Textile Design

Studying textile design enables you to develop your subject-specific knowledge and design technical skills. It also gives you a number of key skills that are sought after by a range of employers.

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

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Prospects

In 2010, a HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicated that six months after finishing their course, nearly 70% of textile design graduates were employed in the UK or overseas. Over 25% of these employed graduates were working in the art and design field.

Those working in the field of textile design may be employed as designers, managers or production advisers. It is also possible to design or produce your own work and sell it through galleries, the internet and craft outlets.

Around 34% of employed textile graduates were working in the retail and catering sector. Other areas of employment included marketing and advertising, education and clerical occupations. It is also possible to work in areas such as fashion forecasting, illustration, product development, garment technology, public relations, sales, buying and merchandising, and media.

Where are the jobs?

Typical employers of textile design graduates include:

• design studios and consultancies;
• private clients, manufacturing and processing companies;
• retail organisations.

Although retailers employ many textile graduates, outside retailing there are few large companies in the UK fashion and textiles industry. The sector is instead made up of small niche and local retailers. Many designers will work on a freelance basis.

Investigate the following career areas:

• Fashion and textile - involves the manufacture, marketing, design and distribution of clothing and textiles.
• Retail - careers involving the sale of food, clothing and other products. Careers in this sector include management positions, retail buyer and marketing executive.
• Creative arts - covers a wide range of roles such as writing, acting, arts administration, design and photography.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Textile designer
• Costume designer
• Fashion designer
• Interior and spatial designer
• Clothing/textile technologist
• Retail buyer
• Secondary school teacher and Further education lecturer
• Higher education lecturer

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Retail merchandiser
• Visual merchandiser
• Industrial/product designer
• Printmaker
• Museum/gallery conservator

Another option is to become a self-employed creative entrepreneur. This can involve designing and producing work for exhibitions, direct sale or through retail craft outlets or working in an advisory and consultative capacity.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk