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BA (Hons) Textiles Design
Textiles surround us – they're one of the largest design skill sets used globally. On BA (Hons) Textiles Design, you'll hone your practical and professional skills to work with all types of different materials and find your place in the vast industry.
- Duration: 3 or 4 years full-time
- Placement year: Optional 1 year
- Course code: W236 (UCAS)
- Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
- Duration: 3 or 4 years full-time
- Placement year: Optional 1 year
- Course code: W236 (UCAS)
- Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
Featured quick links
Overview
On BA (Hons) Textiles Design, you’ll learn the practical and professional skills to work as part of a team, or even set up your own business as an independent freelancer.
BA (Hons) Textiles Design course information
BA (Hons) Textiles Design is perfect for you if you have a love of colour, pattern, texture, fabric, materials, surface design, making, decorative drawing, decoration, constructing, manipulating, and practical engagement.
Textiles is a huge global industry that constantly surrounds us, on floors, walls, furniture, clothing and fashion, gift-wrap, cards, and even car interiors. It is one of the largest design skill sets used globally.
On this course, you’ll learn practical and professional skills that equip you to work as part of a team, or to set up your own business in textiles.
You’ll study textiles in its widest sense and learn many skills, from print, stitch embellishment to dyeing and mixed media construction (basics of knit and weave). You’ll have the opportunity to focus on a variety of specialist areas, including textiles for fashion, textiles for interiors and textiles as design and crafts materials.
Traditional skills are taught together with expertise in modern design development, production, and contemporary invention. Whether you go on to work for a retail brand, or an international design house, we'll prepare you for the challenges that the creative textile industry holds.
We formed an AUB textiles agency to promote student work at Premier Vision Paris and London Print Textile Trade Fairs, and students have engaged with industry through placements and live briefs – experiencing how the business buys and sells textiles, as well as makes and uses them.
Placement year
All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.
If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.
Level 4 (first year)
Your first year provides you with a sound practical base for the study of the subject, contextualised by parallel study of aspects of contemporary, historical and visual culture.
Projects, lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations, visits, case studies, guided reading and tutorials will be used to disseminate information and develop the necessary skills. This will provide you with the opportunity to learn through experimentation and discovery, and develop skills within a personal context.
You’ll be introduced to a variety of applications and to the fundamentals of critical theory and professional studies that will underpin your knowledge of textiles and their design, production and creative usage.
Work placements are run during the end of the first year of study, for a minimum of ten days and up to a maximum of one month. On your return, you’ll present on your experience.
PREVIOUS PLACEMENTS OBTAINED BY STUDENTS:
- Matthew Williamson Fashion
- Mary Kantranzou Fashion
- Mirijam Rouden Fashion designs/print
- Ralph & Russo Couture embroidery
- Mollie Regan Textiles Couture Hand embroidery
- Peter Pillotto Fashion
- Tatty Devine Accessories
- Custhom Wallpapers and interiors
- Alexander McQueen Fashion
- Zandra Rhodes Printed textiles/fashion
- Timorous Beasties Wallpapers
- Hallmark Gift
- Bay and Brown Interior Print
- Julien Macdonald Fashion
- Mina Perhoven Fashion print
- Fat Face Fashion
- MissPrint Interiors
- House of Holland Interiors
- Designers Guild Interiors
- Kit Miles Interiors
- Burberry Fashion
- Jane Bowler Fashion
Level 5 (second year)
Your second year will focus on your individual interests and ensure that your professional and technical skills mature through first-hand experience with industry specialists.
The units anticipate that you'll be able to apply the knowledge, concepts and skills addressed in your second year to fully exploit the range of opportunities for your personal creative development.
You’ll work with fellow students on live industry briefs and enter major national and international competitions.
Previous briefs have included: Hand and Lock, live fashion studio briefs Style Council NY, and wellbeing projects.
Placement year
All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.
If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.
If you’re required to have a Student Visa to study in the UK, it won’t be possible to undertake the one-year placement option; there’ll be other opportunities for you to engage with industry during your study at AUB.
Level 6 (third year)
Your third year allows you to refine your existing creative practice, develop your skills and reflect upon your experience and direction formed from previous study.
The course nurtures students to develop into original, mature and autonomous textile practitioners and makers, encouraging them to lead rather than respond to industry trends.
The integration of theory and practice is promoted and reinforced through a team teaching approach. Lectures, seminars and tutorials may be delivered by team members, as appropriate, in the creative environment of the studio.
You’ll be encouraged to formulate and identify your particular skills and potential. Risk and ambition within the field will be crucial to your individual development. Intellectual and academic integrity will be further encouraged, through ‘thinking through practice’.
External experiences are highly prized throughout, from course trips to textile trade shows e.g. Premiere Vision Paris, to European visits, to London exhibitions, e.g. New Designers, Islington.
This year also particularly focuses on employability, building professional portfolios and gives students the opportunity to participate in industry presentations.
Textiles awards
Our BA (Hons) Textiles Design students and graduates have gone on to win great things.
2024
- Winner | Batsford Textiles Art Prize – Rose Cordery
- Winner | Tex+ Showcase – Ella Nathan
- Winner | Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation Prize – Ella Nathan
- Runners-up | Batsford Textiles Art Prize – Ella Nathan, Hannah Elliot
- Shortlisted | Batsford Textiles Art Prize – Cerys Watkins, Holly Whiffen
- Shortlisted | Tex+ Showcase – Rose Cordery, Phoebe Wilkinson|
- Shortlisted | New Designers Ultrafabrics Sustainability Award – Sophie Haskell
- Highly Commended | Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation Prize – Hannah Elliot
2023 New Designers
- Winner | Romo award for Innovation, Colour and Design – Georgia Dunn
- Winner | Clothworkers Company Award for Printed Textiles – Hayden MacKenzie
- Winner | Decorex Sustainability Award – Georgia Johnson
- Second Prize | Tu; Fashion creative pattern and colour award – Sophia Shorrock
2023
- Winner | Batsford Applied Arts and Textiles Prize – Pia Elliott
- Winner | Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation Prize – Hannah Lyness
- Shortlisted | Festival of Quilts NEC, Student Prize and exhibitions – Issy Hamilton and Emily Garbutt
2022
- Winners | Hand & Lock Wilcom Prize, London Exhibition
- Winner | New Designers, Liberties of London Print Prize
- Winner | New Designers, Wilko Surface pattern Prize
- Winner | New Designers, Contrado Print
- Winner | Batsford Applied Arts and Textiles Prize
- Winner | Bradford Textiles Society, Luxury Fabric Award
- Winner | Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation Textiles Award, Fleece to Floor
- Winner | Embroideries Guild Graduate Sponsorship Award (Alexandra Palace and Harrogate Stitch and Knit shows)
- Shortlisted | Batsford Applied Arts and Textiles Prize – two students
- Shortlisted | Hand & Lock Prize, London Exhibition
- Highly Commended | Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation Textiles Award – three students
- Highly Commended | Bradford Textiles Society, Campaign for Wool and Wool Prize – two students
- Featured | Quilters Guild Festival of Quilts and four NEC Student shows
Student gallery
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
Now that you've found the perfect course, it's time to apply.
Applications are open, and you've got until 29 January 2025 to submit your UCAS application. Check out our handy 'how to apply' guide and our portfolio top tips.
OPEN DAYS
Open Days are a great way to get a feel for undergraduate life at AUB. At an Open Day, you'll be able to explore the campus, talk to course teams and discover our industry-standard facilities.
Visit us on:
- 18 January 2025
AUB SHOWCASE
We're proud of our alumni, and rightfully so.
Explore the incredible work of our freshly graduated 'Class of 2024' in our online AUB Showcase.
Browse work by course, student or theme.
Meet the BA (Hons) Textiles Design course team
Our team is made up of specialists in disciplines that span the industry. You can read more about their experience by browsing their staff profiles below.
PGCert, MA RCA, BA
MA, BA, PGCE
MA; BA
MA, PGCert, BA (Hons)
MA, BA
Textiles is a hidden design form. You get up in the morning, you get out of bed — your duvet is covered in pattern and colour. You go down the stairs — the wallpaper is the same, and the curtains, the clothes that you're wearing every day are designed with colour and pattern, even down to patterns for gift wrap. An absolute love and passion for colour, detail and craft are the core traits of a fantastically inventive and creative textile designer.
Watch our videos
Find out from student Catherine about what it’s like to study BA (Hons) Textiles Design at AUB.
Also, listen to BA (Hons) Textiles Design course leader Anne-Marie Howat explain what makes a great textiles designer. You can also preview student work from this course.
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Application process
Once you've found the perfect Undergraduate course, you can apply to study via UCAS, including direct entry applications to second and third year.
When applying through UCAS, use the institution code A66 for courses taught at Arts University Bournemouth. For courses based at Bournemouth and Poole College, use code B49. We'll then use your completed UCAS form to make decisions about your application. You can find out more on entry requirements in our apply section.
When you apply to one of our courses, it's important that you help us get a good picture of both you and your work – so you'll need a great personal statement. We want to know more about why you're interested in the course, your key influences, and what you hope to do after your studies.
If you're invited for an interview, many of our courses will ask to see a portfolio of your work so we can get more insight into your ideas and abilities. To help you, we've created guidelines outlining what we expect from your portfolio for each course.
The fee that you pay the Arts University Bournemouth provides the necessary equipment and training for you to complete your course.
You may also choose to buy some items of personal equipment such as a laptop or tablet computer, but this is not required; desktop and laptop computers are available for you to use in common study areas, including a loan system in the Library.
If you decide to undertake an optional placement year, the tuition fee is £1,850. This is subject to inflationary increases based on government policy, and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
For the majority of our courses, we'll ask you to digitally submit a portfolio as part of the application process.
Portfolios should show examples of your work – both finished and work in progress – that demonstrate your interests and skills. We expect to see around 10 slides/images in your portfolio that shows your identity as an artist.
If we ask for a digital portfolio then we'll give you 30 days to submit it. Sometimes we'll need a portfolio submitted quickly if there's a UCAS set deadline approaching, but if you need more time, just let us know and we'll try to help.
We've created specific portfolio guidelines for each of our courses, you can take a look at these below.
If you've applied to study an online postgraduate (MA) degree, please refer to the AUB Online portfolio guidelines.
This course will require you to attend an in-person audition and/or interview. If you're invited to one, you'll be given at least 10 days notice.
Meet our Industry Patron – Anna Taylor
Meet the Industry Patron for BA (Hons) Textiles Design – Anna Taylor.
Anna is an embroidery designer specialising in freehand Irish machine embroidery and creative digital embroidery, using innovative and experimental techniques. She has worked in the textiles industry for over a decade involved in design, development and production of high-end embroidery.
Studios and resources
Our studios work in a way that mirrors industry. Students working together in a high-energy environment, with industry-standard facilities and excellent tools and equipment.
As well as dedicated studios for each year, we have a dedicated print room, stitch room and dye room with specialist, industry–standard equipment.
Textiles Studio
Students will be working together in a high-energy studio, with industry-standard facilities and excellent tools and equipment
Textiles Design Resources
Students will have access to a print room, stitch room and dye room with specialist, industry-standard equipment
Digital Suites
Our Digital Suites offer a digital post-production facility and digital teaching space.
3D Workshop
Our 3D workshops with manual and digital manufacturing equipment and computers
Drawing Studio
Our iconic blue Drawing Studio is used by student from all courses and was designed by alumnus Sir Peter Cook...
The Library
The Library at AUB holds an excellent range of print and online collections
Lecture Theatres and Seminar Rooms
We have a number of lecture theatres and seminar rooms scattered around campus to assist students with their studies.
Central Media Store
The Central Media store houses a diverse array of equipment, offering students the means to craft and capture...
Innovation Studio
The Innovation Studio operates as a lab for creative technologies, a nucleus for start-ups and enterprises and an industry engagement hub.
Printroom
Our printmaking facilities are a hub of creativity on campus and have been inspiring students since 1964.
Letterpress and Bindery
The Letterpress and Bindery studio is a central resource, where students can learn and explore bookbinding and letterpress printing.
Teaching, learning and assessment
The course objectives will be met by deploying a wide variety of teaching and learning methods including workshop/studio practice, lectures, seminars, group critiques, guided reading, tutorials, projects, demonstrations, learning teams, personal planning and reflection, work related learning and independent study.
Each unit is assessed separately, and the assessment forms part of the unit. Assessment both provides a measure of your achievement, and also gives you regular feedback on how your learning is developing.
Unit tutors in consultation with the Course Leader will be responsible for co-ordinating the course for individual units of study and for selecting appropriate methods of delivery according to the subject matter and student experience.
The methods employed will, wherever possible, induct you in the disciplines required of a creative practitioner in textiles design and making along with transferable skills (managing self, professional skills and team working), and value and credit any relevant previous experience. A key method will be the promotion of work related learning, including work placements; visits to the workshops or studios of relevant practitioners or organisations; guest lectures or workshops led by visiting practitioners; ‘live’ or simulated project briefs; and the mentoring of individual students or small groups by practising designers and other industry professionals. Your learning and career planning will be consolidated through the encouragement of skills in personal planning, reflection and development.
The study time allocated to each unit in the course incorporates a balance of teaching support and learning. The progressive promotion of student–centred learning reflects the anticipated maturity of students and allows you to direct your learning towards individual goals. The teaching in Level 4 is directed at providing you with the knowledge, concepts and skills to take increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning.
Teaching is directed at supporting individual engagement in learning, although there will be opportunities for you to work in teams to enable you to learn the value of peer co-operation. Also, it is anticipated that, due to the professional orientation of the degree and to enable you to benefit from the range of resources and disciplines within the University, opportunities will exist for you to collaborate in teams with peers in, for example, fashion or architecture. It is also envisaged that live project work may benefit from the collaboration of students from all levels of the course.
Guidance and counselling to help you in realising your learning potential will be provided at the start of each term.
Contact hours include all scheduled teaching sessions, but also supervised time in the workshop or studio. In line with national guidance, we include in our calculation of contact hours all the time which is scheduled in the studio for independent study which is also supported by staff (either academic staff, or technicians).
The information provided below gives the proportion of your study time which constitutes contact hours. Where there are optional routes through the course, we have used the figures for the most popular option.
For every unit of your course, we'll inform you of what you're expected to learn; what you have to submit; how your work will be assessed; and the deadline for presenting your work for assessment. This is made available through Unit Information, which is on your course blog.
You'll receive a final mark for each unit in the form of a percentage, which will be recorded on your formal record of achievement (transcript). Each component of assessment is graded using a notched marking scale, whereby only certain marks are used within each grade. The only marks available within any ten-point band are *2, *5 and *8 (e.g. 62, 65, 68). These marks correspond to a low, mid, and high level of achievement within each grade band.
All learning outcomes must be passed to successfully complete the unit.
On successful completion of your Honours degree course, you'll be awarded a degree classification based on your unit marks. The final classification is determined using all unit marks at Levels 5 and 6 using two different algorithms, which are detailed in the HE Student Regulations. If the two algorithms produce different results, you'll be awarded the higher class of degree.
If you've joined Level 6 through either the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route or having completed a Foundation Degree (FdA), the final classification is determined using only your unit marks at Level 6.
For further information on assessment, progression, awards and classifications, please visit https://viewpoint.aub.ac.uk
Digital catalogue
Introducing the 2024 graduating cohort from BA (Hons) Textiles Design. The work presented in this book demonstrates the enthusiasm, determination and diligence that the students have employed over the past three years.
You can also explore the work of our 2023 graduates, too.
What our BA (Hons) Textiles Design graduates are doing
BA (Hons) Textiles Design graduates have gone on to diverse career destinations, including designers, designer-makers, buyers, trend forecasters, researchers, teachers and stylists. Others have set up their own businesses or gone on to postgraduate study including renowned institutions such as The Royal College of Art, Kolding University DK, and AUB.
Previous BA (Hons) Textiles Design graduates now have careers in the following:
- Textile Print designer for fashion at Liberty's of London, River Island.
- Textile Print designers for fashion and interiors – Topshop, Blendworth Interiors, Victoria Beckham, Bay and Brown textile print and Alexander McQueen.
- Embroidery designers – Ralph and Russo, Hand & Lock, Pretty Green.
- Trends – WGSN.
- Freelance designers and Self employed -Sharon Marston Lighting, MOOD, Mixmag, NEC.
- Design collection of interior fabrics and products sales to Liberty’s, Heals London.
- Postgraduate internships – Hand & Lock, WGSN, Sandersons’s, Next, etc.
- PGCEs and art/textiles teachers.
- Visual merchandisers and buyers – for fashion and interiors – Ikea
- Textile Designers – Working within other disciplines, e.g. Clarkes shoes, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren cars, Lego.
- Graphic Designers – Specsavers, Clarkes Shoes.
- MA and PhD – Royal College of Art, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Kolding University Dk.
Ella Averty – BA (Hons) Textiles
BA (Hons) Textiles alumna Ella Averty is a printed textile designer and illustrator, currently working as a print designer in London...
Trips and visits
As part of BA (Hons) Textiles Design, you may also get the opportunity to take part in course trips. Previous trips have included:
- Paris
- Florence
- Barcelona
- London
*These trips are optional and some may incur additional costs
As a course, we invite industry professionals to share their knowledge, practice and design journey with our students on a regular basis. Recent contributors have included Kit Miles, Jenny King Embroidery, Hand & Lock, and Stoff Studio.
Collaborations and creative events are held across all three years also, e.g. cross-course collaboration projects with BA (Hons) Architecture and Commercial Photography and creative problem-solving with BA (Hons) Event Management and Fashion courses.
We also run Creative Match Night events with BA (Hons) Fashion, Make-up for Media and Performance, Events Management and Commercial Photography to encourage students to set up independent collaborative projects and to listen to our industry guest advise for their futures.
Latest from BA (Hons) Textiles Design
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