BA (Hons) Textile Design

Overview

Our academic team are all practising professionals in the field of design and you’ll benefit from their long-established network of visiting artists and designers. Throughout your studies, you’ll be introduced to potential employers through live briefs and sponsored projects, where you will meet leading industry names and pitch designs for commercial production.

The university’s range of undergraduate courses are designed in close consultation with an Industry Liaison Group – including luxury interior furnishings group Harlequin, recognised for their outstanding design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of wall coverings, furnishing fabrics and whose sub-brands include Zoffany, Sanderson, Morris & Co., Harlequin and Scion.

Real-world experiences through guest lecturers, design competitions and work placements also play a vital role in keeping you connected to cutting-edge trends and techniques and you will make invaluable contacts – preparing you for success beyond graduation. In recent times, students specialising in printed textiles and surface pattern at the university have worked with Mercedes-Benz smart cars to design and launch new body panel decals, with the winning design team’s work officially manufactured. We also enjoy close links with Wrag Wrap, Zandra Rhodes, Brume, Clarks, and more.

Between Year 1 and 2 of your studies, you’ll gain the opportunity to take a work placement with a well-known brand or design studio, and later in your second year you’ll visit some of the most important design events in Europe, such as Heimtextil in Frankfurt, Première Vision and Maison & Objet in Paris. We encourage students to combine international trips with a study tour event as well as the possibility of exhibiting your work at a major international design shows, such as the prestigious London Design Fair.

Our strong international connections also allow our students to undertake a semester of study with one of our partner institutions within Europe and North America, and in turn, we welcome overseas students from those institutions to join us in our design studios, creating an exciting cultural exchange.

Recent alumni:

Lily Cumming Visual Merchandiser IKEA
Hannah Seward Junior Designer, Fermoie Interior Textiles
Hannah Peacock Buyer, Next
Emma Corner Designer, Mary Jones Design Studio
Ayesha King Designer, Etch Studios, London
Zoe Woodford Designer, Edinburgh Weavers
Sophie Minshall Stylist, Princess Yachts
Lucy Ellis Designer, Bonny Print studio.
Libby Dawson Woodbrook Bespoke

Graduates can become:

textile designers
design stylists
design researchers
trend forecasters
surface pattern designers
textile buyers

Alumni Profiles

Becky May

Rebecca graduated from Arts University Plymouth in 2017, winning the college’s Board of Governors Award for her work ethic and professional attitude during her time at the university. She now works as a Senior Product Developer at UK home, games, gifts and party accessories company, Talking Tables.

Talking Tables have featured in Love Island, Good Housekeeping, Time Out London and The Sunday Times, with offices in London, New York and Shanghai.

Belinda Bayley

Belinda studied BA (Hons) Textile Design at Arts University Plymouth, graduating in 2020. She is a freelance print designer and illustrator, who uses a variety of drawing styles, often drawing flora and fauna.

Since graduating, Belinda has been an Artist in Residence at Lick Home, where her designs were chosen to expand their wallpaper range. Belinda currently sells print products on her Etsy online shop.

Katherine Toms

Katherine Toms is a Cornish based print designer and illustrator who primarily focuses on colour, experimentation and the environment. A wide range of digital and traditional mediums form her work as she explores various techniques from collaging to detailed pencil drawings.

Katherine graduated from BA (Hons) Printed Textile & Surface Pattern in 2020, and during her studies interned with Zandra Rhodes and Frugi. Katherine now works as a freelance designer and illustrator while also working as a design administration assistant for the print team at fashion retailer Seasalt.