The textile design course offers a creative learning experience that develops both practical, contextual and critical thinking skills which students can apply to a variety of textile avenues. Students will experience working in a professional studio environment with access to specialist design equipment and textile facilities. Aspirational and informative sessions with HE institutions, industry links and enrichment opportunities support classroom practice and help to embed the importance and relevance of textile design today. Studying the work of historical, current and contemporary practitioners help to engage and challenge ideas and concepts as well as anticipating emerging trends within the creative industry.
Students will take part in a series of skills workshops and be expected to demonstrate their ability in the following areas; photography, drawing, dyeing, digital textiles, photographic screen printing, image transfer, heat press, mono printing, collage, machine stitch, fabric manipulation and design. Students have flexibility in their approach and can specialise in an area of design or explore a theme through textile processes; such as wallpaper, fashion prints to stitched wall hangings and installations. This exciting course places an emphasis on your ability to research, develop and work through a range of ideas in order to find solutions that are sensitive and appropriate to your chosen project. You will learn to develop skills and knowledge using industry standard software to create pattern and surface designs for fashion, costume, interiors and textile art. Visual imagery will be explored from direct observation and there will be opportunity to develop ideas in an expressive and imaginative way. You will have the opportunity to develop ideas through a range of textiles processes such as digital print, screen print, fabric manipulation, stitch and many more.
Component 1: Personal Investigation (60% of the A Level) Students present an individual project based on a personal idea or brief which can be presented in a sketchbook or portfolio and includes written work of 1000 to 3000 words which supports practical work.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40% of the A Level) Students respond to a stimulus issued by Eduqas and a body of work is produced on one of the visual or written briefs. The finished outcome or series of outcomes are created during a 15 hour period of supervised time. Students will have the opportunity to work in one or more of the following areas:
Fashion design
Costume design
Digital and traditional print
Surface Pattern for Interiors
Interior design
Constructed/installed textiles
Art textiles
Textile installation
Accessories
You are encouraged to develop your designs from original drawings, photography, and experimentation with materials and realise the design into a finished outcome.
(Exam board: WJEC Eduqas)
(Specification code: A653QS)
There are live demonstrations and practical workshops during the initial stages to allow you to become familiar with relevant and current textile materials, processes and techniques. We promote independence and encourage students to express their own lines of enquiry when selecting project titles and textile materials to work with. The course is structured and supportive in the way it is delivered and one to one tutorials provide support for all learners when working on personal projects. Coursework is assessed continually so that you have a clear understanding of progress alongside developing skills. We also offer opportunities to participate in research visits in this country and abroad and have visiting speakers from industry and universities.
Minimum entry requirements are GCSE grade 4 in English as well as a genuine interest in Textiles. It is advisable to have studied a creative subject at GCSE in Art or Media; grade 4 or above is required. Students wishing to study Textile Design who do not have an art based GCSE will still be considered.
A GCSE grade 5 is a minimum requirement if you want to take two or more art and design subjects. Anyone wishing to do this should speak to a member of the art department during enrolment.
Students will also need to meet the general College entry requirements. Entry requirements are subjects to change.
A number of students progress on to study the Foundation Art diploma at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College to support applications into prestigious arts-based university degrees. Students also apply directly to BA Honours degree courses in Fashion and Textiles, including: Fashion communication and marketing, Fashion Photography, Fashion with Body Contour, Fashion Textiles: Print, Costume Design, Interior Design, Textile and Surface Design. Some of our former students work in related design posts in this country and abroad, including; Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie and Fitch, Sainsburys, Westley Richards, Trend Bible and Tigerprint, whilst some have set up their own businesses or progressed into teaching.
Textile Design combines well with other creative subjects including; Fine Art, Graphics, Photography, Media and Film Studies. Also, in previous years students have studied a variety of subjects alongside textiles such as; English Language, French, Business Studies and Psychology.