Art and Design (Textiles)

Course summary

Textile Design encompasses a very broad range of materials, techniques and processes, including a growing number of interdisciplinary approaches. These comprise woven, embroidered, knitted, printed, painted, dyed, manipulated, embellished and constructional methods which are utilised to produce a great variety of textile outcomes that include costume and fashion design, accessories and body adornment. The range is increasing as new materials and technologies emerge. Possible areas of study include: fashion, costume, digitally or traditionally printed and/or dyed fabrics, garments and materials, constructed textiles, textile installation and accessories. Our approach is to support and encourage students to explore, analyse and develop their skills by introducing them to a wide range of traditional crafts and contemporary techniques including batik, indigo dyeing, printing and machine embroidery. Disciplines include constructed, dyed or printed textiles, fine art or fashion textiles. You will learn how to develop your ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding. You will explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, and review and refine your ideas as your work develops. You will record your ideas, observations and insights relevant to your intentions, reflecting critically on your work and progress. As a student in the heart of London, you will have access to some of the world’s best museums, galleries and exhibitions. This will result in a personal and meaningful response which, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements. In the second year, you will develop your skills and understanding to a higher standard. You will continue to be given close technical instruction and supervision, but you will be required to adopt a much more independent and student-led approach. You will be working on your investigation, which is the first of the two components of your final assessment. This component consists firstly of a major, in-depth, practical, critical and theoretical investigative project or theme-based portfolio and outcomes. It is accompanied by an integrated and extended written piece of critical and contextual analysis (1000 words minimum).