Bachelor of Arts (Hons)

TEXTILE DESIGN (TOP-UP)

Buckinghamshier New University course reflects the realities of working as a professional in industry. Everything you do on the course is working towards you getting your first job in the sector. 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.

Develop your own unique style and bring your design to life with our BA (Hons) in Textile Design. With a focus on craftsmanship and innovation, this course will enable you to develop hands-on skills and equip you to be a successful designer. If you want to make your mark on the textile industry, this course can help get you there.

Why study this subject?

Textiles are everywhere; they are the very fabric of BNU's everyday environment, so why not learn how to design them? Providing them with identity, comfort and shelter, textiles are the material that BNU has their closest relationships with, literally clothing their bodies from head to toe, or surrounding their 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.

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

BNU's experienced and specialist team of lecturers are experienced designers, current industry practitioners and researchers.

With their 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.

What facilities can you use?

Buckinghamshier New University has spent a lot of love and care making their 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 their 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 BNU's workshops, you’ll receive one-to-one teaching, working closely with lecturers, specialist technicians and alongside fellow students.

What will you 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 you be taught and assessed?

BNU put a strong emphasis on career, designer identity and industry in the curriculum. For example, they 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.

What are your career prospects?

Throughout your time with Buckinghamshier New University they’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. They also help you find employment after graduation. 

BNU's BA (Hons) Textile Design (Top-Up) course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:

• textile designer
• fashion designer
• pattern cutter
• garment technologist
• product developer
• entrepreneur
• fashion buyer
• visual merchandiser
• retail management
• public relations, press and the media
• events and production organisation
• fashion styling.

Many of BNU graduates have gone on to work with fashion and interior design companies such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Anthropologie, Burberry, Cath Kidston, Christopher Kane, Donna Karan, Hallmark Cards, Heals, John Lewis, Karen Nicol, Mark Fast.