Design for Textile Futures

Advertisement

The 21st century marks the beginning of a new textile revolution - one we believe is smart, invisible, sustainable, ethical and poetic.

The MA Textile Futures ethos is to approach textile design as a form of industrial design but with a focus on the language and codes inherent to textiles. By exploring key contextual questions to interrogate, critique and propose new design concepts, we invite our designers to engage fully with the challenges of designing for the 21st century. How do we reconcile ecology and smart technology? With current progress in nanotechnologies, how do we engineer invisible functions with new aesthetics? How can biomimicry principles inform the design of resilient textiles?

Will scientists become designers? With digital fabrications becoming mainstream, what future for craft? How can textiles lead to the development of smart interactive interface? Can textiles inform a new way to imagine architecture? These are examples of questions MA Textile Futures will consider over the two year postgraduate programme.

Smart textiles, invisible performance, sustainable and ethical issues as much as poetics and aesthetics call for new design perspectives. Crossover with other design disciplines as well as with science and socio-economics are more pertinent than ever. Rapid changes in culture, economics and technology need dynamic designers who can propose and realise intelligent, responsible innovations with strategic thought, leadership and personal vision.

The MA Textile Futures course aims at equipping designers with critical skills to design for our future selves and provides a 'think-tank' in which to cultivate ideas, reflect on individual practice, and challenge the boundaries of textile design.

MA Textile Futures lasts 60 weeks structured as two consecutive periods of 30 weeks each (i.e. two academic years) in its 'extended full-time mode'.

MA Textile Futures is credit rated at 180 credits, and comprises 2 units. Unit 1 (60 credits) lasts 20 weeks. Unit 2 (120 credits) runs for 10 weeks in the first year and 30 weeks in the second year.

Both units must be passed in order to achieve the MA, but the classification of the award of MA derives from your mark for Unit 2 only.

You are expected to attend approximately 30 hours of study per week. Attendance is timetabled across three days each week, when taught sessions and self directed study takes place in addition to study outside the college.
Year 1: Wednesday to Friday
Year 2: Monday to Wednesday

A relevant honours degree; evidence of experiential learning equivalent to a degree; or 3 years relevant professional experience.Suitable candidatesThe course suits both recent graduates seeking to develop their skills and expand their market awareness, and experienced designers wishing to challenge their careers. Primarily aimed at textile designers, it also attracts applicants from related design disciplines.Students with a background in design, fine art, architecture, interactive design or product design are welcome to apply, provided they can demonstrate that their aspirations are compatible with the course rationale and the textile discipline.The course is demanding and challenging and will benefit most those who are prepared to question their contribution to the design discipline and who aim at becoming leading designers/consultants. Once on the course students will be expected to demonstrate creative design skills, develop strategic design thinking, be independent, flexible, and prepared to respond to challeng English Language Requirements CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C)