Textile Design

Reasons to study Textile Design BA (Hons) at DMU:

across print, mixed media, knit and woven textiles

with access to industry partners and visiting lecturers

through designing branding and promotional packages

sare offered as part of this course and a great opportunity to boost your skills and experience while studying

are some of the diverse and creative jobs that our graduates have gone onto

has been designed to provide the space and facilities where ideas can develop and flourish for all of our art and design courses - find out more

available at no cost to our students along with some programme-specific workshop materials - find out more

for students in years one, two and three respectively, towards materials and specialist printing*

The Textile Design BA (Hons) covers an extensive programme of study, which instills relevant knowledge, understanding and skills required to become a practicing designer in a global market. The curriculum responds to a diverse range of employment opportunities and the need to be relevant in a varied and changing industry.

All students share the first year where you will develop your drawing and design skills, alongside enabling you to learn how to develop concepts and understand the context in which you design. You have the opportunity to experience all four specialist areas of print, weave, knit and Mixed media. In these you will use the associated equipment and technologies on offer which will enable you to make an informed decision about the pathway you will choose for your second and third year.

In year two, you will explore concept development, specialist technical knowledge, analyse and evaluate a wide range of information, develop design collections for both fashion and interiors and work with live briefs from both fashion and interior industry, demonstrating the ability to generate innovation and design outcomes within your specialism.

The final year encourages you to discover your own personal design identity.

Teaching is centered within group tutorials, one to one tutorials and smaller workshop activities. We actively support research and innovation so you can demonstrate the skills you have gained. We encourage you to have the confidence to ask questions, experiment, and utilise the expertise and specialised skills that staff and visiting lecturers have to offer.

Mixed Media Textiles pathway: This pathway focuses on creating contemporary, innovative collections of textiles and products for interiors and fashion. You will use processes such as Cornelli and Irish stitch (hand, machine and digital), fabric manipulation, sculptural textile construction and embellishment.

Printed Textiles pathway: This pathway translates imagery onto textile surfaces for both fashion and interior markets.  You will explore inventive use of screen printing and dyeing processes. You will also gain in-depth knowledge of Devore, discharge, acid and reactive printing, flocking, foiling and digital printing.

Constructed Textiles pathway: You will focus on woven and knitted textile design for fashion and interior markets. You will develop innovative collections through your use of yarn, fibres and dyeing and explore structure to its fullest extent.

In knit you will gain experience in the use of domestic knitting machines through to Dubieds V-bed hand knitting machines in various gauges, and you will be introduced to the latest Shima Seiki industrial compact knitting machine.

In weave you will gain experience in the table top handlooms.

You will also learn the full technical process of planning a warp and setting up the loom, progressing on to Dobby looms and Jacquard weaving.