BA (Hons) Textile Design: Retail, Business and Marketing

If you are passionate about textiles, but you have a business mind as much as a creative one, our Retail, Business and Marketing option will help you to develop skills in both the practical aspects of textile design but also the business side of the creative industries.You will gain a broad and practical understanding of textile design and complement this with specific knowledge and experience of research, report-writing, range-planning, team-working and visual communication. Our students secure placements within buying, marketing and visual merchandising departments within the retail sector, as well as work at magazines, with arts organisations and for trend prediction agencies. Our graduates find employment as Buyers, Visual Merchandisers, Design Directors and Journalists –finding that the combination of having both practical and business skills is invaluable.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 to 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 also able to gain an international perspective through trips to cities such as Paris and Florence.Final year students get the opportunity to exhibit and promote 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.