Textile Design

UCAS code: W231

Here's what De Montfort University says about its Textile Design course.

Textile Design at DMU gives you the practical, digital and professional skills you need to become a designer in the contemporary global textile market. The course is a deep exploration of the fabric in the world around us - from wallpaper and soft furnishings to transport upholstery and luxury fashion, and is designed to equip you with a multifaceted eye for design techniques.

You can specialise in one of four areas – mixed media, print, knit or weave – and will explore the key applications of fashion, interior and lifestyle.

• Mixed media focuses on creating contemporary collections using embroidery and embellishment to build up surfaces.

• Print explores the translation of imagery onto textile surfaces with the inventive use of screen printing and dyeing processes.

• Knit and weave concentrate on developing innovative textile structures through yarn and fibres.

Employability skills are embedded into the curriculum, alongside opportunities to work on live briefs set by industry experts and take part in prestigious competitions. Our expert teaching team will encourage you to take dynamic approaches to textile design that will influence the future of the industry and you will graduate as a forward-thinking, responsible designer.

First year Block 1: Inquiry Block 2: Specialism Rotation Block 3: Design Development Block 4: Culture and Context

Second year Block 1: Specialism Technical Block 2: Communication Block 3: Industry Block 4: Global Contexts

Third year Block 1: Exploration Block 2: Design and Culture Block 3 and Block 4: Major Project or Dissertation

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments – rather than lots of exams at the end of the year – and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Structure During your first year, you will gain a practical grounding in textile design and digital skills, alongside a theoretical understanding of professional practice, visual research, textile history and contexts. You will then specialise in one of four areas of textile design: mixed media, print, knit or weave. Mixed media is our most three-dimensional specialism and focuses on the design and crafting of embroidery, embellishment and conceptual techniques to build up surfaces. In printed textiles, you are encouraged to explore both traditional and contemporary print processes, from screen printing to digital, underpinned by a technical understanding of dyeing in our state-of-the-art dye laboratories. In studying constructed textiles, knit or weave, you will be able to explore designing textile structures through the skilful and creative use of yarn and fibres, the mainstay of the textile industry.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical studio sessions, tutorials, workshops and self-directed study. The assessments are designed to build on each other as you progress in your studies and you will have opportunities to receive feedback on your work throughout your learning journey. Assessment can be varied, but generally will take the form of a visual presentation either as a catwalk, or digital display.

The teaching team are experts across key fields within the creative industries, from influential textile designers, international design studio directors and specialist makers to textile technologists, scientists, historians, academic researchers and policy influencers. You will also be supported by our team of dedicated expert technicians.

Each year you will participate in various national and international competitions such as the Hand and Lock, Hallmark cards and New York SURTEX Exhibition Design competition. Students regularly win awards at New Designers and their work has also been exhibited in showcases such as The Discerning Eye, One Year On and Graduate Showcase with the Embroiderers Guild.

Contact hours In your first year you will normally attend around 19 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week and we expect you to undertake at least 22 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.