Textile Design explores the potential of fibres, yarns and processes to create cloth and materials with distinctive qualities and properties. It is a highly creative field with the potential to impact and enrich all aspects of our lives. Knowledge in this area is key in making informed choices that will reduce the environmental and social impact of products, and can be used artistically to raise awareness and inspire behavioural change.

Our course nurtures fresh thinking and industry-ready designers and practitioners with expertise in the craftsmanship of Textile Design across the disciplines of Print, Weave, Knit, Embroidery and Material Innovation. The exciting potential of cross-disciplinary practice is supported and encouraged, giving you the option to either specialise or combine disciplines, embracing both digital technologies and traditional craft skills.

The Foundation Year is an exciting step towards your chosen creative degree pathway. You will embark on a fun, creative year of discovery. An opportunity to innovate, experiment, develop craft and research skills, equipping your professional journey into the creative industries.

We will support you to become part of the Birmingham City University’s Fashion & Textiles community, where you can fully explore yourself within an inclusive environment, amongst a likeminded and diverse peer group. Our bespoke course encompasses Fashion Design, Textile design, Fashion Business and Fashion Communication degree routes. Providing you a platform to collaborate, share and learn from others. You will develop visual communication, subject specific craft skills, and processes to build confidence and independence ready for the next stage of your degree. We aim to innovate, excite, engage, and challenge you. Inspiring and encouraging you to develop your personal aesthetic, offer sustainable awareness, and ignite a lifelong enthusiasm to learn. We are proud to see our foundation students continuing to thrive as they progress through the degree pathways and graduate as leaders within the industry.

As you progress onto the degree programme, through experimentation in dedicated textile workshops equipped with cutting-edge industry facilities you will develop the specialist skills, knowledge and experiences required to thrive in a growing field of industry roles and opportunities. Creative play and problem-solving is at the heart of learning and you will be guided by passionate and experienced staff as you discover your own personal expression through the language of design – colour, pattern, surface, texture and im-age. Birmingham is a vibrant and multi-cultural city providing exposure to diverse perspectives and opportunities. Our inclusive creative community prioritises and celebrates individuality, empowering and supporting you to embrace and embed this within your practice.

Career-focused teaching, industry live-briefs and integrated work-placements within the first two years of study will support you in identifying professional aspirations amongst the breadth of opportunities within textile design industry and other related fields. Choice points help you focus your experience and collaborative opportunities build your confidence and professionalism. You will develop a portfolio of responsible and future-thinking design concepts to drive the industry’s transition to a circular sustainable economy and build healthy communities.

In your final year, you will have the autonomy to celebrate your individual practice and interests. Our Next Step module at the end bridges the gap between study and industry, helping you plan to achieve your ambitions within the support of your university network. You will graduate with a clear vision of where you personally fit in the industry and a tailored professional portfolio to get started.