What you study

YouÕll spend your first year working on drawing and repeat pattern skills, as well as constructed textiles techniques such as knit and stitch and the use of colour. YouÕll also gain an insight into the technological and cultural aspects of art and design. Once you have a solid grounding in these skills, youÕll be able to specialise over the next two years of your degree.

Within digital textiles, youÕll focus on textiles for fashion or interiors, experimenting with techniques such as laser cutting and digital fabric printing or combining the two in materials manipulation. Throughout the degree, youÕll work on drawing, repeat pattern drafting and in-depth market research.

Whether you choose knitted or stitched textiles within the structured textiles route, youÕll be able to develop innovative, contemporary designs for fashion or interiors based on your own visual and market research. YouÕll use different media to explore the potential of knitted and stitched textile structures and techniques, and youÕll learn how to influence the form, colour, 3D structuring and other properties of textile materials.

The Textile Design programme is offered by the University of Leeds.

What facilities are available

We have plenty of facilities to help you make the most of your time at Leeds. YouÕll be able to develop your practice in spacious, well-lit and well-equipped studios, as well as purpose-built computer clusters so you can build your CAD skills.

The University is also home to the Yorkshire Fashion Archive, containing a huge variety of haute couture, fashion garments and everyday clothing bought and worn by Yorkshire locals throughout the 20th century Ð a great resource for your own research and design.

We also house the M&S Company Archive including documents, advertising, photos, films, clothing and merchandise from throughout Marks & SpencerÕs history. It provides a fascinating insight into how fashion and homewares within the marketplace have changed and continue to evolve.

ULITA, an archive of international textiles, is housed on campus and collects, preserves and documents textiles and related areas from around the world. You can make appointments to view items, but it also has an online catalogue where you can explore the major collections.

Why Leeds

This exciting and varied degree gives you the chance to cultivate your creativity in textile design, while acquiring specialist skills in a stimulating environment. Not only will you develop your professional practice and question your creativity, but youÕll benefit from studying at a prestigious Russell Group university that gives you a solid academic grounding to put your work into context.

Core modules and a common first year will introduce you to the principles of design, while you explore different types of textiles and gain an insight into the historical and cultural context of this field of design practice.

YouÕll then be able to focus on one of four specific areas and develop your specialism: textiles for fashion or for interiors within the digital textiles pathway, or kitted or stitched textiles within the structured textiles pathway. ItÕs a great opportunity to build a set of professional skills that will really appeal to employers.