A good eye for colour, texture, fabrics and pattern is not all that's needed to succeed as a textile designer - you'll also need to make industry contacts and build up a portfolio of work.
Textile design is a highly creative field that involves the process of creating the designs that are printed on these woven, knitted, or other types of fabrics. Textile designers are highly-creative people who can draw, have a superior eye for color, pattern, and texture, and an appreciation for the fine points of textiles and fashion. They recognize the fluctuations in trends and fashion, understand textile techniques, are good communicators, possess problem-solving skills, and enjoy a challenge, all while staying on budget and deadline.
Diploma in Textile design will provide students with a foundation in the creation and functional utility of various textiles. As the most common industry that uses textiles is the fashion industry, many classes will be structured about the creation and design of different types of fabrics. Other courses will include the design and development of textile sculptures, constructed textiles, and surface textiles. Students will learn about the history of textiles and the theoretical concepts and aesthetics of the field. Studio classes are very hands-on, with a few lecture classes. Students will complete designs and work with materials and components that make-up textiles, such as knits, leathers, silks, and color dyes. Coursework typically includes color usage, textile design processes and terminology, repeat patterning, computer-aided textile design, and knitted and woven design.
Textile designers create two-dimensional designs that can be used, often as a repeat design, in the production of knit, weave and printed fabrics or textile products.Working in both industrial and non-industrial locations, they often specialise or work in a specialist context within the textile industry. The two major areas of textiles are:
The day-to-day responsibilities of a textile designer include:
There are a number of careers in a variety of industries for graduates of a textile design program, which include:
