Textile Design for Fashion & Interiors

Bachelor's degree

In Bath

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Bath

  • Duration

    3 Years

This dynamic and demanding course concentrates on new technological skills with a strong emphasis on computer aided design, and aims to produce designers and people of influence in the future.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Bath (Somerset)
See map
Sion Hill Lansdown, BA1 5SF

Start date

On request

About this course

Entry Requirements

Standard art and design requirements.

All candidates are interviewed and selected primarily on their creative ability.

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Course programme

You have the opportunity to study either a Fashion Design route or a Surface Design route from a common first year.

Course Structure and Content

The course introduces you to a wide range of subjects to enable you to have a good understanding of the academic, theoretical and practical constraints of textile, fashion and surface design. The normal pattern of study is 80% practical and 20% contextual studies.

The course offers an initial introduction into a wide range of basic skills for textile and fashion design during the first year. These include printed, knitted, woven, embroidered and felted textiles as well as pattern cutting and sewing skills. Drawing and visual research are crucial throughout the course alongside computer and digital design skills that are emphasised during the first year of the course. These are supported by a strong research and theory programme to enable you to make an informed choice about specialising in either Fashion with Textiles or Surface Design in the second year of the course. You are exposed to a wide range of opinions and ideas through contact with the industry and an exciting visiting lecture programme, visiting tutors all of whom are practising designers, visits to the industry, trade fairs, exhibitions, museums, and student exchanges.

You can specialise in any of the following areas:

  • Printed textiles;
  • Knitted textiles/knitwear;
  • Woven textiles;
  • Embroidered/stitched textiles;
  • Felting.

Year 1

In Year 1 you will be introduced to a wide range of disciplines through a combination of studio, workshop and theoretical study. Design theory and critical studies will link with workshop practice, and you will be able to experiment and explore ideas whilst developing a sound grounding in basic design, drawing, visual research, visual communication, 2D and 3D digital design, textile construction and surface embellishment. This is a very fast moving programme.

Year 2

At the end of Year 1 you will be asked to choose a selected route through the course and a specialism. The routes are Textiles with Fashion and Surface Design. The specialisms are Printed, Woven, Knitted Textiles/ Knitwear, Felted or Embroidered Textiles. During the year you will work through a wide variety of projects and approaches.

You may support the chosen specialism by crossing over to other areas as required during the year. The emphasis of the year is to improve research design and technical skills. The Fashion with Textiles route includes modules of study in fashion design and pattern cutting and garment construction. The Surface Design route allows you to study any area of surface you wish from wallpaper to furnishing fabrics or the decoration or construction of any surface as an art or craft form. You will be introduced to professional skills leading to a work placement or student exchange where appropriate. The programme is further supported by Contextual Studies.

Year 3


You will continue to specialise in either Fashion or Surface Design.

Independent study will form the basis of the year. Your individual design abilities and interests will continue to develop using new technology as a design and production tool and creative medium.

Surface Design Route


An agreed programme of work will be established in one of the course options - printed, knitted textiles, felted textiles, woven or embroidered surface design. You will continue to follow your preferred route of either designer/maker or design for industry, and the final presentation will reflect this choice. The practical work will be supported by an in depth Contextual Studies dissertation, and for those students that have industrial or commercial requirements links with the industry will be established.

Fashion Design Route

Students will study presentation and portfolio skills either in Fashion or Fashion with Textiles. This will be followed by the presentation of a range of garments for a pre- collection of clothes.

At the end of the course, you will be working on a final collection to include garments, presentation and drawing/illustration work.

All students will agree with course tutors the way they wish to work in the year and will specialise either in fabrics bought from suppliers or those made by themselves depending on the individual. Some may mix the two approaches. The practical work will be supported by an in-depth Contextual Studies dissertation.

Teaching Methods and Resources

  • Visiting lecture programme: A lively programme of national and international speakers from a wide range of surface design interests is planned over the three year course. This is supported by a team of visiting lecturers for project based work representing all surface design skills. Visiting speakers also represent the Contextual Studies course, providing a rich mix of knowledge across the course as a whole.
  • Workshops: Throughout the course there is a strong emphasis on the importance of skills. Workshops are planned in all areas, in particular digital media.
  • Seminars: Discussion groups are formed to discuss and debate issues of interest and to ensure students are well informed about current practice. Contextual Studies further supports this debate.
  • Tutorials: You are given regular personal tutorials both in Main Studies and in Contextual Studies.
  • Visits and links with industry: Throughout the course there are organised visits to exhibitions, industry and museums, both nationally and internationally.
  • Work experience: Students will gain work experience where appropriate both nationally and internationally. Student placements have included Chloe, Calvin Klein, Nina Ricci, Clarissa Hulse, Stella McCartney and Jessica Ogden.
  • Exchange: International exchanges will be made where appropriate.

Part-Time Study

The course can be studied on a part- time basis over a period of five years. Part-time study usually consists of 12 hours per week attendance, plus ten hours of independent study. Programmes are devised on an individual basis.

Assessment Methods


The course is delivered in a series of modules varying in length that are continuously assessed.

Textile Design for Fashion & Interiors

Price on request