BA (Hons) Textile Design (Top-up)

Why study this subject?

Textiles are everywhere; they are the very fabric of our everyday environment, so why not learn how to design them? Providing us with identity, comfort and shelter, textiles are the material that we have our closest relationships with, literally clothing our bodies from head to toe, or surrounding our homes with stimulating colour and tactility. This course will enable you to develop hands-on skills, and equip you to be a successful designer.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

If you have completed a foundation-level degree, HND, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant Art and Design subject, you can choose to top-up your studies to gain a full bachelor’s degree.

A top-up degree is the equivalent of the final year of an undergraduate degree, and offers a chance to deepen your knowledge, skills and understanding of your subject, while also getting an internationally-recognised qualification.

With a history of delivery expert craft, art and design education for more than 130 years, Buckinghamshire New University is the perfect place to start your creative career.

We will make sure that you have all the skills you need to start a career in Textile Design. With our focus on craftsmanship and skills, you graduate with a robust understanding of the sector.

We’re only 30 minutes by train into London, one of the world’s fashion capitals and well known for spawning innovation and talent.

Our experienced and specialist team of lecturers are experienced designers, current industry practitioners and researchers.

With our strong links with the textile industry, you’ll get direct access to guest lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking opportunities. You will have the opportunity to get noticed at our London degree show and take part in our annual art and design show. You can also have the chance to enter industry competitions.

As well as working on your own briefs, you’ll be able to work on industry-based projects with leading designers. Guest speakers cover a range of areas from fashion design, costume, styling, brand consultancy and fashion PR.

Did you know?

We were recently selected as one of only five UK institutions to take part in the UK Fashion and Textile Association’s (UKFT) ‘MADE IT’ programme, 20/21.

What facilities can I use?

We’ve spent a lot of love and care making our fashion and textile workshop the perfect creative space and one of the best-equipped workshops in the country.

With your own personal workspace, you’ll benefit from being part of our vibrant and dynamic design studio community.

You will be working on industry standard equipment, learning latest techniques and future focused methods of fashion craftsmanship. You will master materials, both through traditional methods and using digital software.

In our workshops, you’ll receive one-to-one teaching, working closely with lecturers, specialist technicians and alongside fellow students.

What will I study?

On this course you will explore three main textile design practices - print, knit and surface design. In order to create innovative designs you'll learn to work with many different types of material and techniques, from traditional fabrics to contemporary technologies. From interior surfaces to luxury fashion accessories, you'll gain an understanding of the professional context and practice of textile design.

How will I be taught and assessed?

We put a strong emphasis on career, designer identity and industry in the curriculum. For example, we hold regular careers and employability talks, which attracts a number of eminent guest speakers in the PR, automotive, fashion, interiors, accessories and colour industries as well as run workshops on C.V writing. You'll graduate with a professional portfolio, an authentic digital profile, industry familiarity and impressive presentation skills.

You're also close to future employers such as retail giants, fashion houses and design agencies You'll have the chance to work with designers in and around the capital and learn how to adapt to the challenges of working in a business environment.

We encourage our students to take up work placements throughout the course, which is an ideal opportunity to develop key skills in a professional context.

You’ll also learn through:

• lectures, seminars and workshops
• guided research and reading
• laboratory experiments
• examination of projects, simulated or real
• analysis of work-based scenarios
• independent learning through individual learning plans
• tutored classroom sessions
• visiting speakers and guest lecturers.

To achieve the full BA (Hons) in Textile Design you will need to complete a major project, a dissertation as well as undertake a Professional Practice module.

The major project and dissertation will allow you to investigate a topic important to you within Textile Design. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor, who will offer support and advice.

The Professional Practice module gives you the opportunity to undertake work-based learning or answer live industry briefs, gaining the practical and transferable skills you need for your career in the creative industries.

Placements Plus

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.