Textile Surfaces

• A designated individual workspace in a design studio next to computing facilities, print workshop, sewing machines and rug room
  
  
• Opportunities to work on collaborative briefs with industry to gain an appreciation of professional practice and to complete periods of work experience
  
  
• A unique award with an emphasis on the manipulation of fabric and media and exploration of embellishment and decoration

"The course is hard work but we don’t mind because the modules are so exciting and it is the best possible preparation for a career in the fast paced design industry. We are expected to achieve a high output of work, and we have good facilities and excellent support from tutors who are always on hand”.

(Sylvia Thomas, Level One).

This new, exciting BA(Hons) Textile Surfaces Award is designed to complement the BA(Hons) Surface Pattern Design award by catering for those students requiring a more tactile experience, who wish to manipulate media in the creation of surfaces and surface decoration. You will be offered a colourful opportunity in the exploration of pattern, image, embellishment and decoration, exploring the potential of media and materials in the designing for both textile and paper-based products.

Level 1 will introduce you to the use of textiles in the design process, to skills acquisition and to visual and contextual studies. You have the opportunity to work as part of a team, using and developing inter-personal, organisational and presentation skills. Level 2 will develop your technical competence and practical design skills further, including the exploration and implementation of computer aided design. You will explore market trends and colour forecasting and respond to live project briefs with industry.

At Level 3, you personalise and refine your working methods and adopt a professional, competitive attitude. You will be encouraged to explore the uncertainty in the combination of materials and techniques to create innovative and original textile surfaces. Your studies culminate in the end of year degree show, when your work is on display, not only at the Stoke campus but also exhibited nationally at the New Designers exhibition in London.

There will be some common modules and similar opportunities across both Surface awards encouraging student interaction and group dynamics. The majority of modules are practical, studio and workshop-based. Modules are delivered through a combination of integral studio work, demonstrations, technical workshops, tutorials, critiques, seminars and lectures.

Through the consideration of design concepts and production of mixed media surfaces you will become aware of the real potential of design application for creative embellishment and decorative relief surfaces.

Together with a future as a designer, there will be a breadth of other opportunities available to you including styling, merchandising and teaching to name but a few.

• Surface Pattern Design

For more information about Textile Surfaces (W233) please contact: