BA Textiles

The BA (Hons) Textiles course balances its focus between the development of your creativity as a designer and the strengthening of your technical skills in a range of practices.

The course develops you into an industry-ready practitioner able to turn your hand to print (screen and digital), weave, knit, stitch, computer-aided design and drawing. Throughout the course's duration you may choose to specialise in one of these techniques or maintain a broad range of approaches, having enjoyed the freedom to progress in any area of textile practice.

You are challenged to create a body of practical work in response to set projects that engage you with real-world textiles practices. You are encouraged to be innovative with your design ideas and explore a range of contexts in which to develop your personal approach to textiles.

Lectures, seminars and tutorials with a range of exciting visiting lecturers provide constant sources of inspiration. Recent lecturers have included Sarah Angold (Sarah Angold Studio), Ptolemy Mann (woven textile artist), Christopher Pearson (Christopher Pearson Studio) and Zoe Miller (designer, Cockpit Arts). Regular tutorial feedback and peer group debates give you an opportunity to reflect on your own ideas and consider the direction of your creative development.

Throughout the degree course the emphasis remains on developing an approach and a skillset that are firm foundations for employment in the creative industries. Through this approach you are encouraged to find your own individual direction in textiles design and creation.

Your Future

This course enables you to develop your practical textiles skills across a broad range of traditional and new textiles processes. You are encouraged to strengthen your own technical skills, develop your own practice and ideas and obtain real-world experience in readiness for entering textiles and related industries.

Work placements have included Rob Ryan (Ryantown London), Tissus d’Hélène (Chelsea Harbour), Roger La Borde and Zandra Rhodes. Graduates have also gone on to work for companies such as DKNY and Cath Kidston or set up their own businesses as designers and makers.

The course continues to develop a national reputation, most recently evident in the award of three major prizes in the national Bradford Textile Society competition, including the President’s Prize for outstanding work. Students are selected from the course to exhibit work at the New Designers Fair in London every year, providing a national showcase to potential employers, retailers and commissioners.

Students who successfully complete their undergraduate studies are also able to progress to a range of MA courses at NUCA, in particular MA Textile Design.