Textile Design BA(Hons)
On our textile design course, you’ll be part of a vibrant, supportive community of multidisciplinary textile designers and makers. You’ll discover how to create sustainable designs for a range of outcomes, and take creative risks.
Key details
| Location | Penryn Campus |
|---|---|
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Attendance | Full-time |
| UCAS code | W230 |
| Contact | 01326 254350 |
Apply now
Introduction
Blending studio work with professional practice, you’ll develop your understanding of the textiles industry, while perfecting a range of techniques in our purpose-built studios. With opportunities to visit international trade fairs and exhibit work in a final year show, you’ll graduate as a confident, industry-ready textile designer.
You will:
- Learn essential skills within woven, printed and mixed-media textiles, with sustainability embedded throughout.
- Embrace artisanal, traditional techniques and digital design and production techniques in our well-equipped studios and workshops.
- Work to live briefs set by renowned companies such as Circleline, Envisage, Joules, RareThread and Wallace Sewell.
- Be encouraged to enter international competitions such as the Bradford Textile Society, Hand & Lock, i-dott and SDC (Society of Dyers & Colourists).
- Have the opportunity to travel to Paris for Première Vision, the International Textile and Trend Forecasting Show.
- Exhibit your final year’s work in our degree show and have the chance to be selected for New Designers, London.
Covid-19 update
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates pages
What our students do
Mentoring matters
Textile Design Student Accepted to the Cordis Prize for Tapestry
Sponsorship for Textile Student
Further Success at New Designers
New Designer Win for Textile Student
Textile Design Students Awarded by Bradford Textile Society
Textiles Students Shortlisted in International Design Competition
Textiles Students Win Prestigious Scholarships and Prizes
Two Awards for Textile Student
Fashion Duo Featured in Vogue
What our graduates do
Graduate delivers colourful workshop for Textile Design students
Interview with Double Award Winner Jessie Dickinson
Textiles Student Completes Course as Double-Award Winner
Menswear Design with George May
Prestigious Prize Awarded to Textiles Graduate
Course details
What you'll learn
Through this career-focused textile design course, you’ll learn about technical process and production alongside environmental and sustainability issues surrounding the textile industry. You’ll learn how to design and make woven, printed and mixed media textiles for a broad range of outcomes, including fashion, interiors and one-off artefact. Preparing for your career, you’ll also learn how to innovate and take creative risks, communicate professionally, network and approach potential employers.
You’ll learn professional production processes in weave, print and mixed media. This will be backed up by intensive conceptual research alongside cultural studies lectures, drawing sessions, and tutorials with peers and academic staff. Building on essential knowledge and skills, you’ll create your own design collection in a textile process of your choice.
Modules
Core Skills: Print
Core Skills: Weave
Core Skills: Mixed Media
Themes in Culture
Design and Make
Along with the help and insights of our industry partners, you’ll learn the realities of designing for business. In the second year of your Textile Design degree, we’ll explore marketing basics, working techniques, trend forecasting, innovation, and career opportunities. You’ll also have the chance to take on self-directed national and international work placements with companies like Wallace Sewell, Liberty and Rebecca Taylor (New York). We encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations where possible in order to build positive relationships across the university and to create fully resolved pieces of work.
Choosing a textile process to focus on for the rest of the course, you’ll design and create textiles for national and international competitions, and briefs set by industry clients. You’ll then present your work to your clients in a real-life simulation of industry practice.
Modules
Targeted Design: Futures
Targeted Design: Client & Market
Production
Theories of Culture
Optional modules
External Engagement
Global Fashion
As well as writing your dissertation, you’ll create your own studio briefs in order to design and produce original textiles. This usually (but not exclusively) takes the form of collections of samples. You’ll also put together your professional portfolio and other self-promotional materials, and have the chance to take part in the New Designers exhibition in London.
Modules
Dissertation
Professional Portfolio: Business Focus
Professional Portfolio: Career Focus
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details
We are making changes to our curriculum framework for courses starting in 2022. Modest amendments to our course module structure will provide you with new opportunities to collaborate and co-create with students from across disciplines during your studies.
This course page will be updated when these changes have been finalised and applicants will be notified.
How you'll learn
This course blends studio work with professional practice. You’ll learn through workshop-based studio modules, lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials, and advanced workshops in certain disciplines. There may also be opportunities to visit major trade fairs like Première Vision in Paris.
How you'll spend your time
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
1 | 35% | 65% |
2 | 32% | 68% |
3 | 22% | 78% |
How you'll be assessed
Year | Written exams | Practical exams | Coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
2 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
3 | 0% | 0% | 100% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Assessment methods
Submitted project work will be assessed against the learning outcomes of each brief. Occasionally you will formally present your work to tutors as part of the assessment.
Self-assessment and peer assessment will be used to develop your ability to critically evaluate your own work and that of others.
- Continuous assessment with no formal examinations
- Coursework and portfolio
- Dissertation or final-year project
Staff
You’ll be taught by a team of industry professionals and technical instructors, bringing experience in areas like weave, contemporary culture, fashion and interiors, public exhibitions, national and international research projects, and writing textile design books.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.
Dr Simon Clarke
Dr Simon Clarke is a senior lecturer with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in printed textile...
Freya Moses
I work as a senior technician within the Fashion & Textiles Institute. I specialise in printed...
Hannah Maughan
Hannah studied at Birmingham and the Royal College of Art, specialising in embroidery and mixed...
Irene Griffin
I am senior technical instructor for mixed media on the Textile Design programme with a background...
Julie Ripley
Julie Ripley studied history of modern art, design and film at Northumbria University, where she...
Matthew Abbott
Matthew joined Falmouth University in 1998 as a student on BA(Hons) 3D Design and has the...
Sally-Ann Gill
Sally-Ann Gill studied at UCA Farnham and at the Royal College of Art specialising in woven...
Wendy Kotenko
Wendy Kotenko is senior technician for weave on the textile design programme. She has an MA in...
Facilities
- Weave facility featuring hand looms and a computer-controlled power jacquard loom
- Industrial and digital embroidery machinery
- Digital and traditional screen-printing facilities
- Dye lab
- Laser cutting equipment
- Open-plan design studios
- Workshops dedicated to dyeing and manual printing
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? If you're applying through UCAS Apply and Track, you'll need to reference the university and course codes below.
- University code: F33
- Course code: W230
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.
Application advice & interview information
We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.
As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.
For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard, which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.
If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
UK applications: 29 January 2021 (for equal consideration)
Late applications will be considered if there are places available.
International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
What we're looking for
We want someone who:
- Has a range of either completed work from organised projects, or independent studio work development.
- Shows skills in design communication, problem-solving and drawing.
- Can think critically and develop ideas.
- Demonstrates visual investigation through techniques like drawing, mark-making, image manipulation and pattern.
- Combines conceptual thinking and practical skills.
- Knows about textile design practitioners, and how creative professionals have influenced their own work.
- Can verbally express ideas, discuss work, and talk about project strengths and weaknesses.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
£9,250 per year - full-time UK/EU
£16,000 per year - full-time international
£9,250 per year - full-time UK
£16,950 - full-time EU
£16,950 - full-time international
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
Typical course costs
- £250-£800 - Recurring annual costs
- £100-£400 - One-off costs for the course duration (compulsory trips, final portfolios or shows, etc)
- £1,600 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration
If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Funding
For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page.
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