BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles

Program Overview

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), located in the United Kingdom, offers a vibrant and multidisciplinary BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles program at its Swansea College of Art. This degree provides an immersive exploration of textiles, materiality, pattern, and making, with a focus that spans various contexts including fashion, interiors, and design-led galleries. The program balances academic challenge with a contemporary outlook, ensuring students gain a comprehensive education in this dynamic field. Throughout their studies, students develop a wealth of practical and technical skills, enjoying the design potential of extensive digital and traditional facilities, including textile screen printing rooms, dye studios, digital application suites, laser cutters, and sewing rooms. This combination of cutting-edge technology and time-honoured techniques provides a well-rounded foundation for their creative journey, fostering a unique creative voice within a professionally focused, collaborative studio culture that mirrors the workplace.

Curriculum: The BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles curriculum at UWTSD is structured over three years to provide a progressive and in-depth understanding of surface pattern and textile design. The first year is intensive, introducing students to a variety of learning approaches, material processes, visual studies practice, and forward-looking design thinking. Core modules often include "Digital and Material Futures," "Image Making - Drawing for Design," "Major Studies: Ideas into Practice," "Designing for Context," "Visual and Material Culture," "Ways of Perceiving," and "Ways of Thinking." The second year builds upon this foundation with modules like "Research in Context," "Research in Practice," "Image Making - Drawing for a Live Brief," "Visual and Material Language," "Major Studies: Designing for a Live Brief," and "A Self-Directed Brief," focusing on significant live projects and exhibition opportunities. The final year is dedicated to perfecting the student's portfolio and ensuring industry readiness, with a strong emphasis on employability and entrepreneurship, culminating in a major independent project and professional practice development.

Research Focus: The research focus within the BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles program at UWTSD is deeply embedded in the exploration of materials, processes, and the contextual application of design. While not a traditional research degree, the program encourages students to engage in critical inquiry and material investigation as fundamental to their creative progression and individual practice. Modules like "Research in Context" and "Research in Practice" train students to engage with contemporary issues, conduct design research, and critically evaluate their creative process. Students undertake significant self-directed briefs and independent projects, allowing them to delve into areas such as sustainable textile practices, the interplay of traditional and digital techniques, the impact of materiality on design, or pattern as a form of cultural expression. The program aims to develop designers who can approach their work with informed criticality and contribute to the evolving discourse within surface pattern and textiles.

Industry Engagement: UWTSD places a strong emphasis on industry engagement for its BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles program, integrating significant live projects, exhibition experiences, and industry liaisons into the curriculum. These collaborations have been conducted with esteemed collaborators such as Rolls Royce Bespoke Interiors, H&M Design, Eley Kishimoto London, Hallmark UK, and Orangebox. Such experiences ensure 1 students are prepared to enter the creative industry with confidence and competence. The program actively seeks opportunities for competitions and encourages a professional studio culture that mirrors the workplace, promoting a collaborative and engaging approach. This dynamic program is built to evolve alongside the industries graduates will enter, with employability being a core focus throughout the course.  

Global Perspective: The BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles program at UWTSD inherently incorporates a global perspective by engaging with an industry that is international in its trends, production, and consumption. Students explore a broad range of design contexts, including fashion, interiors, and design-led galleries, all of which operate on a global scale. The program exposes students to diverse material processes, digital applications, and design thinking methodologies that are relevant across international markets. By undertaking live briefs with global brands and focusing on both traditional and cutting-edge digital techniques, students gain an understanding of international industry standards and trends. This prepares them to contribute to the creative industries worldwide, whether by influencing global fashion trends, designing for international interior markets, or developing sustainable textile solutions with a global impact.