Surface Pattern and Textile Design - BA (Hons)

Program Overview

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The Surface Pattern and Textile Design program at Staffordshire University equips students with industry-ready skills in creating innovative designs for fashion and interiors. Through a combination of practical workshops, digital techniques, and industry collaborations, students develop their creativity, technical abilities, and employability skills, preparing them for careers as surface pattern designers, textile designers, and more.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview

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The Surface Pattern and Textile Design degree at Staffordshire University is designed for students who wish to specialize as designers and creators of innovative designs for fashion and interiors.

The program focuses on enhancing surfaces through a combination of practical print processes and digital and technical skills.

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Objectives:

• Nurturing ambition and building confidence in design skills.
• Equipping graduates with industry-ready knowledge and skills.

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Description:

• Combines hands-on practical workshops and demonstrations with individual and group tutorials.
• Allows students to present their work to peers and employers at the Degree Show and Gradex.
• Provides opportunities to exhibit at New Designers in London, where many graduates have secured commissions, press coverage, and work placements.
• Duration: 3 years
• Start date: September
• Award: BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textile Design

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Outline

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Program Content:

• Focuses on initial research, drawing, design awareness, development, and final print design collections.
• Includes modules in color, material innovation, producing research, visual studies, industry practice, printed textiles, design futures, and individual programs of study.
• Encourages students to take risks, push boundaries, venture into areas of uncertainty, and discover new technology and opportunities.
• Offers opportunities for students to work with high calibre companies and high street retailers on live briefs.
• Culminates in a final year project where students present their work to peers and employers at the Degree Show and Gradex.

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Structure:

• Full-time program with one start point in September.
• Combines individual and group work, studio and technical workshops, and lectures and seminars.
• Encourages students to take risks, push boundaries, venture into areas of uncertainty, and discover new technology and opportunities.

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Course Schedule:

• The course operates on a modular basis with flexible and choice-based learning.
• The majority of modules are 40 academic credits with a smaller number of 20 credit modules.
• Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours, including scheduled teaching, independent study, and assessment activity.
• Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester.
• All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole.
• The full-time course has one start point in September.

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Individual Modules:

• Colour In Design: Introduces different approaches to drawing, including the importance and relevance of visual research to the designer.
Explores various drawing methods and mark-making techniques, focusing on scale, colour, and composition.
• Course Introduction: Introduces the background, role, and activities of the surface pattern designer, along with the surface pattern design process, from initial research through to design development and realisation.
• Producing Research: Develops skills to utilize contextual research to deepen the understanding of chosen discipline and as an important part of developing practical work.
• Visual Studies: Introduces students to different approaches to drawing, including the importance and relevance of visual research to the designer.
Explores various drawing methods and mark-making techniques, focusing on scale, colour, and composition.
• Industry Practice: Creates a range of designs in response to a commercial project brief, further developing practical design skills, and employing an increasing appreciation and application of colour and material manipulation.
• Material Innovation 1: Focuses on methods of application of colour, texture, and image onto a variety of surfaces, capturing a return to a preference for the unique and the handmade.
• Material Innovation 2: Continues to build on previous technical experience and skills in relation to the embellishment and decoration of multi surfaces.
• Personal Investigation: Provides the opportunity to reflect on work, propose and write a personal program of study, and explore an aspect of surface pattern or textile surfaces of particular interest.
• Printed Textiles: Builds on the acquisition of workshop skills gained at Level Four, and generating imagery through drawing, mark-making, and CAD generation.
• Design Futures: Prepares students for entry into the design profession by developing awareness of the range of career opportunities available.
• Research, Analysis, and Communication Assignment: Requires students to identify, research, and analyze design and media theory, key practitioners, user research, contemporary practice, design and media research, and design and media production processes.
• Advanced Study: Consolidates knowledge and experience, refines working methods, and adopts a professional, competitive attitude.

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Assessment

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Assessment Methods:

• A range of different types of coursework and practical activities, including a body of completed artwork, sketchbooks, technical exercises, written essays or reports, and presentations.

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Assessment Criteria:

• Varies depending on the module content, but may include creativity, originality, technical skill, research, presentation, and critical analysis.

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Feedback:

• Provided in both written and oral formats, with records kept by the tutor or student.
• Delivered within 20 working days following the date of submission for coursework assignments.

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Teaching

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Teaching Methods:

• Primarily studio-based, with project-based activities in a studio setting appropriate to the subject.
• Combines whole group, team-based work, and individual work.
• Includes lectures, seminars, and guest lectures from industry professionals.
• Supported by technical skills instruction sessions with technician instructors.

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Faculty:

• Expert teaching team with expertise and knowledge closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.
• Includes senior academics, professional practitioners, and postgraduate research students.

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Careers

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Potential Career Paths:

• Surface pattern designers
• Textile designers
• Digital print designers
• Buyers and stylists
• Trend forecasters
• Studio designers
• Lecturers and teachers

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Employability Skills:

• Creativity
• Design skills
• Technical skills
• Research skills
• Communication skills
• Presentation skills
• Teamwork skills
• Problem-solving skills

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Graduate Outcomes:

• Many graduates now work as designers for companies such as H&M, Next, M&S, Boden, Accessorize, Hallmark, and Mothercare.
• Some have set up in business as freelancers, while other graduates have become stylists, buyers, trend forecasters, studio designers, lecturers, and teachers.

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Other

• The program offers access to industry-standard print rooms, technical workshops, and digital facilities.
• Students have the opportunity to work on live briefs with high-calibre companies and high-street retailers.
• The program provides opportunities for work placements and internships.
• Students are encouraged to exhibit their work at Degree Shows, Gradex, and New Designers in London.
• Students have access to a dedicated careers team.