one of my very good friends from New York, kept telling me how much he enjoys living in Savannah,” Standen says. “SCAD was very much on my radar and when this opportunity came up, I jumped at it.”
SCAD is committed to hiring faculty who bring a lifetime of industry experience to the classroom, helping students achieve success in their own creative careers. “I know I can bring my knowledge and insights into the classroom and help my students pursue their dreams,” Standen says.
Standen is looking forward to his first quarter as a professor. He will teach Contemporary Issues in Fashion Merchandising (FASM 400) and The Future of Shopping: Retail Innovation for Customer Empowerment (FASM 415). Standen’s students will learn first-hand how fashion houses work, how to identify emerging trends, and how to connect with and engage leaders in the industry. “Along with understanding how to launch and sustain a fashion brand, I have extensive knowledge on how to start your own business,” Standen says.
Standen, who has worked with industry leaders from Virgil Abloh to Julie Gilhart to Kanye West, joins a fashion marketing and management program that places students at the nexus of fashion, business, and marketing.
The new professor is excited to connect with SCAD students who will enter the global workforce influencing every link of the fashion chain and driving innovation. “Today’s students are at the forefront of huge changes in our industry,” Standen says. “They have more opportunities than ever before and they are going to lead us in ways we have never even imagined.”
Written by Robert Almand.
