Art and Design (Textiles)

Course summary

Fashion/Textile Design is a 2-year fine art-based course, aimed at developing skills, techniques and creativity in fashion and textiles. The course aims to develop an ambitious and creative portfolio of work underpinned by solid skills, techniques and a contextual knowledge of the wider fashion/textile arena. A thoughtful and creative approach to ideas is encouraged and students learn strong technical skills and a wide vocabulary of visual language. The course will start with an introduction to Fashion/Textile Design, where students will develop understanding and skills through a creative approach to research and practical work. Using sketchbooks for recording, students will develop a range of drawing and mark-making techniques and will be encouraged to reflect on their design work and the work of others. Skills will then be developed through small workshops, exploring the creation and development of fashion design ideas, fashion illustration, fine art textile design, and textile techniques such as embroidery, manipulation of fabric and fibre, dyeing, printing and weaving. These skills will be used to produce original, individual outcomes such as garments, accessories and interior design items. Fashion/Textile Design can be taken further, with students progressing to BA courses in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Interior Design, Fashion Styling and Marketing or Costume Design. Students also progress to various Foundation Art and Design courses, sometimes specialising in a Fashion/Textiles pathway.