Program Overview

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Textile Design

BA (Hons)

Attendance

Full-time

Campus

Preston Campus

Start

September 2025

Duration

3 years

UCAS Code

WWF7

Delivery

In-person

Foundation year available

The BA (Hons) Textiles Design course has a vibrant hands-on approach. You'll explore a wide range of textile techniques and surface pattern design. With a strong emphasis on experimentation.

You'll explore techniques like dye, weave, transfer printing, foiling, stitching, and digital design. Interpreting them using unexpected technologies and materials. And you’ll create new designs that are at the forefront of textile design.

Throughout the course, you will develop surface pattern skills. Turn your drawings and prints into commercial designs using Photoshop and Illustrator. You'll combine traditional printing with cutting-edge technologies to create innovative designs. Turn a simple motif into repeat patterns for interiors, fashion, and gifting markets.

We encourage our students to find their niche. Helping them to develop into individual textile designers, artists and makers. We equip you with the skills to create a professional portfolio for your chosen career path.

Why study with us

• 1st in the North West for student satisfaction
• Our Fashion courses are ranked in the Top 80 of the Best Fashion Schools in the World for 2020 (CEOWORLD Magazine)
• We have a British Fashion Council membership. The BFC Colleges Council represents the leading fashion departments in universities and colleges throughout the UK.
• Students showcase their work to leading industry professionals and feature on global platforms such as Graduate Fashion Week.

What you'll do

• We work with a variety of industry partners on live project briefs to develop your professional skills and understanding of the industry. You’ll get involved in work shadowing and placements during your second year.
• You'll be encouraged to enter competitions during the course. Many students have gone on to achieve recognition and success in national design competitions.
• You'll have the opportunity to go on research trips in the UK and abroad. These trips are a fundamental part of developing your inspiration for project briefs.

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Creative Thinking
• Critical Studies in Fashion and Textiles 1
• Textile Innovations 1
• Drawing for Textiles

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Critical Studies in Fashion and Textiles 2
• Textile Innovations 2
• Introduction to Pattern
• Surface Design
• Experiencing the Workplace

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Honours Project
• Critical Studies in Fashion and Textiles 3
• Textile Innovations 3
• Professional Practice & Business Awareness

What is textile design?

Textile design is the process of using fibre-based materials to create two-dimensional patterns, known as repeats. It also involves designing three-dimensional objects using these materials. Many commercial, conceptual or narrative textiles can be created using fabrics and threads.

What is surface design in textiles?

Surface pattern design is the creative field of creating original patterns and prints to be used on a variety of soft and hard surfaces. These include textiles, furnishings, wallpapers, ceramics, and interiors. These designs can be anything from floral prints, abstract patterns or geometric designs.

Related courses

• Animation (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)
• Animation, BA (Hons)
• Art & Design (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)
• Fashion Design, BA (Hons)
• Fashion Promotion & Marketing, BA (Hons)
• Fine Art, BA (Hons)
• Game Art (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)
• Game Art, BA (Hons)
• Games Design (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)
• Games Design, BA (Hons)
• Graphic Design, BA (Hons)
• Illustration, BA (Hons)
• Interior Design, BA (Hons)
• Photography, BA (Hons)

Adobe Creative Cloud

Unleash your creativity at anytime, anywhere. From September 2024, you'll have access to the industry-standard Adobe Creative Cloud package on both your personal device and on campus. Get hands-on with this widely recognised package and create a portfolio that showcases your skills.

Facilities

• Sewing Machine Workshop
• Textiles Workshop
• Ceramics Workshop
• Digital Print Studio
• Photography Darkrooms
• Printmaking studio
• Fashion and Visual Communications Studio
• Spray Shop
• PR1 Gallery

Memberships

• British Fashion Council Colleges Council

Hear from our students

• Jasmin Honeyball, BA (Hons) Textile Design. Winner of the Graduate Fashion Week 2024 award for Childrenswear
• Amy Conder, BA (Hons) Textile Design
• Jessica Kirkpatrick, BA (Hons) Textile Design
• Ellie Shaw, BA (Hons) Textile Design
• Allana Millband, BA (Hons) Textile Design

Trips

• Copenhagen is celebrated for its strong design culture, particularly in fashion and textiles. We had the chance to explore this dynamic creative scene first-hand!
• We discovered some stunning ceramics in Lisbon.
• While in Lisbon, the city inspired us to sketch.
• A visit to Cologne's vibrant fashion and textile design scene.
• We explored the stunning city of Granada, Spain, and visited this beautifully ornate church.
• An image of The Museum Hundertwasser im KunstHausWien in Vienna.

Future careers in Textile Design

This course is a great starting point for a career in textile design.

A degree in textile design can lead to a variety of roles, these include:

• Surface pattern designer
• Interior designer
• Design maker
• Textile artist
• Visual merchandising

Our graduates have also gone on to work with high-profile employers, including:

• Matalan
• Hallmark Cards
• Card Factory
• JoJo Maman Bébé
• Standfast and Barracks
• SMD Textiles
• Blues Group

Your Portfolio - FAQs

What should I include in my textile design portfolio?

We would love to see a variety of creative outputs that show off your unique style and individual way of working. Your portfolio is a way of showing us your skills. We recruit students from many different backgrounds and courses, so there is no one set list of what to include. Ultimately make it yours.

Pick your best work, your favourite projects, work you are proud of or include projects that have something unique, be that how you produced it, or the materials used. We are interested in your creative practice. We are not asking to see all of the list here but a snapshot of how you work best. Whatever is relevant to your studies – we are interested in you.

Things you could include:

• Inspiration points - this could be via mood boards, blogs, photographs, digital portfolios, trend boards, fashion illustrations.
• Development work - sketchbooks, worksheets, paintings, sketches, sculptures, garments, graphics work, moving image.
• Final pieces - go for a variety that will show off your creative thinking and ability. Anything from drawings and still life to paintings, photography, and clothing or even magazine layout and typography pages.

What should I keep in mind when putting together my portfolio?

Show your skills and passion

What to include: A diverse selection of your artistic work.
Goal: Highlight creativity, originality, and your passion for art.

Explain your inspiration

What to do: Start with your initial idea or the brief that inspired your work.
Add: Research and influences that shaped your journey.

Tell a story

Focus on: A clear beginning, middle, and end.
Show: Your growth and development through different artistic processes and media.

Tailor it

How: Align your portfolio with the specific art degree or course.
Why: It shows intention and helps your work stand out.

Organise clearly

Do: Arrange your pieces in a logical, well-thought-out order.
Avoid: Repetition.
Let shine: Your unique artistic voice.

Need advice on your portfolio? Get tailored advice from a tutor in a way that suits you request a call-back or email.

Entry requirements

Minimum qualifications:

• UCAS: 96-112 points at A2
• BTEC Extended Diploma: MMM-DMM
• BTEC Diploma: DD-DD
• Pass Access Course: 96-112 UCAS points
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass including 96-112 points from Higher Level subjects
• T Level: P (C+) - M
• IELTS: 6.0 with no component lower than 5.5
• GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent
• Applicants are required to submit a digital portfolio

Fees and funding

2025/26

• UK: Full-time £9,535 per year
• International: Full-time £17,325 per year

Additional costs

As part of your course there may be additional costs to consider that are not included in your tuition fees. Most of these will be optional, but some courses have essential additional costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer many scholarships, bursaries and funds to support you during your studies. Select your country or region to see if you are eligible and how to apply.

• Care Leaver Bursary
• Estranged student support
• Dependants Bursary
• Financial support package

Academic expertise

• Phoebe Sayell, Lecturer

Learning and assessment

You'll develop your intellectual, creative and critical thinking. Through a programme of taught workshops, demonstrations, lectures, seminars and tutorials.

You’ll benefit by learning from tutors with many years’ experience in the industry. On occasion, you’ll also get to interact with visiting makers, designers and consultants. We have well-established contacts with the creative industries, and you’ll get to work on live project briefs.

We use project briefs to introduce assignments. You’ll be assessed solely on your coursework, primarily practical textile design and craftwork. At the end of your final year, you’ll get to stage a professional exhibition of your work. Some modules involve the assessment of written work.

We place a strong emphasis on employability. Throughout the course you’ll be encouraged to find work experience opportunities to boost your portfolio.