Design for Textiles

Design for textiles is a discipline that combines creative intelligence with deep technical knowledge of materials, processes and production. Textiles encompass an extraordinary range of applications, from fashion and clothing to interior design, upholstery, wall-coverings, technical textiles and art practice. What unifies them is the design of fabric itself: how yarns are woven, knitted or constructed, how patterns and colours are developed, how surfaces are printed or manipulated, and how the properties of a textile, its drape, strength, texture and colour, are shaped for specific purposes.

At Heriot-Watt University, the four-year full-time degree balances theory and practice in fabric design methodology and fabric production techniques, spanning fashion, interior and art textiles. You will develop skills in surface design, weave, knit, print and technical construction, alongside an understanding of the historical, cultural and commercial contexts in which textile design operates. The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you the opportunity to develop professional experience and international perspectives in the global textiles and fashion industries.

Heriot-Watt's Scottish Borders campus, the principal location for textile design, is set in a region with a rich heritage of quality textile manufacturing that continues to influence the character of the degree.

Graduates work in fashion and textiles design studios, fashion brands, interior design companies, fabric manufacturers, surface pattern design, theatre and film costume, knitwear design and textiles art. Many establish independent practices or work freelance. Postgraduate study in textile design, fashion design, surface design or related fields is a natural path for those who want to develop specialist expertise.