BA (Hons) Textile Design: Embroidery

If you love the idea of using your creativity to build onto and into surfaces, working with a wide range of materials, our Embroidery option allows you to explore new possibilities in a subject with a rich and varied heritage. You will focus on exploring the materials and technologies that exist today. Alongside hand skills, including tambour beading and gold work, you become confident with using industry-standard specialist digital embroidery software and equipment. You might work onto substrates you have printed or created yourself, generating designs with rich surface qualities and dramatic compositions.The skillset you will develop is highly desirable within the luxury fashion market, as well as in theatre, jewellery, interiors and illustration. Our graduates have gone on to work as Couture Embroiderers, Studio Designers, Designer Makers and Illustrators.We value diversity, nurture curiosity and place sustainability at the heart of decision making. Embracing digital technology and traditional craft skills our students develop their creativity, personal talents and professional awareness in a stimulating, supportive environment. All students are introduced to print, weave, embroidery and knit processes in the first semester, enabling you to experiment with different methods to identify strengths and interests. In second year, we teach in career-focused groups, reflecting the nature of contemporary employment needs within the industry. This provides you with further opportunity to tailor your learning experience and fulfil your own personal and professional aspirations. It also provides scope for cross-disciplinary working which has become increasingly prominent in Textile Design. The following career-focused pathways that you choose from in your second year reflect the breadth of professional paths that our graduates go on to pursue:- Styling and Trend Forecasting- Contemporary Culture and Craft- Surface Pattern and Technologies- Bespoke Fashion Textiles- Retail and PromotionYou will be taught by passionate and experienced tutors and supported by highly skilled technicians; many of whom have their own practice in Textile Design. Guest speakers, visiting tutors and alumni enrich the learning experience and provide additional industry insights. Employability is at the heart of our course and collaborative work, live projects, competitions and work placements help you develop professional experience. Students have undertaken work experience in the UK and abroad at companies such as Mary Katrantzou, John Lewis, Trend Bible and Zara. Our strong links with industries including trend agencies, design studios, museums and galleries, provide opportunities that equip students with the skills for increasingly diverse career paths.Our Parkside Building is a dynamic and creative open environment that encourages cross-school collaboration. Our students thrive on the creative buzz and inspiring surroundings in the heart of Birmingham, and enjoy access to traditional and state-of-the-art facilities. They are able to gain an international perspective through trips to cities such as Paris and Florence.Final year students get the opportunity to exhibit their final major projects at our Inspired Festival, the end of year degree show at Birmingham City University and at the New Designers exhibition in London. The diverse and innovative work on show exemplifies the unique identity of the course. Our aim is that you will graduate as a confident, industry-ready, independent and highly employable textile artist with a clear career ambition.