BA (Hons) Textile Design

Entry requirements

Although many of our students do come in with top grades and high UCAS points, these aren’t necessarily essential for entry. We typically ask for between 104 - 120 UCAS points, earned through an Art & Design Foundation Diploma, A-levels, BTEC Extended Diploma MMM grade, Access to HE Art & Design, T-Levels, Irish/Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers, the International Baccalaureate, or other international qualifications.

Applicants also need to submit a portfolio.

We understand that talented artists, designers and makers can have a wide range of relevant strengths and skills beyond formal qualifications. We’re just as interested in exploring your portfolio and discussing your creative experiences as we are in seeing your grades, and we welcome applications from students who have followed less traditional routes.

We also accept a range of international qualifications and will look at each application individually.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Prepare for Success in the Textile Design Sector

Our BA (Hons) Textile Design course is an exciting, industry-focused and experimental environment where you will develop essential skills needed to design for different markets and audiences. Our course covers all aspects of the textile design sector, including trend forecasting, product development, branding, and marketing.

Why choose this course at Arts University Plymouth?

• Benefit from a professional, nurturing, and student-led community, fostering independent Textile Designers ready to enter the industry and fulfill their ambitions and potential.
• Enjoy direct access to a dynamic and inspirational landscape and location, providing ample inspiration for your textile and design projects.
• Utilise world-class, industry-standard facilities including a textile print room, and a dedicated knit, dye, stitch, and tufting studio, ensuring you're well-equipped for textile design recruitment and design textiles jobs.
• Prepare for a successful career in textile design jobs, equipped with the skills and knowledge gained from our comprehensive program.

It is rare to see such a wealth of facilities as you have in Arts University Plymouth. It is an incredible site.

DANIEL HEATH, AWARD-WINNING TEXTILE & SURFACE PATTERN DESIGNER, ON A VISIT TO THE CAMPUS IN 2023

Immerse Yourself in the World of Textile Design

Every day we encounter textile design in our lives, encompassing and enriching everything from the clothes that we wear to the pattern, textures and colours of the environments that we live and work in. Join our vibrant, industry-focused course, and nurture your unique design personality, through an exciting mix of textile material experimentation, personal development and creative industry opportunities.

Exploring Textile Design Innovation and Sustainability

Our Textile Design course structure revolves around experimentation, innovation, and the exploration of sustainability in textile strategies. Through a blend of production methods, textile printing, dyeing processes, and business modelling, students delve into new avenues of creativity and longevity in the textile industry. Our curriculum addresses global challenges and sustainability from various perspectives, fostering a holistic understanding of this critical aspect.

Throughout your journey, you’ll be urged to push boundaries and broaden your understanding of fabrics, techniques, and processes. Drawing, design research, CAD skills, technical knowledge, and professional practice are seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, empowering you to excel in your craft. We actively encourage participation in national and international design competitions, providing opportunities for showcasing your talents on a global stage. These foundational skills not only enhance your confidence but also nurture your growth as a versatile designer and textile specialist, fostering creative sophistication and a keen eye for visual exploration.

Cultivate Your Unique Creative Practice

Throughout the course, you’ll have the freedom to explore new materials, techniques, and technologies, ranging from traditional print processes and knit and dyeing methods to contemporary digital printing and creative surface pattern design. Access to our natural dye garden and a wide range of industry-standard resources complements your learning experience, while acquiring current digital design skills enables you to bring your creative visions to life.

Explore State-of-the-Art Multimedia Facilities

Our textiles studios boast an array of our facilities, including a screen printing space, a dye laboratory, a sublimation printer, and a transfer press. Additionally, we offer access to knitting machines, digital embroidery, tufting guns, and a suite of digital printers and scanners, enabling immediate turnaround for your fabric designs. Benefit from our industry-standard textile print room and a dedicated knit, dye, stitch, and tufting studio, providing you with the ideal environment to unleash your creativity. To support your creative journey, we provide access to leading software such as AVA, WGSN, and The Future Laboratory.

Gain Real-World Experience and Industry Exposure

The programme is supported by a brilliant team of technical staff and visiting lecturers, which in recent years has included prestigious designers such as Timorous Beasties, Zandra Rhodes, Joules, Finisterre, Katie Jones, Dr. Manrutt Wongkaew, Dulux, Anna Gravelle, Bay and Brown textile design agents, and Mirjam Rouden textile design studio.

You’ll have the opportunity to engage with potential employers through captivating live industry projects with top companies such as Mercedes, Sainsburys Home, Joules clothing, Finisterre, Princess Yachts, Make Southwest, and The Eden Project.

Sponsored industrial projects will immerse you in the practical aspects of meeting client needs and preparing your designs for production, providing invaluable real-life design experience. Study trips, including visits to events like Heimtextil in Frankfurt, Premiere Vision, and Maison&Objet in Paris, further enrich your learning journey.

Industry partners & connections

Eden Project, National Trust, MAKE South West, Daniel Heath, Christopher Farr, Lancashire and Cornish, Whiston and Wright, Dryrobe.

Fees and funding