The article examines the peculiarities of the formation of design skills in students of technological and professional education during the study of professional training disciplines, which should be aimed at the project-technological approach of productive technological training. The place and role of the formation of design skills in the system of higher education, in particular, in the preparation of future teachers of labor training and technology, future teachers of professional training in the field of fashion design, is determined. Attention is drawn to the creation of favorable conditions for those seeking education for the formation of such skills and abilities, the ability to creatively approach one's own work, acquiring the ability to correctly present the product of one's work, etc. With this goal, there is a constant search for the content, forms and methods of teaching educational components, the use of modern educational technologies, the development of modern educational and methodological support, the updating of laboratory-practical tasks that contribute to the formation of design skills, which are the key to the development of a creative personality. Design technology is one of the main aspects of the work of a modern teacher of technological and professional education, therefore the article focuses on the formation of design skills during the design and technology activities of students of education at various stages of the implementation of their own creative ideas. Disciplines of professional training of technological and professional education recipients should be aimed at a project-technological approach in the process of productive technological training.
 Keywords: design skills; design-thinking; design-project; project technology; project-technological activity; technological education; professional education; professional training disciplines.