Integrated Foundation - Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Textile Design

The Textile Design degree with Foundation Year explores the creative and practical potential of fibres, yarns, and processes to produce innovative materials with distinctive qualities. As a discipline, textile design plays an important role in shaping sustainable and socially responsible practices, while also offering opportunities for artistic expression that can inspire awareness and change. The course develops industry-ready designers with expertise across areas such as print, weave, knit, embroidery, and material innovation, encouraging both specialisation and cross-disciplinary practice through a combination of digital technologies and traditional craft skills.

The Foundation Year provides an introductory, exploratory stage of the programme, allowing students to develop creative, practical, and research skills in preparation for degree-level study. As part of Birmingham City University’s Fashion and Textiles community, students benefit from an inclusive and collaborative environment, with opportunities to engage across related disciplines such as fashion design, fashion business, and fashion communication. This experience supports the development of visual communication, craft techniques, and independent working skills.

Progressing onto the full degree, students gain hands-on experience in dedicated textile workshops equipped with industry-standard facilities, building the specialist knowledge and practical expertise needed for a wide range of career opportunities. The course emphasises experimentation, creative problem-solving, and personal expression through elements such as colour, pattern, surface, and texture. Supported by experienced staff and inspired by Birmingham’s diverse cultural landscape, students are encouraged to develop an individual design identity while engaging with contemporary issues and practices within the textile industry.