Course specification and structure
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UDTXTDES - BA Textile Design

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Arts Level Honours
Possible interim awards Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education
Total credits for course 360
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Art, Architecture and Design
Subject Area Design
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 3 YEARS 7 YEARS
Part-time 6 YEARS 7 YEARS
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

The learning and teaching strategies within BA (Hons) Textile Design, seek to inspire and instruct in appropriate measure. The course equips its students with specialist skills, grounded in industry practice and process: a contemporary teaching and learning environment encourages critical engagement with the character and constraints of commercial and cultural contexts of textile design and making. The teaching supports preparation for future careers in a wide range of professional occupations within textile, fashion and interior design, as a designer and/or maker, buyer, stylist, technologist within industry or on a self-employed basis, in design journalism and related fields, or postgraduate studies.

The course seeks to specifically foster:

  • Experimentation and learning through direct experience in studio-based working
  • A culture of independent thought, encouraging individual choice and the production of critically informed design practice.
  • Projects that make use of London as a diverse site for cultural exchange and exploration
  • Disciplinary engagement across the Faculty, providing opportunities for collaborative project work during study.

Our philosophy embraces experiential learning. Through immersion in studio practice, students are encouraged and enabled to discover and develop practised understanding of their discipline, evolving an individual approach to working in collaboration with peers and through reflective practice and self-assessment. Typically, students devise and develop practical projects under guidance building up a reserve of sector-specific skills, testing and realising new ideas and design potential. This approach ensures that the student is guided through this acquisition of knowledge and understanding, as the course progresses.

Teaching methods include: lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops and studio practice. Students work through studios and projects developing a body of skills and understanding, developing and realising practical knowledge and applying critical solutions in encounters with new ideas and relevant theory. This ensures that the student is steadily guided through a progressive process of learning and technical competence, as the course unfolds. Every effort is made to make teaching as varied and student-centered as possible.

Lectures seek to provide a critically informed overview of a topic, to conceptualise and contextualise the subject and illustrate applied approaches.

Workshops and practical teaching takes a variety of forms. The objective is to apply knowledge and/or acquire technical competence, think critically and creatively, master technique and develop the capacity to work independently and within teams.

Each year of study comprises of four year-long (30 weeks, 30 credit) modules in the areas of concept and realisation, subject-specific industry practice and cultural and contextual studies (including professional practice).

Studio practice enhances lectures, seminars, study visits, critiques, workshop activities, group and individual tutorials. Both projects and theoretical work offer opportunities for developing professional competency in presentation (including visual, spoken and text-based modes), using digital technologies, blogs, videos, photography and websites. Through a rich mix of teaching styles and learning contexts, the course seeks to foster in its students confidence as autonomous learners, promoting imagination and effectiveness of design practitioners in the making.

Project briefs develop from year to year in accordance with contemporary practice, furthering research interests and project opportunities in context of the School and Faculty ethos. Disciplinary skills are embedded at the beginning of the course, moving to a studio (cross-disciplinary) theme-based system in later years, led by the student in the final year. The body of work accumulated at Level 6 is significant, making up an academic portfolio that demonstrates the full range of attributes that are required for career development in creative practice and/ or for entry to MA level Course. Shared projects across courses &/or years enables opportunities for peer-to-peer learning to be maximized.

Critical and Contextual Studies run in parallel to the design and creative industry practice modules. These modules focus on transferable graduate skills in the field of academic scholarship and writing (alongside professional practice). As part of their professional profile, students need to be able to retrieve, analyse, interpret, articulate and structure information and knowledge for different purposes and audiences. These modules frame key skills of research within the specific context of design history and theory, taking into account the practice requirements of the industry, its professional, legal, ethical and institutional contexts. Intensive blocks of learning in seminar and lecture presentations, alongside site visits, image analysis, case studies, and workshops, aid acquisition of skills in presentation, visual and textual analysis and representation.

The course engages with national and London-based competitions and encourages students to extend these opportunities as extra-curricular activity, including collaborative publication and exhibition wherever possible.

The course’s use of virtual learning supports students on day-to-day and project work in progress, enhancing the studio environment through a blended learning approach. Blended learning encourages students to form learning communities, whilst providing a personal reflective space, offering a knowledge portal that supports research-banks and studio sessions, exercises and lecture notes.

The teaching team includes professional textile artists, practitioners and designers alongside fashion, jewellery, interior and product designers. Industry links provide students with a clear understanding of future employment opportunities. The Faculty is bustling with creativity and energy. The course is taught within the creative hub of Brick Lane, and benefits from links with local design practitioners.

Course aims

The aims of this course are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. The course aims to:

  1. Deliver a high quality education in textile design that will ensure graduates are knowledgeable, creative, technically able and work-ready
  2. Foster critical understanding of and creative approaches to the cultural, technological and economic factors surrounding the professional practice of textile design for the fashion, interior, product and art textile markets
  3. Foster self-reliance and openness to professional development, ensuring individual practice that is positioned in relation to economic, ethical, cultural, environmental, material, global needs
  4. Develop confident entrepreneurial, promotional and presentational skills, encouraging multidisciplinary approaches and critical thought
  5. Develop curiosity, independent enquiry and capacity to reason, critique and reflect upon practice through an integrated approach to practice and theory, research and analysis
  6. Through working with materials and making artefacts, enable skills for professional practice (subject knowledge, efficiency, confidence and autonomy) relevant to individual interests and creative ambitions.

Course learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

  1. Describe, understand and explore the intellectual and practical process of creativity within textiles and broader academic debates in related fields
  2. Recognise how textile design manufacturing/technologies operate and apply market knowledge of current and future trends, developments, trends and constraints to practice
  3. Apply self-critical, investigative and evaluative practice, understand the contemporary and historical framework associated with textile design to enable insight whilst developing an individual perspective and approach

Cognitive Intellectual Skills

  1. Observe, investigate and synthesise complex visual and material effects towards the production of creative material solutions
  2. Utilise disciplinary experimentation to challenge consumer perception of textile design and related fashion industries, bringing new ideas to market reception
  3. Take responsibility for the content and signature of individual creative practice within professional and commercial contexts, demonstrating ethical sensitivity and a reflexive, innovative personal approach as a professional textile designer

Transferable Skills

  1. Competently apply individual critical, practical and creative strengths to self-promotion in order to professionally articulate design intent visually, textually and orally
  2. Respond to a defined market brief and constraints (including technological and economical conditions), utilising creative opportunities towards professional project realisation
  3. Work professional and effectively with others through collaboration and negotiation, as sole practitioner and within a team

Subject-Specific Practical Skills

  1. Employ the necessary skills to select appropriate materials and processes suitable for the realisation of design intent, taking into account specific aesthetic and material characteristics.
  2. Realise specialist applications for resolved designed textile collections, or artefacts
  3. Apply knowledge of textile design and the commercial/ manufacturing contexts to effective career planning

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Describe, understand and explore the intellectual and practical process of creativity within textiles and broader academic debates in related fields:

CCS1, CCS2, CCS3
Visual Research & Communication
Design Principles, Workshop Practice
3D Design, Design Details
Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design


2. Recognise how textile design manufacturing/technologies operate and apply market knowledge of current and future trends, developments, trends and constraints to practice:

CCS2
Design Details, Creative Industry Practice
Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design

3. Apply self-critical, investigative and evaluative practice, understand the contemporary and historical framework associated with textile design to enable insight whilst developing an individual perspective and approach:

CCS1, CCS2, CCS3
Creative Industry Practice
Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design


Cognitive Intellectual Skills

4. Observe, investigate and synthesise complex visual and material effects towards the production of creative material solutions:

Visual Research & Communication
Workshop Practice, Design Principles, Design Details Project Design & Development

5. Utilise disciplinary experimentation to challenge consumer perception of textile design and related industries, bringing new ideas to market reception:

Workshop Practice, Design Details,
Creative Industry Practice
Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design

6. Take responsibility for the content and signature of individual creative practice within professional and commercial contexts, demonstrating ethical sensitivity and a reflexive, innovative personal approach as a professional textile designer:

CCS2 3D Design, Design Details
Creative Industry Practice, Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design

Transferable Skills

7. Competently apply individual critical, practical and creative strengths to self-promotion in order to professionally articulate design intent visually, textually and orally:

CCS2, Design Details, Creative Industry Practice

Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design Exhibition Practice


8. Respond to a defined market brief and constraints (including technological and economical conditions), utilising creative opportunities towards professional project realisation:

Creative Industry Practice
Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design, Exhibition Practice

9. Work professional and effectively with others through collaboration and negotiation, as sole practitioner and within a team Creative Industry Practice:

Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design
Subject-Specific Practical Skills

10. Employ the necessary skills to select appropriate materials and processes suitable for the realisation of design intent, taking into account specific aesthetic and material characteristics:

Design Principles, Workshop Practice
3D Design
Design Details,
Project Design & Development
Major Project Realisation: Textile Design

11. Realise specialist applications for resolved designed textile collections, or artefacts:

Workshop Practice

Design Details,

Major Project Realisation: Textile Design, Exhibition Practice

12. Apply knowledge of textile design and the commercial/ manufacturing contexts to effective career planning:

CCS2, Design Details
Creative Industry Practice
Project Design & Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design, Exhibition Practice

Principle QAA benchmark statements

Subject Benchmark Statement; Art & Design

Assessment strategy

The course deploys a range of formative and summative assessment methods, including peer appraisal and individual reflective practices throughout studio based work and personal projects. These evaluative achievements are evidenced through coursework and demonstrated within presentations, seminars and portfolio reviews, to accommodate differing learning styles. Each assessment (formative and summative) seeks to build students’ confidence as independent learners, providing pertinent advice for all aspects of learning.

The course team provides ongoing opportunities for scheduled tutorial ‘drop in’ sessions and the course’s virtual learning environment offers students opportunities to discuss (with tutors and peers) their assessment strategies. Further support is available via personal academic advisors, Library Services, University Student Services and the Centre for Learning and Teaching.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

Employability skills are integrated throughout the course. During their final year, students are expected to work independently towards completion of professional portfolio of projects, culminating in exhibition of these in the annual graduate show. Level 6 students are encouraged to develop entrepreneurial opportunities during the course and apply for and participate in subject-specialist work placements as well as gain professional experience appropriate to their discipline throughout the course. Work experience supports the emphasis of professional standards and undoubtedly increases confidence and currency of textile design skills. In addition, the course has collaborative links with the creative industries directly through visiting professional designer/makers who regularly teach and mentor throughout the programme.

Work-related learning is an integrated and mandatory part of the course, with at least 70 hours working on live projects for real organisations delivered through placement, live briefs and real entrepreneurial activities built into the course. The level six module ‘Exhibition Practice’ is designated as the placement or work-related learning module. Students will experience a competitive recruitment process or pitching for opportunities, and they will be required to reflect on their experience of the project and undertake forward career action planning.

Course specific regulations

ACADEMIC PROGRESSION: As a condition of progressing from level 4 to 5 and level 5 to 6, students are required to have gained 120 credits per level, that is, by achieving pass marks (40%) in all four modules in the preceding level of study.

PART-TIME MODE OF STUDY
Part-time study is defined as 60 credits per year. Consequently, in part-time mode, the duration of study for a 360-credit degree will be 6 years. The pattern of study in this instance shall be as follows:

Year 1: 3D Design Principles, Workshop Practice
Year 2: Critical and Contextual Studies 1, 3D Visual Research and Communication
Year 3: Design Resolution, 3D Design
Year 4: Critical and Contextual Studies 2, Making Matters
Year 5: 3D Project Design and Development, Major Project Realisation: Textile Design
Year 6: Critical and Contextual Studies 3: Dissertation, Exhibition Practice

Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditations & exemptions

We have established links with professional multi-national companies such as Marks & Spencer and Ligne Roset, securing placements and prizes for students whilst studying. We work with diverse retailers, manufacturers and design studios for live projects, providing valuable experience of the textile industry.

Career opportunities

Our graduates have gone on to work at companies including Timberland, Harrods, the Fashion Model Directory and River Island.

London Met textile design student Majeda Clarke was shortlisted for a Bemz Design Award and went on to create her latest collection with UNESCO.

Other roles include self-employed designer-maker, industrial designer, buyer, technologist and stylist, or you could consider progressing to a master’s in your field.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements,you will normally be expected to obtain:

  • a minimum grade of BBC in three A levels in relevant art and design subjects (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC National, OCR Diploma or Advanced Diploma)
  • English Language GCSE at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above (or equivalent)

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

We encourage applications from International/EU students with equivalent qualifications. We also accept mature students with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Suitable applicants living in the UK will be invited to a portfolio interview. Applicants living outside the UK will be required to submit a portfolio of work via email.

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Fashion and Textiles Extended Degree (with Foundation Year).

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 01 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes W231 (Textile Design): 100%
Route code TXTDES

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 04 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
CP4011 Critical & Contextual Studies 1 (3D) Core 30 CITY AUT+SPR TUE AM
DN4005 Workshop Practice Core 30        
DN4006 3D Design Principles Core 30        
DN4007 3D Visual Research and Communication Core 30        

Stage 2 Level 05 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
CP5011 Critical & Contextual Studies 2 (3D) Core 30 CITY AUT+SPR THU AM
DN5006 Design Resolution Core 30        
DN5011 3D Design Core 30        
DN5021 Materials, Technology and Markets Core 30        

Stage 3 Level 06 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
CP6011 Critical & Contextual Studies 3: Dissertation (3D) Core 30 CITY AUT+SPR WED PM
          CITY AUT+SPR WED AM
DN6009 Major Project Realisation: Textile Design Core 30        
DN6013 3D Project Design & Development Core 30        
DN6035 World of Work Core 30