Textiles Design with Business Studies BA(Hons)

Program Overview

This fashion and textiles program offers a comprehensive education in knit, print, and weave disciplines. Students develop specialized skills in their chosen area, gaining industry experience through an optional placement year. Graduates are highly sought after by prestigious fashion organizations and have established successful design labels. The program emphasizes business studies, industry connections, and opportunities for public exhibitions.

Program Outline

Outline:

Year 1

• Focus: Introduction to the three disciplines of knit, print, and weave.
• Objective: Specialize in one area to develop skills in media, materials, textile design, construction, and fabric realization.
• Modules:
• Market Research and Business in the Creative Industries (develops transferable skills for a career in the creative industries)
• Introduction to Visual Research (explores approaches to drawing, color theory, and observational research)
• Textiles Rotation (investigates the technical aspects of each textile specialism)
• Textiles Specialism (intensive exploration of the chosen specialism)
• Design and Culture Under Scrutiny (examines key debates in fashion, textiles, and fashion communication)

Year 2

• Focus: Design projects, including a live brief, to challenge and refine design skills.
• Objective: Develop a portfolio of design work and fabric samples.
• Modules:
• Preparing for and Engaging with Business
• Technical Design, Process and Market Awareness
• Ethical Considerations in Relation to Industry
• Collaborative Experience and Portfolio Presentation
• Creative Collaboration in the Fashion Industry
• The Clothes and Fabrics of Society

Year 3 (optional placement year):

• Objective: Gain industry experience and build on skills developed during the program.
• Details:
• 20 weeks minimum duration
• Hosted by companies in the UK and overseas
• Academically assessed
• Students gain valuable industry contacts and many secure jobs after graduation

Final Year:

• Focus: Design and manufacture a collection of textiles, alongside a professional portfolio.
• Objective: Develop advanced design skills and showcase work for potential employers.
• Modules:
• Design Management and Business Plan
• Textiles Design Research
• Fashion Textiles Design Collection
• Historical and Critical Studies Research Project

Teaching:

• Tutors: Experienced fashion and textiles professionals and academics.
• Teaching staff: Provide expertise in research, drawing skills, concept development, and design.
• Facilities:
• Extensive facilities for knit, weave, and print textiles
• Industrial knitting machines, weaving looms, and printing equipment
• CAD CAM technology
• Dye lab
• Access to Mac suites
• Software support

Careers:

• Graduates employed in prestigious fashion organizations worldwide, including Burberry, Mulberry, H&M, and DKNY.

• Other alumni have established their own design labels, such as Sarah Arnett, Clarissa Hulse, Julien Macdonald OBE, and Mark Eley.

• Most alumni work as designers, buyers, merchandisers, stylists, and trend forecasters.

Other:

• Regular talks from industry professionals and opportunities to work on live projects.

• Graduates showcase their work in the university's graduate show and at the New Designers show in London.

• Students win national and international competitions and bursaries.

• Course has links with professional bodies.

• Business studies integrated throughout the course.

• Opportunity to exhibit work publicly throughout the course.

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP International (full-time) 15,900 GBP If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.