Textile Design
Textile design is a discipline with deep roots and a rapidly evolving present. Textiles encompass woven, knitted, printed and constructed fabrics, and the designers who work with them must understand both the technical properties of fibres and structures and the aesthetic, cultural and commercial contexts in which their work will be used. From fashion and interior design to technical applications in healthcare and aerospace, textiles are everywhere, and the designers who can combine creative vision with material intelligence are in consistent demand across a wide range of industries.
At Arts University Plymouth, this three-year full-time programme places you in a context that recognises the textile industry is evolving rapidly and sees this as an exciting opportunity to nurture independently minded designers ready to meet the demands of a dynamic, forward-thinking sector. You will develop your design skills and material understanding through studio practice, exploring pattern, colour, structure and surface alongside the technical processes of your chosen textile specialism. The programme encourages creative risk-taking and independent thinking, while also developing your awareness of professional contexts and industry standards.
A sandwich year gives you extended placement experience in the industry, and a work placement provides further professional exposure, so you graduate with direct knowledge of how textile design operates commercially.
Graduates pursue careers as textile designers, print designers, surface pattern designers, knitwear designers, woven fabric designers and embroiderers working for fashion houses, fabric manufacturers, interior design firms, wallpaper and surface design companies, and their own independent studios. The textile industry's rapid evolution towards sustainable and technical applications is creating new opportunities for designers who can apply their skills to performance fabrics, medical textiles and sustainable material innovation. Postgraduate study in textile design, fashion or material culture is a natural route for those wishing to develop their practice or move into research.