BA (Hons) Textile Design: Fibre Art

If you love making your own work and using new mediums to express yourself, and feel more drawn to art gallery rather than design studio environments, Fibre Arts might be the right option for you.You will develop and broaden your skills using mixed media, and might choose to engage with traditional techniques or take a more digital or unconventional approach. Throughout the course, you will develop a clear personal identity and an understanding of where your work sits within the artistic field. You will develop the skills and confidence to apply for funding, residency and exhibition opportunities with which to build a career. Our students secure placements with arts organisations, styling companies, galleries and in education. They go on to find employment as Textile Artists, Creative Facilitators, Arts Coordinators, Designer Makers and Curators.We value diversity, nurture curiosity and place sustainability at the heart of decision making. Embracing both digital technology and traditional craft skills our students develop their creativity, personal talents and professional awareness within a stimulating, supportive environment.All students are introduced to print, weave, embroidery and knit processes in the first semester, enabling you to explore and experiment with different methods to identify strengths and interests. Throughout the course you are able to shape your skills towards your career interests, focusing on one or more technical areas. In second year, we teach in career-focused groups, reflecting the nature of contemporary employment needs in the industry. This provides you with further opportunity to tailor your learning experience in conversation with the academic team, in order to fulfil your 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 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 which have their own practices in various fields relating to 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 to develop professional experience. Students have undertaken work experience in the UK at companies such as Mary Katrantzou, John Lewis and Trend Bible, whilst others have gone abroad, for example Zara in Spain. Our strong links with a range of industries; including trend agencies, design studios, museums and galleries enable us to provide opportunities that equip students with the skills appropriate for increasingly diverse career paths.Our Parkside Building is a dynamic and creative open environment that stimulates collaboration and encourages cross-school working. Our students thrive on the creative buzz and inspiring surroundings in the heart of Birmingham, and enjoy access to both traditional and state-of-the-art facilities. They are also able to gain an international perspective through trips to cities such as Paris and Florence. Our final year students get the opportunity to exhibit and promote their final major projects via a range of platforms, including 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 cou