BA (Hons) Textile Design

Duration

3 years / 4 years with placement year*

Institution code

L28

UCAS Code

3 years W222 / 4 years W225

Photograph of rolls of colourful flower-patterned fabrics lined together. The colours include creams, yellows, pinks, greens and lilacs.
Photograph of rolls of colourful flower-patterned fabrics lined together. The colours include creams, yellows, pinks, greens and lilacs.

Anna Cooper

A digital illustration of pink leaves in a vertical pattern with white blossoms dotted around on a sage green background There are three monkeys placed in different positions around the leaves.
A digital illustration of pink leaves in a vertical pattern with white blossoms dotted around on a sage green background There are three monkeys placed in different positions around the leaves.

Beth Daborn

A digital illustration featuring two different patterns side by side. The first pattern consists of three quarters of the design and features a white ornate palace with trees dotted around. The second pattern features green palm trees against a dark green background.
A digital illustration featuring two different patterns side by side. The first pattern consists of three quarters of the design and features a white ornate palace with trees dotted around. The second pattern features green palm trees against a dark green background.

Caitlin Stracey

A repeat pattern digital illustration of flowers and leaves against a bright pink background. The flowers and leaves are different shades of pinks, creams, blues and greens.
A repeat pattern digital illustration of flowers and leaves against a bright pink background. The flowers and leaves are different shades of pinks, creams, blues and greens.

Carrie Osborne

A close-up photograph of a hand painting a colourful floral design on a canvas. The flowers’ colours include orange, blue, pink and green.
A close-up photograph of a hand painting a colourful floral design on a canvas. The flowers’ colours include orange, blue, pink and green.

Corinne Snell

A digital collage  featuring different printed designs in various abstract shapes in greens, blacks, reds and lilacs.
A digital collage  featuring different printed designs in various abstract shapes in greens, blacks, reds and lilacs.

Durie Kate

Two photographs featuring a collage of various blue fabrics placed together with different print and embroidered patterns. The second photograph shows a person placing a piece of fabric on the collage.
Two photographs featuring a collage of various blue fabrics placed together with different print and embroidered patterns. The second photograph shows a person placing a piece of fabric on the collage.

Emelie Harford

A digital illustration of a repeat pattern of different coloured flowers and leaves. Colours include blues, pinks, creams and oranges.
A digital illustration of a repeat pattern of different coloured flowers and leaves. Colours include blues, pinks, creams and oranges.

Holly Greenwood

A digital pattern illustration featuring tropical leaves of various greens and oranges. Two birds are resting on the leaves and the background consists of a green print design.
A digital pattern illustration featuring tropical leaves of various greens and oranges. Two birds are resting on the leaves and the background consists of a green print design.

Jessica Fox

A digital repeat pattern print featuring otters in the sea among flowers, seaweed and fish. The colours include a light grey and orange.
A digital repeat pattern print featuring otters in the sea among flowers, seaweed and fish. The colours include a light grey and orange.

Laura Croft

A digital repeat pattern illustration featuring colourful flowers on a light blue background. Colours include blues, yellows, greens and oranges.
A digital repeat pattern illustration featuring colourful flowers on a light blue background. Colours include blues, yellows, greens and oranges.

Madeleine Whalley

A digital illustration of a repeat print featuring pink flowers adorned with blue leaves and birds flying around them. The background of the print is a dark teal.
A digital illustration of a repeat print featuring pink flowers adorned with blue leaves and birds flying around them. The background of the print is a dark teal.

Martha Walmsley

A digital illustration of a repeat pattern featuring purple cartoon frogs holding yellow umbrellas. Raindrop shapes cascade down in pink, yellow and purple.
A digital illustration of a repeat pattern featuring purple cartoon frogs holding yellow umbrellas. Raindrop shapes cascade down in pink, yellow and purple.

Narinda Ghataora

A digital illustration of a geometric pattern of different squares with vertical and horizontal lines and circles consisting of polka dots. Colours include oranges, greens, white and blacks.
A digital illustration of a geometric pattern of different squares with vertical and horizontal lines and circles consisting of polka dots. Colours include oranges, greens, white and blacks.

Rothera Millie

A photograph of a printed design with abstract shapes. One third of the design has a dark pink background with blue and black shapes. The other third has a white background with black shapes and the last part of the design has purple shapes on a black background.
A photograph of a printed design with abstract shapes. One third of the design has a dark pink background with blue and black shapes. The other third has a white background with black shapes and the last part of the design has purple shapes on a black background.

Sarah Milton

The Course

Our Textile Design degree is a leading specialist course in print and surface design, renowned for producing commercially engaged creative designers. Amplify your passion for drawing, colour, and materials to become a dynamic designer in this exciting and diverse industry.

Supported by a team of specialists, this course offers an exciting mix of practical workshops and design thinking. You will explore your ideas through drawing, colour, design investigation, and surface and material experimentation.

You will work in the Textile Design studio, an inspirational and stimulating environment at the centre of our creative community. Here, students draw, paint, design, share and test ideas. You will also have access to other practical facilities like our printmaking, ceramics rooms and 3D workshops.

We encourage you to establish your own individual design identity, becoming confident and accomplished in developing print-focused outcomes. Applications span textiles and surfaces for fashion, interior products, gifting, and architectural settings.

You will gain industry experience through a combination of exciting live briefs, international competitions, and employment opportunities via our professional network.

You will learn traditional and crafted techniques such as screen printing and printmaking alongside cutting-edge design practices, surface embellishment, and manipulation processes. These include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, AVA CAD/CAM, Wacom tablets for digital drawing and laser cutters.

Practical work is underpinned by context - developing an awareness of global issues and ethical concerns including sustainability and intellectual property. Employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship underpin teaching and learning in all modules.

*The placement year is subject to approval.

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The Course

You’ll discover fundamental design principles, exploring image making, composition, and colour theory and develop your drawing, painting, and digital skills, and experiment with various materials and processes. This year explores historical and contemporary perspectives on pattern design, with a focus on individual creative projects driven by research and playful experimentation.

Course Facilities

BA (Hons) Textile Design students are based in a large, purpose-built studio which includes sewing machines and a heat press. First year students have access to a shared space, whilst second and third-year students are given their own space in which to work.

Students will have access to a wide range of resources with a drop-in facility so work can be undertaken, provided resource inductions have been completed. For Textile Design students this will include print resources which provides excellent facilities for bookmaking and paper-based printmaking using a range of processes; access to laser cutters; professional-standard, large-format digital printing and print finishing and a vinyl cutter enabling designs to be cut from many types of vinyl.

Textile Design students will also be able to borrow a range of photography equipment including digital SLR cameras for still and moving image, lighting, and a range of support equipment, which can be used in our lighting studios or off-site. Computer suites house networks of Apple Mac computers featuring regularly updated, industry-standard software for a wide range of creative applications that support all our courses and a purpose-built specialist library which includes including special collections of artists’ books, photobooks and illustrated books as well as the University archive. Self service facilities are available throughout, supported by a dedicated and experienced team of library staff.

BA (Hons) Textile Design

Virtual Tour

Video showcase

Study Abroad

Studying abroad can help Leeds Arts University students gain valuable experience, broaden their horizons, develop international networks and experience their practice from a different perspective. Leeds Arts University has a global network of international partner universities in 15 different countries. Students can apply for a semester abroad in their second year of study.

Accolades

  • Winner of Print/Embroidery category in the Global Creative Graduate Showcase 2024

  • TEX+ Finalists’ Showcase 2024, The New Designers Clothworkers’ Company Printed Textile Design Associate Prize

  • Skopos Fabrics Outstanding Surface Print Design Award and Paperchase New Designers Award

Our students received awards and commendations for the i-dott Surface Pattern Design Competition, Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) International Design Competition and The Bradford Textiles Society Competition.

Career Opportunities

Graduates have secured jobs in textile print for fashion and interior, design for products and homewares, wallpaper design, flooring and carpets, greeting cards, gift wrap and stationery, product and packaging, CMF design, fashion embroidery, embellishment and accessory design, technologists and product developers, media and publishing, trend forecasting and research, marketing, styling, and merchandising and buying. Others set up their own businesses, producing work as freelance designer-makers, working for private commissions or major brands. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study.

Academic Staff

1

/5

Gareth Wadkin

Staff
BA (Hons) Textile Design - Course Leader

3

/5

Julie Hughes

Staff
BA (Hons) Textile Design - Senior Lecturer

4

/5

Caroline Pratt

Staff
BA (Hons) Textile Design - Senior Lecturer

5

/5

Laura Slater

Staff
BA (Hons) Textiles Design - Lecturer

*Please note that our courses are subject to an annual review process in order to maintain their quality and enhance the student experience. As a result, Course Specifications may be amended for the coming year.

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